If you have been taking Vicodin regularly, especially for a long time or at higher doses, your healthcare provider may slowly lower your dose. If you abruptly stop Vicodin after taking it regularly for a prolonged period, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Opioids are most addictive when you take them in a way other than how they were prescribed — for example, crushing a pill so that it can be snorted or injected.
Physical signs of Vicodin abuse
Generally, the doses are gradually reduced in an attempt to wean the patient off the drug. This way, they experience the least withdrawal symptoms possible. Furthermore, drugs such as methadone may be used in small doses to help replace the opioid without the negative side effects. vicodin addiction The detox process varies depending on the level of addiction the patient has and their personal choices on whether they want to try a rapid or traditional detox. Therefore they should be closely monitored for any signs of substance abuse and their medication dispensed carefully.
Symptoms of Vicodin Addiction
Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor. Drugs that depress the central nervous system (brain) like Vicodin may result in side effects, such as slow or shallow breathing, low blood pressure, tiredness, coma, or death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for side effects if they prescribe you one of these medicines. They may also recommend a drug called naloxone which treats opioid overdose.
How does Vicodin work?
- In general, it is important to closely monitor women who are trying to quit drug use during pregnancy and to provide treatment as needed.
- The more you know about hydrocodone, the better your chances are of avoiding addiction.
- Vicodin is a powerful pain reliever that combines hydrocodone, which is an opioid and acetaminophen.
- If you have a personal or family history of substance use disorders, an alternative pain reliever may be a better option for you.
- In the U.S., find the closest Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations on a website the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) maintains.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Talk to your doctor about naloxone, a medication that can treat an opioid overdose. When opioids attach to these receptors, they block pain signals sent from the brain to the body and release large https://ecosoberhouse.com/ amounts of dopamine throughout the body. This release can strongly reinforce the act of taking the drug, making the user want to repeat the experience. Is your family member or friend using opioid medicines in a harmful way? It may not be easy to tell, especially in the early stages of addiction.
Find a Detox Center
Whether genetic, psychological, or environmental, there is always an underlying issue for addiction. Vicodin, with the help of Hydrocodone, takes it a step further by stimulating endorphin production in the brain, which in turn produces dopamine. Some states have passed laws that allow pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a personal prescription. Friends, family, and others in the community can use the nasal spray versions of naloxone to save someone who is overdosing.
Immediate Effects Of Hydrocodone Misuse And Abuse Include:
As your tolerance grows, so does your risk for hydrocodone addiction. People addicted to Vicodin compulsively use the drug despite knowing the consequences, often sacrificing their health, responsibilities and relationships. Some people develop a dependence (having withdrawals and tolerance to Vicodin) to their prescription and don’t realize it until they stop taking it.