Vicodin Addiction: Treatment, Side Effects & Risks

Some people start using larger doses or taking it more often than prescribed. An addiction to Vicodin can cause severe consequences that affect nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Untreated substance use disorders can lead to job loss, divorce, loss of child custody, estrangement from family and friends, bankruptcy, or incarceration. Taking high doses of Vicodin can lead to liver failure due to the acetaminophen contained in the drug. A fatal overdose is also a real possibility, especially if Vicodin is being combined with alcohol or other drugs. Opioids like hydrocodone can reduce the perception of pain, which is why they’re prescribed.

What are the symptoms of Vicodin abuse and addiction?

This phenomenon explains why Vicodin is addictive for so many individuals. Vicodin addiction treatment typically begins with detoxification to rid the body of the drug and its toxins. In addition to medical support https://www.semanadelaciencia.ucv.cl/?p=25384 and counseling, patients may also enjoy alternative therapy options to ease their journey toward recovery.

Inpatient Rehab

As noted by Swansbury (2019) in “Painkiller Overdoses,” opioid overdoses have become a significant public health issue, with Vicodin misuse contributing to rising fatalities. Telehealth provides addiction treatment services through virtual platforms, making therapy and support accessible from home. This method is convenient and flexible, especially for individuals with geographical or mobility limitations. Telehealth includes video consultations with healthcare providers, online therapy sessions, and digital support groups. Each approach offers unique benefits and can be tailored to individual needs.

This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you or your child should continue to take it. Sobriety Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases.

• While it can calm you down, it can also cause anxiety, especially when you try to quit it after becoming dependent.
• It is treated as a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has a high potential for abuse, dependence, and addiction and can only be obtained by prescription.
• Vicodin and Norco can also cause poor sleep quality, which will make you even more tired during the day.
• However, some Vicodin-specific factors can increase the likelihood of an addiction forming.
• ANR has helped close to 25,000 patients worldwide turn their lives around and overcome opioid dependence.

Vicodin Addiction

When taken in high doses, this compound can inflame the liver and disturb its natural working mechanism. Additionally, if Vicodin is consumed with alcohol, it can even cause our liver to shut down completely. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory systems. When it comes to Vicodin addiction, the compulsive urge to use the drug persists even when it leads to serious health problems, strained relationships, or trouble at work and home. This condition goes beyond a simple lack of willpower—addiction changes how the brain functions, making it difficult to stop using Vicodin without help. Seeking help for Vicodin addiction symptoms can prevent dangerous, even life-threatening, consequences.

• Working closely with addiction professionals, a person can find their unique path to recovery.
• The slippery slope of Vicodin abuse to addiction is often followed by an overdose.
• Mixing Vicodin with other substances, including alcohol, increases the risk of liver damage and other severe side effects.

Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of low blood pressure. Precipitated withdrawal occurs when a patient withdraws due to medications for addiction treatment (MAT), not abstaining from using a given drug. As a patient, you can do your part by taking the medication as prescribed. You may also want to keep a pain journal, recording the impact the medication has on you. As your pain management needs decrease, your doctor can adjust your hydrocodone dosage, lowering it to reduce the risk of dependence.

Can I get addicted to a prescribed dose of hydrocodone?

Before it was discontinued in the UK around 2012, it was regularly prescribed by doctors. Vicodin is a combination of two medicines, Paracetamol and Hydrocodone. Paracetamol is a well-known over the counter pain-relieving medicine found in countless shops around the UK. Meanwhile, Hydrocodone is an opiate in the same family as Codeine and Heroin. Hydrocodone’s function is to block pain receptors in the brain and the spinal cord to disallow the feeling of pain in the user’s body. Vicodin is the brand vicodin addiction name for a prescription opioid painkiller that combines acetaminophen and hydrocodone.

Meanwhile, the guilt, shame, and frustration that come along with addiction can make it feel even harder to reach out for help. Addiction isn’t about weakness or lack of willpower—it’s a complex condition that causes changes in the brain. Being aware of addiction and other risks can help you approach hydrocodone use with more safety and caution. Researched, fact-checked and transparent articles and guides that offer addiction and mental health insight from experts and treatment professionals. Every month, 150,000 people search for addiction or mental health treatment on Recovery.com. Our advisory council brings together leaders in behavioral health, technology, and business.

Please contact us today to start your journey.

Prioritizing your well-being is crucial in overcoming addiction and maintaining long-term recovery. Vicodin can be an excellent tool for pain relief that ranges from moderate to severe. However, its misuse can result in addiction, severe illness and death. If you or someone you know is struggling with Vicodin addiction, treatment options are available.

However, you should never take it for other purposes than what it’s prescribed for. Vicodin abuse, such as using it to get “high,” increases the risk of Vicodin dependence and addiction. While it can calm you down, it can also cause anxiety, especially when you try to quit it after becoming dependent.

Risks and Dangers of Hydrocodone Misuse

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. The process begins with a formal assessment from a therapist or addiction specialist. He or she may inquire about your substance use habits, medical history, family background, and most importantly, your goals. Yes, without any doubt, Vicodin is a highly addictive prescription drug. If you realize your pain is decreasing, let your doctor know, even if your prescription hasn’t run out.

Physical Signs:

Understanding symptoms of Vicodin addiction helps loved ones intervene before dependence progresses and health complications escalate. That mix lowers pain, but it also slows breathing and triggers powerful reward signals in the brain. Over time, the same dose doesn’t work as well (tolerance), stopping can feel miserable (withdrawal), and chasing relief can take over your life. No, hydrocodone is not the same as Vicodin because Vicodin is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.