Vicodin Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline, & Side Effects

by Javier Cruz | Sep 27, 2021 | Sober living

If you or a loved one is struggling with hydrocodone misuse, it may be time to seek help. Looking for treatment can feel overwhelming, but the compassionate admissions navigators at American Addiction Centers (AAC) are here to help. Upcoming events happening statewide include virtual naloxone trainings to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. The type of effects someone experiences during Vicodin detox, and how long he or she will experience them, will vary and will also be affected by how long and how much someone used the drug.

What is the most-effective treatment for opioid addiction?

This is especially the case if the person has been using Vicodin for a long time, is abusing other drugs, or has a concurrent mental health condition. Whether regulated or unregulated, prescription or illicit, all opioids have the potential for misuse and addiction. Also, when used in combination with alcohol, cocaine or other drugs, different reactions and effects are produced.

Treatment

• You can dispose of unused or expired medications at a medicine take-back event.
• Symptoms of Vicodin overdose include chest pain, bloody urine, trouble breathing, extreme drowsiness and changes in consciousness.
• Hydrocodone and other opioid medications can produce euphoria, a reduction in inhibitions, and relaxation.
• Opioid use disorder (OUD) means that you have a problematic pattern of using opioids.
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Vicodin withdrawals can be intense and painful, and many people will continue using Vicodin just to avoid them. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Some people develop a dependence (having withdrawals and tolerance to Vicodin) to their prescription and don’t realize it until they stop taking it. Dependence can lead to addiction, which is marked by the compulsive urge to use despite negative consequences. This article will cover what hydrocodone is, how it’s used, the effects it can cause, and how you or your loved one can get treatment for hydrocodone addiction.

• She has over 20 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, and has a clinical focus in family relations, substance abuse, and trauma.
• The other half will receive a brief drug counseling session from their doctors.
• A treatment plan may include opioid agonist medications, such as methadone, to relieve withdrawal symptoms.
• Users must spend time analyzing why they abused the drug and working to change how they view the world as part of the recovery process.
• First, though, you must understand why and how hydrocodone becomes addictive and the signs and symptoms of hydrocodone addiction.

Causes of Vicodin Withdrawal

Heroin is opioid that’s illegally produced, distributed and substituted for prescription painkillers because it’s less expensive and more readily available—which factors into the heightened risk for overdose. As determined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. is in the midst of an ongoing opioid epidemic. The confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories. Do not share your pills with others because this can cause them to experience an overdose or develop addiction. If you are prescribed the medication, be sure to follow the directions on the label.

• Prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.Call or text 988.
• As your tolerance grows, so does your risk for hydrocodone addiction.
• In 2014, lawmakers recognized the increasing danger of hydrocodone combination products and changed them from Schedule III to Schedule II controlled substances.
• Information provided by NIDA is not a substitute for professional medical care or legal consultation.
• Once the body becomes dependent on hydrocodone to feel normal, trying to quit taking them will result in symptoms of withdrawal.
• People addicted to Vicodin compulsively use the drug despite knowing the consequences, often sacrificing their health, responsibilities and relationships.

It’s painful and scary when someone you love has a substance abuse problem. You might feel as though you’re watching the person throw his or her life away. Opioid drugs such as hydrocodone, one of the main components of Vicodin, may provide some users with an artificial sense of wellbeing. They forget how it feels to experience a natural “high” from success at work, happiness in relationships, or meeting personal goals. And they need to keep taking the drug, often at higher and more frequent doses, just to obtain or maintain that artificial high.

Fentanyl Laced Pills Can Trigger a Fatal Overdose

People who use Vicodin for long periods of time, at higher doses than prescribed, or without a prescription may be at risk for developing a Vicodin dependence. Hydrocodone and other opioid medications can produce euphoria, a reduction in inhibitions, and relaxation. For some people, these effects are so pleasant that they crave opioid medications and use them to cope with everyday stressors. Treatment should be followed by some form of follow-up care when the person discharges from treatment. Aftercare can include ongoing counseling, attendance at 12-step meetings, and sober vicodin addiction living.