The potential in Vicodin is due to its hydrocodone component, as hydrocodone is an opioid, and opioids are known to hold addiction risk. Though it helps many people, this medication has a risk for abuse and may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. The drug is the active ingredient in many popular opioid brands, including is vicodin addictive Lortab, Lorcet and Vicodin.
Vicodin addiction and co-occurring disorders
By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. If you find that you cannot quit using Vicodin in spite of all your efforts to stop, you may want to seek a professional treatment program to help you with your dependence. When Vicodin is taken over a lengthy period of time, you can build up a tolerance to the medication. This means you have to take increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effect.
Co-occurring condition management
After an intense surgery or injury, many doctors may prescribe a narcotic painkiller called Vicodin. As a Schedule II controlled substance, Vicodin has a high risk of being misused. Misusers can quickly become dependent on it, paving the way for addiction to develop. If an individual feels that Vicodin is essential to function during everyday life, an addiction may have developed. Although Vicodin has a legitimate medical purpose, the prescription narcotic is dangerous to those who may take it for the euphoric high it can provide. However, you are likely to see the changes earlier on, as the signs of Vicodin addiction are difficult to miss.
Vicodin Detox and Withdrawal
People who use hydrocodone should know the potential dangers of the substance to use it safely and avoid addiction or overdose. Some individuals start using Vicodin to self-medicate for issues such as untreated pain, mental health disorders like depression or anxiety, or to cope with stress. This form of abuse often begins with a legitimate prescription but gradually escalates as tolerance develops, leading to higher doses and prolonged use. Treatment for prescription opioid addiction starts with a detoxification phase. During detox, addiction experts assist you in dealing with painful withdrawal symptoms until hydrocodone is cleared from your system. People often get hydrocodone and other opioids from family members or friends.
- Addiction is diagnosed on a spectrum from mild to moderate to severe.
- This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.
- Once you withdraw from Vicodin, it’s important to enter a substance abuse treatment program.
- Vicodin is a brand of prescription painkiller that contains acetaminophen, a drug used to treat minor aches and pains, and the addictive opioid hydrocodone.
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If you are taking the syrup, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure how to check or measure the dose. Vicodin addiction, also known as an opioid use disorder, is defined as a chronic condition in which you continue to use Vicodin despite negative ramifications it may have on your life. These therapies help individuals change their thinking patterns and behaviours related to drug use. Paracetamol, the other active ingredient in Vicodin, works by inhibiting the production of certain chemicals (prostaglandins) in the brain that cause pain and inflammation.
Addictions We Treat
Treatment plans can consist of one-on-one, group and recreational therapy. As well as treating addiction to Vicodin, The Recovery Village also offers individualized treatment plans to help people manage opioid addiction addictions. However, people not using Vicodin to lessen pain tend to use the drug recreationally to obtain a euphoric high. With heroin addiction these recreational users, since there is no medical need to take the drug, the tolerance level is aimed toward achieving a certain level of euphoria. When prescribed by a medical professional, the drug comes as a tablet or an oral liquid. Addiction is a complex psychosocial phenomenon, and many factors contribute to a Vicodin addiction.
- Once the body becomes dependent on hydrocodone to feel normal, trying to quit will result in symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal.
- But it is possible to recover from hydrocodone addiction with proper treatment.
- However, at its core, Vicodin addiction is not just about the high.
- Distance should not stand in the way of a drug-free life.The Recovery Village has locations nationwide to help assist those struggling with a Vicodin addiction or any other substance use disorder.
- Contact your healthcare providers and tell them you want to detox from Vicodin.
- If you experience any of these severe side effects, call 911 immediately.
Cough due to a common cold often does not need to be treated with medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to relieve cough and cold symptoms, such as drinking enough fluids, using a humidifier, or saline nose drops/spray. Vicodin is a prescription opioid pain reliever that is made of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is often used to treat moderate to severe pain, but it does have the potential for dependence and addiction. Vicodin withdrawal can produce a wide range of physical symptoms which can occur when someone stops or dramatically reduces their use of the drug after heavy or prolonged use. Addiction is diagnosed on a spectrum from mild to moderate to severe.