For opioid-naïve or opioid-intolerant patients, hydrocodone ER is typically initiated at a dosage of 10 to 20 mg administered every 12 to 24 hours, depending on the specific formulation. Furthermore, slower dose titration is advised for patients aged 65 and older. The manufacturer’s drug monographs should be referred for comprehensive dosing and titration schedules.
- Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.
- Your doctor may want to reduce your dosage gradually and have you stop taking it sooner than expected.
- As her tolerance level rose, she was consuming up to 50 pills of Vicodin a day.
- Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
Vicodin side effects
Some of these programs use medications to help ease withdrawal, while others don’t. The best approach for you will depend greatly on the nature of your addiction. If you find yourself taking hydrocodone for longer than prescribed or taking it in larger doses despite any negative consequences, you may have an addiction.
Professional resources
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.
Hydrocodone Symptoms And Warning Signs
Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes). Addiction is a condition where something that started as pleasurable now feels like something you can’t live without. Drug addiction is defined as an out-of-control feeling that you must use a medicine or drug and continue to use it even though it causes harm over and over again. Opioids are highly addictive, largely because they trigger powerful reward centers in your brain. Hydrocodone (also known by the brand names Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab) is a powerful prescription opioid medication that is prescribed to treat pain and suppress cough. Huntington Creek Recovery Center has been a trusted provider of comprehensive addiction treatment services, with an emphasis on experiential therapies, for more than 40 years.
Physical and behavioral symptoms
Hydrocodone is one of the most common pain medications prescribed by clinicians and one of the most abused by patients. It is a relatively potent drug for moderate-to-severe pain control in postoperative patients, patients with trauma, or patients with cancer. The combination of hydrocodone with acetaminophen is much more efficacious in several randomized studies without any significant changes in adverse effects. Moreover, hydrocodone/acetaminophen has common use as an antitussive agent.
The timeline of Vicodin or any opioid withdrawal will depend on the level of addiction, genetics, and tolerance. It’s recommended that you undergo substance abuse treatment at a qualified treatment facility. Vicodin is a brand of prescription painkiller that contains acetaminophen, a drug used to treat minor aches and pains, and the addictive opioid hydrocodone. Your healthcare professional may recommend that you have naloxone available to lower your risk of an overdose. Naloxone reverses the effects of opioids during an emergency if you stop breathing. Narcan and Revive are naloxone nasal sprays you can buy without a prescription.
Especially follow your healthcare professional’s instructions about how and when to take medicines during the taper. The opioid antagonist Narcan (naloxone) https://sober-home.org/even-a-little-alcohol-can-harm-your-health/ can block the effects of opioids and reverse an overdose. Your doctor may recommend keeping it on hand if you are at risk of a Vicodin overdose.
They may also include cognitive behavioral therapy to teach strategies for living a healthier life. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury. If an opioid is prescribed, let your healthcare team know if you had any trouble tapering off opioids in the past.
In the U.S., emergency calls about tianeptine spiked after the opioid findings emerged. From 2000 to 2013, the National Poison Data System received an average of less than one call a year about tianeptine exposure, according to the CDC. Even before the opioid link was confirmed, people were beginning to abuse tianeptine. They were excited to discover a unique antidepressant mechanism — but they were also well aware of surging opioid addiction in the U.S.
Ongoing use of the medication can cause physical dependence, increased tolerance, and an increased risk of addiction. SUD is a mental health condition that occurs when a person is unable to control their use of substances like drugs, alcohol, or medications. Often packaged in colorful, shot-sized bottles, these rogue tianeptine products contain the drug in varying concentrations and have also been found to include dangerous synthetic cannabinoids. With the residues of drug abuse eliminated, then the person in recovery can begin to learn how to operate in life without the drugs.
Continued abuse of hydrocodone can cause short and long-term damage to the user’s body and mental health. You may be tempted to take more opioid medicine than your taper recommends. Do not start taking any opioids you have at home that you received from other health professionals or visits to the emergency room. https://sober-home.org/ Extra opioids, alcohol and drugs can increase your risk of an overdose. Undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD can increase your risk of addiction. Research suggests that 50% to 75% of those with substance use disorder have a co-occurring mental health condition.
You should refer to the prescribing information for hydrocodone for a complete list of interactions. Along with its needed effects, acetaminophen / hydrocodone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Medicines that interact with Vicodin may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Vicodin. If you think someone you know may be struggling with an addiction to hydrocodone, there are physical and behavioral signs you can look for. However, people not using Vicodin to lessen pain tend to use the drug recreationally to obtain a euphoric high.
Consequently, it is vital to monitor patients for addiction, abuse, and misuse signs. In addition, patients with a prior history of drug addiction or mental illness have a higher risk of addiction. Because of the risk of opioid misuse, it’s often hard to get your healthcare professional to raise your dose or renew your prescription. Some opioid users who believe they need a bigger supply find illegal ways to get opioids or start using heroin.
Women also may be more likely than men to become dependent on prescription pain relievers. If you’re taking opioids and you’ve built up a tolerance, ask your healthcare professional for help. Other safe choices are available to help you make a change and keep feeling well.
People addicted to Vicodin may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it. Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include mild effects such as yawning and a runny nose. But they can also include more serious symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Even when taken at recommended doses, Vicodin can result in addiction. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of prescription painkillers because their brains have not yet fully developed.
Hydrocodone, like other opioids, works by binding to pain receptors (known specifically as mu opioid receptors) in the brain. Once hydrocodone binds to these receptors, pain signals are weakened or blocked entirely. Mu opioid receptors are also responsible for the positive reinforcement aspect of drug-taking.