Vicodin Addiction, like another form of substance abuse, is life-threatening. It can ruin a life in an instant. Severe withdrawal symptoms will soon follow if a person decides to quit abusing the drug. The aftermath of the addiction will change a person's life forever, which is why people with Vicodin addiction, and other drug addictions, are encouraged to consult their therapist with what they are going through.

What is it?

Vicodin is a combination of an opioid pain reliever and a non-opioid pain reliever that treats moderate to severe pain. The opioid pain reliever (Hydrocodone) works by changing how the brain responds to pain and it also acts as a cough suppressant while non-opioid pain reliever (Acetaminophen) reduces the fever of a person. Vicodin is prohibited for children younger than 6 years old because of its side effects, difficulty in swallowing and breathing. The drug is also FDA approved since January of 1983.

How does it work?

Vicodin is known for treating pain effectively, but before anything else, you need to consult your doctor for information on the drug. Tell your doctor about your illnesses and if you have taken medicines for depression, mental illnesses, Parkinson's disease, infections, migraine, and medicine for blocking nausea and vomiting. This way, a doctor can properly assess your condition and prescribe the right medication. It is important that anything that is happening in your body and any illnesses should be discussed before you take Vicodin. Also, take Vicodin as prescribed, and do not try to take the drug outside of what a doctor has prescribed.

Vicodin Tolerance

Anyone who consumes the drug higher than prescribed is prone to overdose and acquiring a tolerance to the drug. Unlike other opioid painkillers, Vicodin is very dangerous to the liver. A person has typically prescribed no more than 325 mg of the drug, and any further ingestion of the drug could end up causing serious liver disease. Creating tolerance is an indication that a person is dealing with much greater pain, it means that the amount of the drug consumed is no longer effective, thus, a higher dosage is required which is dangerous because a person is developing an addiction.

What is Vicodin abuse?

Once you have reached your limit and begin to seek more of a substance, in this case, Vicodin, an individual starts to develop tolerance which is very risky. Physical signs of addiction to Vicodin include drowsiness, dilated pupils, lack of energy, and persistent facial and neck flushing. There are two basic reasons why a person gets addicted to Vicodin, first because the pill is accessible through illegal means and prescriptions, and second because a person can easily hide the abuse.  

Is Vicodin dangerous?

Vicodin is very dangerous when abused because it can damage your lungs. Roughly 399,000 people died from opioid prescription drug and one of the most common drugs that are responsible for those deaths is Vicodin. In rare cases, effects from Vicodin in the skin are very fatal. Any opioid medications can cause difficulty in breathing and even death. Long-term use may affect fertility for both men and women. Also, symptoms such as hallucination, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, shivering and sweating, muscle firmness, and twitching are connected to Vicodin abuse. If you know someone who is experiencing these kinds of symptoms then tell them to consult a doctor to prevent severe complications to occur.

Vicodin also causes other systems in the body such as:

Nervous System

A person may experience impairment of mental and physical functions of the body, nausea, mood swings, psychological dependence, mental clouding, and lethargy.

Gastrointestinal 

A person develops constipation when addiction to Vicodin is present.

Genitourinary 

A person experiences urinary confinement, spasm of the womb and vesical sphincters.

Senses in the Body

A person may develop hearing impairment when they have an addiction to this drug. 

Other effects are Adrenal insufficiency, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Anaphylaxis, and Androgen deficiency. 

Should I stop taking it?

Continuing your addiction is dangerous, but stop all together can be too. It is advisable to consult your doctor before you decide to stop using the substance. A person will experience dependency when they stop taking the drug, but this can be very difficult to do on their own. 

The list below is some of the withdrawal symptoms a person may experience.

• Cold Sweats
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Hallucination
• Bone and Muscle Pain
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia

There a lot of withdrawal symptoms that are plausible for a person who decides to stop their addictive habits, it is best to always consult your doctor for any irregularities that come your way when in the process of quitting.

Who abuses Vicodin?

Listed below are some of the most common demographics of individuals who abuse Vicodin.

Young adults

It is said that, because of the effects of Vicodin in the body, many young adults turn to Vicodin abuse. The euphoric sensation it gives to a person has a massive appeal to young adults. They enjoy it while in the club or just playing video games.

Middle-income adults

It is sometimes labeled as a white-collar drug because it often abused by middle-income adults, due to it being cheaper than other prescribed opioid drugs. 

Due to its addictive effects, the Drug Enforcement Administration has changed all hydrocodone-based drugs from Schedule III to Schedule II to record the effects of prescription drugs and address its effects.

Quitting is Possible  

The chances of relapse are high because Vicodin affects both a person’s physical and psychological health. There are treatment centers that will help you cope with your addiction, some will offer detox therapy to remove the chemicals from the drugs in your body along with behavioral and cognitive therapy to lower the chances of relapse. Several medications are FDA approved in treating Vicodin addiction such as Buprenorphine, Suboxone, Naltrexone, and Clonidine. You can choose between Inpatient Vicodin Treatment and Outpatient Vicodin Treatment, it all depends on your preference and needs. It is best to consult your doctor as soon as possible to address your concerns for Vicodin addiction.