Hydrocodone addiction treatment that actually works

Hydrocodone is a prescription pain reliever is usually used to treat moderate to severe pain, and it’s usually found in formulations that combine it with acetaminophen, or Tylenol.

Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid compound derived from the opium poppy flower. These kinds of compounds bring relief by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, which changes the user’s perception of pain and triggers a release of dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter that produces euphoria.

Due to the role it plays in the ongoing opioid epidemic, hydrocodone prescriptions are now more regulated than in the past. However, it continues to be widely prescribed and still finds its way onto the street where it’s purchased illegally.

Even when taken correctly, opioids like hydrocodone can lead to a number of side effects, including:

• Lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Skin rash
• Itching
• Sweating
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Headache

It’s critical to understand that these side effects, as listed, don’t necessarily reflect the reality of addiction. Hydrocodone tolerance can lead to users taking such high amounts of these drugs that the side effects become extreme.

For example, nausea is a common side effect of many medications, but those addicted to hydrocodone may take so much that they vomit but continue taking the drug.

Hydrocodone abuse and addiction (referred to clinically as opioid use disorder) starts when someone starts taking the medication for the high rather than to relieve pain, and as users consume more of the drug over time, the body will become physically dependent on the drug.

As physical dependence sets in, users require more of the drug to get the desired effects, and when it’s not present in their system, they will start to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. In addition, opioids like hydrocodone can also produce a psychological addiction, leading to things like anxiety and cravings for the drug because of the way they affect the brain’s reward system.

Common behaviors associated with hydrocodone addiction include:

• Taking more than the prescribed dosage
• “Doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions
• Tampering with pills before taking them
• Taking pills in any way other than orally

When someone is addicted to hydrocodone but unable to access the drug, they may look for ways to buy it illegally. Even worse, cravings for hydrocodone may even lead the user to cheaper, easier-to-find alternatives like heroin.

Even if it’s taken as directed by a physician, patients can develop a physical dependence on hydrocodone, and long-time users will experience opioid withdrawal symptoms if they simply stop taking it.

The symptoms of opioid withdrawal are highly unpleasant and are one of the main reasons people continue using even though they know they are harmful – one of the major indicators of addiction.

Opioid withdrawal symptoms can include:

• Restlessness
• Yawning
• Sweating
• Tearing eyes
• Runny nose
• Chills
• Muscle and back aches
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Irritability, anxiety
• Dilated pupils
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heartbeat or breathing

These problems are going to vary in severity and duration and depend on factors like the specific dose taken and the duration of use.

Detoxing off hydrocodone (a process also called withdrawal stabilization) involves using longer-acting opioids such as Suboxone as a substitute for the shorter-acting drugs of abuse. This stabilizes the patient and reduces their withdrawal symptoms as they slowly taper off the substitute.

Patients usually experience the most discomfort during the first one to three days of the opioid withdrawal phase. During this period, additional medications may include a combination of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen, as well as a mild sedative.

Suboxone (buprenorphine with naloxone) is a medication used to treat opioid addiction, and it works by activating the same opioid receptors in the brain as hydrocodone, but without producing the same euphoric high. This makes it safer and means it doesn’t contribute to addiction like other short-acting opioids do.

As a result, patients report that these kinds of mediations help by reducing cravings and easing many of the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms so they can actively participate in their treatment program while they taper off the Suboxone.

Usually, by the end of day three on Suboxone, a patient’s withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings have almost completely subsided, and they are ready to proceed fully in their treatment program.

Overdose is a real possibility with any opioid drug, including hydrocodone. Prescriptions are written for specific people in specific doses, and the effects can have adverse reactions in others. Taking too much hydrocodone can result in a life-threatening overdose.

What are the symptoms of a hydrocodone overdose?

• Trouble breathing
• Cold and clammy skin
• Fast heartbeat or chest pain
• Extreme drowsiness leading to coma
• Circulatory collapse
• Heart attack

The most common way that people abuse hydrocodone involves tampering with the pills so that the medication absorbs into the body faster, which produces a more intense and immediate high. Methods include crushing, chewing, and snorting pills.

Yes. Hydrocodone is labeled by the DEA as a Schedule II controlled substance due to its addictive properties, so possessing and taking the medication without a prescription is a crime, as is sharing, giving away or selling it.

Besides the risk of overdose, using oxycodone is ways it’s not designed can also have negative effects. Injecting hydrocodone is particularly harmful and can lead to infections and cardiovascular disease.

Hydrocodone formulations usually contain both hydrocodone and acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, and taking high doses of acetaminophen can cause serious problems including permanent liver damage.

The problem is that as patients develop a tolerance to hydrocodone, they need to take more and more to get the safe high. This leads to them ingesting much more acetaminophen than their bodies can process, leading to overdose.

Signs of acetaminophen overdose include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Excessive sweating