It can affect relationships, employment, your health, and other parts of your life. Hydrocodone is an opioid in a class of drugs known as narcotic analgesics. These drugs connect to proteins in the brain and spinal cord called opioid receptors.

What To Do If You Or Someone You Care About Is Struggling With Hydrocodone Addiction

Hydrocodone, the main ingredient in Vicodin, was first discovered in the 1920s. Since hydrocodone has been circulating for the past century, people have learned that mixing it with other drugs, such as acetaminophen, can increase its strength and effects. Rehab centers use evidence-based strategies to alleviate opioid abuse. A treatment plan may include opioid agonist medications, such as methadone, to relieve withdrawal symptoms.

Is dependence the same as addiction?

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Though many previously available branded formulations have been discontinued, a variety of generic hydrocodone products are still in use today. If you realize your pain is decreasing, let your doctor know, even if your prescription hasn’t run out. Your doctor may want to reduce your dosage gradually and have you stop taking it sooner than expected.

Take Back Your Life From Hydrocodone Addiction

If you are addicted to Vicodin or think you might be, seek professional treatment. In 2012, nearly 1 million people received treatment for their addiction to prescription painkillers. Ongoing use of the medication can cause physical dependence, increased tolerance, and an increased risk of addiction. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies hydrocodone as a Schedule II controlled substance. For some, use may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. In addition to a new cystic fibrosis treatment, Vertex Pharmaceuticals is advancing an experimental non-opioid pain reliever called suzetrigine.

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. If you or a loved one is substance abuse games for groups struggling with an opioid use disorder, AAC is here to help—and to listen to your unique story. Take the first step by speaking with an admissions navigator at or by verifying your insurance benefits online. Available 24/7 for a free and confidential conversation, AAC staff can discuss payment options and treatment particulars and can help you begin your recovery today.

You may be prescribed medications — such as methadone or buprenorphine — to help you safely and effectively recover from hydrocodone addiction. 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. Other brain areas in addition to the LC also contribute to the production of withdrawal symptoms, including the mesolimbic reward system. For example, opioid tolerance that reduces the VTA’s release of DA into the NAc may prevent the patient from obtaining pleasure from normally rewarding activities such as eating. These changes in the VTA and the DA reward systems, though not fully understood, form an important brain system underlying craving and compulsive drug use.

Rather than be taken orally, the powder is snorted into the body by the user. Doing this allows the Vicodin to permeate the system in a short time compared to being swallowed, but it also puts individuals at a higher risk of harm and powerful side effects. Vicodin can be a dangerous medication alone, motivational enhancement therapy techniques but combining it with other drugs or alcohol can make it even more dangerous. As a result, it is important to be cautious when taking other medications with Vicodin. Before taking other medications, it is important to check with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure they are safe to take with Vicodin.

1. Most Vicodin overdose deaths happen for people who have recently gone through detox and withdrawal.
2. These include Vicodin overprescribing and the drug’s powerful effects on the brain.
3. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction.
4. At first, the addictive potential of opioids like Vicodin was not clearly understood.
5. If you stop using it, you may also feel withdrawal symptoms, which is why doctors recommend tapering off the drug.

A study found that hormone levels in women who were addicted to hydrocodone were between 30 to 70% lower in estrogen levels than normal. Using large amounts of hydrocodone long-term reduces an individual’s breathing rate, which in turn reduces what is whipit how much oxygen their body takes in. It can also increase the risk of sudden death for individuals who suffer from sleep apnea or lung diseases. People who crush and smoke hydrocodone can also damage their lungs by smoking the harsh chemicals.

Studies show that consuming more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in one day can cause acute or chronic liver injury – including cirrhosis and possibly liver failure. For this reason, the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) reduced the acceptable level of acetaminophen to no more than 325 mg in hydrocodone-based medications. Prior to these new regulations, hydrocodone once contained more than double that amount. If you find yourself having difficulty during your taper, support from others can be very helpful. If you and your healthcare professional think you have an opioid use disorder, voluntary groups such as Narcotics Anonymous are structured support groups.

An overdose occurs when people have adverse reactions to an excessive amount of a drug. But more severe effects, such as depression and addiction, can linger for a lifetime. Vicodin changes your perception of pain and your emotional response to it. The substance can produce feelings of lightheadedness and euphoria, which have resulted in the widespread misuse of hydrocodone nationwide. Outpatient treatment programs typically require you to attend a treatment center for 10 to 12 hours a week. These programs provide one-on-one counseling sessions, group therapy, and other activities to help you recover from addiction.

Hydrocodone can be very effective, but it can also become habit-forming. In addition to its cystic fibrosis franchise, Vertex will begin recording sales of the recently launched treatment Casgevy. This is an autologous cellular therapy developed in partnership with CRISPR Therapeutics for patients with either sickle cell disease or beta thalassemia.