Hydrocodone Addiction Symptoms
Struggling with Hydrocodone addiction symptoms? Find out how medical detox can help.
Hydrocodone is an opioid painkiller sold under brand names such as Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin and others. It is a semi-synthetic opioid medication that is derived from codeine, and is used to treat moderate to severe pain, and also as a cough suppressant for pneumonia and whooping cough. There is a blurry line concerning the correct dosage of Hydrocodone and addiction, because some patients have become addicted to the drug while taking the correct dosage. Anyone who is prescribed Hydrocodone should be monitored by their physician to make sure that abuse and addiction do not occur. There are many Hydrocodone addiction symptoms that serve as a guide to determine addiction to the drug. If you are addicted, you can receive Hydrocodone addiction treatment at a drug treatment center.
Hydrocodone is one of the most abused opioid drugs in the U.S., and most people who abuse the drug do so as an effort to manage their pain. These patients will take the drug more often than prescribed, or take larger doses than prescribed to help alleviate their pain. Eventually a tolerance to the drug occurs in the body and the effects of the drug are reduced. To compensate for this action, the patient will take more of the drug to get the desired effects and, this action often leads to physical and psychological addiction. In some cases, this type of abuse leads to an overdose.
If you suspect your loved one is abusing Hydrocodone, or he/she is possibly addicted to the drug, there are signs of Hydrocodone addiction that can help you determine their status:
- Is your loved one doctor shopping to get more prescriptions for the drug?
- Do you notice a distinct change in behavior or personality?
- Is your loved one withdrawing from friends and family?
- Is your loved one borrowing or stealing money to get the drug?
- Is your loved one exhibiting Hydrocodone effects, such as:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Respiratory system failure
- Liver disease, liver failure
- Confusion, anger, anxiety, depression, psychosis
- Cognitive impairment
- Seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, death
Some people who abuse Hydrocodone are shown to have co-occurring mental disorders and are using the drug as a form of self-medicating. Some of the mental health issues that are related to Hydrocodone abuse include:
- Alcoholism
- Bi-polar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Chronic depression
- Anxiety disorder
- Substance abuse disorder
- PTSD
- Personality disorders
Anyone who is abusing Hydrocodone or is addicted to the drug should receive Hydrocodone addiction treatment at a drug rehab center. Trying to stop taking opioid medications on your own is very difficult, but the addiction specialists at a drug treatment center are knowledgeable and experienced in addiction and recovery, and they can help you come off of the drug. Hydrocodone addiction treatment begins with a medically monitored detox process, to gradually wean the patient off of the drug. You will be kept stable and safe throughout the procedure, and medications can be given to help alleviate drug cravings and other withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms usually appear within 10 hours after the last dose and peak about 48 to 72 hours after the last dose. The symptoms usually begin to taper off within the next 2 weeks but can last longer in some cases.
After the detox process has been completed, the patient should begin a series of psychological and behavioral counseling sessions. Perhaps the patient may also need pain management therapy and another type of medication to address their pain. A comprehensive Hydrocodone addiction treatment program can help the patient move on from his drug addiction and begin to live a sober, fulfilling life again.
Resources:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/prescription-drugs-cold-medicines
https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/rrprescription.pdf