I happen to work in a drug rehab center so I see an awful lot of Hydrocodone addiction.� To be quite honest I believe the number of opiate users we treat is now exceeding the number of alcoholics that come in, if you can believe that.� Prescription painkillers seem to be the new drug of choice these days. �Is Hydrocodone addictive? �You bet it is.
Hydrocodone is a synthetic opiate that is slightly more powerful than Codeine (as measured by the opiate molecules strength in binding to opiate receptors in the human brain).� Some of the common brand names for Hydrocodone are Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, and Norco.� Doctors prescribe it for all sorts of different issues and it tends to work really well for most types of pain.� Too well in fact, because many people can and do get addicted to it.� This makes for a complicated situation because now you have a drug addiction that is actually there for a specific reason: to medicate a person’s physical pain.
So one of the major questions becomes: if you are trying to overcome Hydrocodone addiction, how are you going to manage your pain?� What are you going to do when your body is suffering and in pain?
Managing pain without opiates
It is important to understand the difference between opiate based painkillers and other medications.� When you take a medicine such as Ibuprofen, the medicine actually works to help reduce the pain right at the source of the pain.� It does this by reducing inflammation and swelling in the body.� So it literally goes to the source of your physical pain and makes it smaller.
With an opiate drug (such as Hydrocodone), there is no such reduction in pain.� In fact, the medicine does not really reduce pain at all.� What it does is it simply dopes the human brain so that it does not care about the pain as much.� The pain is still there.� But if you are taking Hydrocodone, the effect that the drug has is that it makes it so that you don’t pay as much attention to the pain.
If your pain is a ringing alarm clock with bells, then taking an opiate is like sticking a rag in between the bells.� It simply dulls the ringing.� It does not reduce the pain itself though.
So if you understand this then you can see how any condition that results in chronic pain should really be treated with something other than an opiate drug.� If the physical pain you are experiencing is temporary (or very short term), then taking an opiate might work out pretty well.� But if your pain is chronic (or longer lasting), then taking an opiate is not going to help you in the long run.
So if you are trying to get off of an opiate drug, then you need to have a plan for how you are going to manage your pain without using addictive painkillers.� You might start experimenting with alternative ways of treating your pain before you even try to get off the opiates, so that you are more prepared in how you will deal with the pain.� For example, you might look into some of these ideas for managing pain without addictive drugs:
1) TENS units.
2) Using non-narcotic painkillers (ask your doctor for details).
3) Meditation and relaxation techniques
4) Massage.
5) Acupuncture.
And so on.� If you start experimenting right now with these sorts of ideas, your chances at staying clean and sober will increase because you will be better able to handle the pain when you are no longer using opiates.� If you are struggling to make progress in this area, you might consider going to a pain clinic or finding a different doctor who is more accommodating.
Photo by Veeliam
Options for dealing with Vicodin addiction
There are a few different ways that you might treat Vicodin addiction. One thing that you might do is to simply check into a residential rehab center that has a medical detox. This is usually expensive but it might be the best option for most people.
Another form of treatment is to use drug therapy. So an addict might switch to a medication such as Suboxone in order to treat their addiction to Vicodin. Some would argue that this is not much better, as you are still ingesting an opiate based drug. However, the abuse potential of Suboxone is much lower than that of hydrocodone, so this is still a decent option for some people. Most people who have a short term addiction to hydrocodone will not need drug therapy like this, however. But it can be useful for some people who suffer from severe chronic pain issues, as the Suboxone will help treat their chronic pain as well.
Obviously, Vicodin addicts who are dealing with these types of questions will want to speak with a doctor at great length and carefully weigh their options before making any decisions.
Hydrocodone dosage
Typical hydrocodone doses range from taking one per day as needed, all the way up to taking 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours, usually not to exceed 8 tablets in a 24 hour period. Most hydrocodone addicts eventually start consuming more of the drug than these recommended dosages, however. This can become dangerous, too, for people with liver problems, because of the potential for taking too much Acetaminophen as well.
Of course you will want to check with your doctor as to what dose you should be taking in the first place, and you would not want to exceed their recommendation. Anyone who deliberately does so runs the risk of developing dependence from abusing the drug by taking a higher dosage.
Hydrocodone detox
Detoxing from hydrocodone will produce typical opiate withdrawal symptoms, that normally resemble a case of the flu. Sweats and chills, upset stomach (including possible cramps, nausea, or diarrhea), anxiety, tremors, and dilated pupils may all be present during detox. These symptoms can best be treated in a drug rehab center with a synthetic opiate drug called Suboxone. The person can then be tapered off of the Suboxone in a matter of days and experience very little discomfort throughout the entire process.
Some people seeking detox from opiates may look to a newer method called ultra rapid detox. This is where they put you under and then flush your body from all opiates, detoxing you in a matter of hours rather than days. It sounds nice but there are a lot of problems with it at this early stage, and it is prohibitively expensive in many cases. Plus there is no guarantee that the person will stay clean.
Typical hydrocodone addiction symptoms
The symptoms of hydrocodone addiction may include:
1) Abusing the drug, taking more quantity than what is prescribed.
2) Hiding, stealing, or hoarding supply. Keeping amounts taken a secret. Stashing pills.
3) Buying pills off the street or manipulating doctors to get more.
4) Inventing injuries or illnesses to get more supply, deliberately hurting oneself to get more pills.
There are other symptoms as well but basically if you cannot stop taking the drug on your own (and you want to) then that is a strong sign of dependence.
Some signs of hydrocodone addiction
If you suspect someone in your life of being addicted to hydrocodone, then watch for the above symptoms, and also:
1) Lying about how much they have taken or how many pills they have left.
2) Hiding pills or sneaking them around, protecting supply.
3) Nodding off from taking way to much of the drug.
4) Withdrawal symptoms when they don’t have pills left.
5) Obsession on getting more pills, especially when running low on supply.
Hydrocodone withdrawal
As mentioned above, the withdrawal symptoms of hydrocodone will typically resemble the flu. This will generally last from about 3 to 5 days, and sometimes it will stretch out a bit longer than this, depending on the person and also on how much they have been taking and how long they have been abusing opiates. Detox in a drug rehab center can really help the addict to get through the discomfort, because they can treat the withdrawal using medication without allowing the addict to become addicted to the medicine. People who fear becoming addicted to another medication are just using an excuse to avoid getting clean and sober. Drug rehabs do not resort to drug therapy and get addicts hooked on new medicines. This is a bunch of crap. Instead, they taper you down and when you walk out of the door, you do it completely clean and sober, not addicted to anything.
Hydrocodone overdose
It is possible to overdose on Hydrocodone, especially since it is usually (but not always) packaged with Acetaminophen. Of course the opiate itself is a going to depress the nervous system and at some point just the opiate alone would become lethal if enough of it were taken. All opiates carry some risk of overdose and hydrocodone is no different in this regard. Those who are abusing the drug and dependent on it obviously run a greater risk of having this happen.
Hydrocodone side effects
Anyone can experience any number of different side effects when taking just about any medication, but most people who use hydrocodone at normal dosages do not experience any major problems. If you do, obviously, you should talk with your doctor. If you happen to be taking more than the prescribed dosage and are abusing hydrocdone, then the obvious answer is to get some help and stop abusing the drug so that undesired side effects will no longer occur.
Some of these side effects might include:
1) Being nervous or anxious.
2) Getting dizzy.
3) Dry mouth.
4) Heart burn.
5) Sweats.
6) Trouble sleeping.
7) Not eating as much.
8) Feeling weak.
Obviously if you have any adverse effects that are really bothersome, consult your doctor.
Getting through withdrawal
Depending on how much your body is addicted to the Hydrocodone, you may want to go to a treatment center in order to get fully detoxed from the drug.� Most drug rehabs that have a medical detox unit will be able to treat your withdrawal symptoms from the Hydrocodone with their own medications.� In other words, they will help to make the withdrawal process a lot more comfortable than if you simply went off of the medication cold turkey.
The best way to get through any withdrawal is to sleep through it.� Depending on how severe your symptoms are, this may or may not be possible.� Also, if you suffer from a great deal of physical pain, this will make it more difficult to sleep when you are going through withdrawal from Hydrocodone.� These are the types of factors you will need to consider when deciding if you need to actually go to a drug rehab in order to get off the drug.
Basically, if you have easy access to opiates, and you are going through very heavy withdrawals, then it is going to be almost impossible for you to get off the drug without getting some sort of help.� If you try to do so and fail several times, you might want to look into the possibility of going to treatment for it.� There is no shame in going to drug rehab.� They can help you get through the withdrawals and possibly even help you learn how to start managing your pain.
If you’ve been using narcotics to manage your pain for a long time, or if you just use opiate based drugs for fund and recreation in your life, then it’s going to take quite a large effort in order to become clean and sober and to really make it stick.� Like with any addiction, there are at least 2 distinct stages to overcoming Hydrocodone addiction: early recovery and long term recovery.
In early recovery, you are basically focusing on the immediate problem of getting off the pills and learning how to live a life without narcotics again.� This stage of recovery can last anywhere from a few months to several months, depending on the person.� If you ask for help, get professional treatment of some sort, and start interacting with a strong support system on a regular basis, then you might very well be entering the second phase of your recovery in less than a year.� Of course, this is all about action.� You have to initiate these positive changes in your life and actually follow through with them in order to establish a successful recovery.
Long term recovery from Hydrocodone addiction
Moving into long term recovery happens naturally as your life gets “back on track.”� By now you will have found alternative ways to handle any physical pain, and you will no longer struggle to make it through each day without using drugs.� But this does not mean that there is no threat of relapse.� There will always be the possibility there to tempt you.� The key, therefore, becomes constant vigilance in your life when it comes to putting drugs into your body.� You have to adopt a zero tolerance policy when it comes to narcotics and addictive drugs.
Anyone who has successfully kicked an opiate addiction but ends up relapsing over and over again needs to find a new way to live.� This is the cycle of addiction and the only way to defeat it is to get clean and sober (physically detox from the drugs) and then find a way to live drug free so that you are satisfied with your life.� If you are restless, irritable, discontent, bored, or uninspired then chances are you will end up relapsing eventually.� In this case the opiate addict can either follow a program of recovery (such as the 12 step program) or design their own program of recovery and create a new life for themselves.� Either way, they need to take action and start living a drug free live of passion and purpose if they want to remain clean in the long run.
If you or someone you know is suffering from Hydrocodone addiction then I would recommend professional help.� If you cannot quit on your own and make it last then you need to ask for help. Inpatient treatment or professional counseling are both good starting points. Go into either with an open mind and you can find a new way to live.
Recommended Reading
Call Today
866-211-5538
24 Hour Treatment
{ 921 comments }
← Previous Comments
Hello Patrick and Everyone,
I have been reading the postings on this site and Patrick and all of you have convinced me to go into rehab. I have been living with this Hydro addiction since 2003 or 04 it’s been so long ive forgotten how many years. I too, have spent all the money, time and lies with, what i call, an accidental addictio to 750mg. hydro and now just use as a “normal” everyday function. My ex would get a script of 90 or I’d buy 90 and it would be gone in 3-4 days. That’s crazy, but I can’t make it without the scary withdrawals. So today is Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, and I’m proud to say I leave Tues, the 29th, to go into inpatient detox and that is mostly due to the fact that not only am I tired of this lie but in part due to this site and the postings. I have learned that there is life after detox and although I’m just a bit afraid of the unknown and being away from my family for 14 plus days I know I will survive just like all of you did. I want freedom from this drug and all the false hopes and hidden agendas it comes with.
Yes, I’m about to go out and grab a few more to make it until Tuesday morning, not because I want to but because I’m too chicken of the withdrawal symptoms and pain. BUT, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel and Tuesday, Sept 29, 2009, shines brightly for me. I will take all of you with me in my heart, mind, soul and spirit and I will keep a journal of my daily life and post it so maybe someone will be able to get free too.
Thank You All and God Bless
Lisa
@ Wanna be free – That sounds exciting, and it sounds like a great plan. Make sure you follow through after leaving treatment. Do what you gotta do. That is a bit different for everyone and it is largely what I explore on this website. But I am excited for you because it all starts with detox, and residential treatment. Such an opportunity for you. Awesome.
God bless Lisa…..anyone else who is struggling, try following her lead and see what an awesome life you can have if you are willing to check into rehab….
Hi Patrick and Thank YOU!!!
I was in a rush when I left my last comment, which happens to be the first one I posted here.
Please allow me to add a little background on my situation.
I fell at work and injured my ankle, not broken, but fractured, which the docs in the e.r. informed me fracturing my ankle is worse because had I broken it there would be a better chance of healing properly. So, after several weeks of taking my meds (vicodin 7.5 and ibuprofen 800 mg) as prescribed, I ran out of refills and thought nothing of it. A short couple days later, while at work (customer service rep for “ma bell”, aka phone co.) I noticed I felt HIGHLY STRESSED, more than usual. Now working in a call center for the phone company is a very good paying job, BUT, the stress factor to meet your hourly sales goals isn’t worth the pay.
While on a short 15 min. break one afternoon I had a throbbing migraine and asked one of my co-workers if she had anything for a headache, she gave me two 500 mg. vikes. Once again, I thought nothing of it. Oooohhhh, the thrill I got, plus, I was able to work until lunch without wanting to scream back at a customer. Calm, Cool and Collected, at lunch I ran to the nearest phone and made an appointment with my primary. All of a sudden my “ankle” hurt really bad. Yeah right!!!
Now here I am several years and thousands of dollars later, I AM AN ADDICT. Lucky enough to be a part of the trend that seems to be socially accepted by being “addicted to pain killers”, I am disgusted by my actions and docs that prescribe these pills without an INFORMATIVE AND CAUTIOUS WARNING, I mean afterall, “we” as patients are supposed to trust our doctors decisions. I almost wish there were some sort of class-action lawsuit that could be filed against these doctors, similar to the lawsuits filed against tobacco companies.
As I said in my first posting, I base part of the decision to go into rehab on this website and the postings I’ve read. I’ve done a ton of research and one day I read a posting (from another site) where a lady had gone to her primary physician and confessed she needed help getting off of hydro. The only problem I saw with her story was that the doc prescribed her Xanax and other meds to help her detox at home………Now she needs to detox from the Xanax.
Anyway, I went to my primary and he gave me a phone number to a local substance abuse agency and now here I am, just a couple short days from going to an inpatient rehab facility. Yes, at first, I chose outpatient and the intake worker suggested I reconsider, which I did.
I’m tired of this addiction!!!! I need my money to do more positive things with and although it didn’t take anything tragic like jail-time or something of the sort to force my decision, this drug Vicodin, is very powerful and quickly addictive.
I was an addict before I knew it, I was buying them off the street before I knew it, I was making false doctor appts before I knew it.
I also know something else and that is, I didn’t acknowledge I was an addict until a couple months ago and that’s after years of being stuck in my own, which I thought was a secretive, little world. More of my friends and family noticed I “popped pills” than I paid attention to. I even have one friend who is 67 years young and I admire her so and to the point that once I found out she too was stuck in the (what I call the Vicodin Abyss) I actually felt validated.
Yes, I was afraid to admit to my addiction out loud. I was embarrassed and felt alone. After a couple days of research, I was astonished at the numbers and precentages of those of “us” addicted to vikes, oxy, morphine and just plain opiates in general.
I now have the confidence to face my addiction head-on and no longer feet first. I can now say “we” and “us” instead of “I” and “me”. Yes, being an addict of any kind is dangerous, scary and unhealthy, but once one of us sees that light at the end of the tunnel we must believe and know in our hearts there ARE better days ahead. Whatever your light may be in this life don’t be afraid to let it shine ever so brightly.
Well, thanks once again to Patrick and all of you.
I hope and pray that my story too will be a Blessing to someone out there as many of yours was to me.
Oh yeah, one more thing, I highly suggest to all of you to go out and purchase, rent or download the movie 28 Days, starring Sandra Bullock. I promise that this movie should be an athem of some sort to those of us that are addicts.
Looking forward to being free,
Lisa
That is great Lisa….glad you claim your addiction now and know that you are an addict. Making progress….keep us posted on how you are doing. God bless….
Hey Patrick and All of You,
Just a quick update, it’s 10:40 pm, and I check into inpatient rehab tomo morn at 10 am. Well, of course, the night before jitters but that is only because I have only half a pill to wake up with in the morning. Yes, I’m moody as hell and really feel like screaming at the top of my lungs, instead I decided to post and hopefully afterwards be able to force myself to sleep. I’m anxious about checking in tomorrow morning but not in an an anxiety attack type way just more of can’t wait to get there and the night isn’t rolling fast enough for me.
If I remember, I’ll try to post again before I leave in the morning. If not, just know I did go and things will be ok and because of that very optimism and the fact I look too forward to ALL that darn money I’ll be saving and can travel away from home for the holidays WITHOUT having to stock up for a few days.
Chat with you all later and Patrick, THANK YOU!!!!
Lisa
OK Lisa….good luck. Let us know how it all turns out. Very excited for you!
hey peeps kinda new to this not the painkillers though just the admittin i have a problem trying to detox myself be almost 36 hrs i feel really bad sneezing and running to bath room alot im 21 and already addicted to something sorry if some of this doesnt make any sense havent really slept maybe 2hr of sleep tonight very like sleep sound normal to yall i want to quit my mom and dad call me pill head but guess i deserve that cause i blow alot of money on the dum stuff that now really does not work it just gets me through a day not to mention loss of the perfect girl i wish i could have her back but no i wanted the drugs sorry for the non sense im puttin on here but please if you could post back thank you greatly your post are helpin cause now i know im not the only one who is and was goin through it
Hi Jesse, that makes perfect sense what you said, we have all been there I think. If you stick it out your sleep will get better and you will also have good relationships in the future too. Hang in there, don’t use no matter what.
thanks patrick it means alot long do the shakes and chills last it feels like i have the flu
Yes, the flu like symptoms will generally last from 3 to 5 days. Usually day 3 is the worst and it gets better each day from there.
By day 6 you are out of the woods usually. This is just based on what I see in detox where I work…..
i am on day 3 of cold-turkey it is verry hard especially when i think about the oh so wonderfull pills, no there not wonderfull they will destroy you. well i dunno what to really do anymore i am bord nothing to do dont feel good shits and sneezeing verry irratater but will powered woke up this morning feeling better than i have felt the last 2 days though its only day 3 so things r looking up i also put sleep ait in hydro bottle to try to fool the old thinker seems to have worked a little at a constant war in my head but im gunna win you hear that brain im gunna win
well im makin it ok tryin to im goin to beat this stupid stuff i just cant stand it i cant sleep try to play games but still think about the small yellow norco dumb pill how can it do such things to our body its just crazy but there are good things that will come from this ill be clean and have money sweet right oh yea mind over matter as they say
How can yo help the leg cramps at night ??
@Anonymous – if you are having leg cramps, you can’t get much better advice than this page right here. They have a ton of solutions for you, check it out:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/707090.html
patrick pls help ive been over the withdrawls quit oct 10 today is the 15 but i have no entergy what so ever what can i do
forums and ppl tell me suboxone will restore the entergy but im past the wds and i dont wanna get hooked again
@ dubinchauvin – if you are past the worst of it then stick it out. No need to get put on Suboxone if you can do without. If you are tired, sleep! You will feel better soon.
Hang in there…..
No im trying to quit taking the pills an at night i get really bad leg cramps that wake me up at night with the cold and hot sweats .. The leg cramps have been the worse tho if i could find a way to get over that i would be ok and i was wondering is there something that everyone take for that ?/
Hey Patrick,
OK gang, I made it through detox successfully and I am so very excited about not having to take any more vikes…..But Patrick, guess what??? After going through detox and feeling so wonderful I ended up going to the e.r. Friday night….I have an inflammed colon and I have to take tests next week so the docs can see how bad it is. I ended up with an iv drip of morphine and a script for Ultram and antibiotics…LOL, I’m still happy though and I don’t anticipate going back to the vikes in the interim I will stick to the “baby vikes”……Always Lisa
@ Wanna Be Free – Life always throws a curve ball….be careful with the Ultram, as that is some people’s drug of choice….it is still an opiate even thought it is a synthetic one. Some doctors do not believe it is addictive. They are wrong. So just be careful and good luck to you…..
Well hello too all! I have taken 5 vicodins a day for 11 months. I put them down on Sunday so as of now it has been 96 hours since my last pill. The first 2 days were the worst. Leg cramps. insomnia, dirhea, the chills, and no energy. All I can say is today I am still a little groggy but I feel a little better. I have taken Tylenol for aches and pains. Ativan for anxiety, and phenigrin for nausea…I went to the doc on day 2 for iv fluids. Make sure u drink alot to or you will dehydrate. I hope by the end of this week I feel normal. I have suffered a little depresssion but in the situation I am in you would too. Does anyone know when its all flushed a gone?
@ Haley – Well the opiates will generally take about 3 to 5 days…but be careful with that Ativan, that is powerful medication and very addictive as well. But it sounds like you are doing well, hang in there!
I have always had an addictive pesonality. Something inside me can’t stand the thought of going through live without a quick fix. Like I’m not comfortable in my own skin. Pain pills have always been my favorite high. At least since my first memory of that high. It was in 1990. I was 21 yrs. old and loved alcohol. So after getting all my wisdom teeth pulled, I stopped to get a six pack and get my prescription of hydrocodone filled. I really didn’t even know that you could get high from them at the time. But the pharmacist asked who the beer was for because he said I couldn’t drink on this medication. If I remember right, back then the warning on the pill bottle said ” Alcohol may intensify the effect of the pills”. That’s the last thing you want to tell an addict! So I went home and took 2 pills and washed them down with a beer. 20 min. later I was on cloud nine and the roller coaster ride began.
Because I could only get them from doctors when I was hurt. I didn’t get very often at all. But when I did get hurt I would always say the pain was worse than it was to get as many as I could, and of course take them with alcohol. I remember using the bathroom at my wife’s cousin’s house several years ago and seeing an almost full bottle of vicodin on the vanity. The date on the bottle was 7 mo. old so oviously they didn’t need them. So I stole them. From then on any time we were at a friend or relitive’s house I looked for left over pills.
About 2 years ago a guy at work gave me 2 tramadol and I was high as hell for about 8 hours. It was great. So I found out how to buy them over the internet and have been using them everyday since until about June of this year when I finally found a “street source” for hydrocodone because I went from 2 tramadol a day to 10 a day. So since then I have worked my way up to a $300 a week habit. I can’t afford it anymore but I work about 27 days a mo. with only 1 or 2 days off at a time. Not enough time to withdrawl. But because it is early in the mo. and the company is making us take next Monday off as a furlow day, if I take this Friday off, I will have 4 days off. It is my only for seeable oppotunity to withdrawl myself. I have been chewing up nine 7.5/750′s every morning and four more after noon.
Today is Tuesday. It is 10:00 a.m. and I am at work. I only chewed up 7 this morning and have about 18 left. I have to work Wed. & Thurs. and have Fri.-Mon. off. Four days. Should I continue to take 7-9 pills aday or start to wean now? Should I save a few to take if my withdrawl gets to bad? I also have around 30 Tylenol 3′s. Will they help when I have aches and pains durning this process? Or will codine just make the process longer? Can someone give me some advice on how to make this as painles as possible and what to expect? Thanks Chris
I just re-read my post and I don’t think I sounded like I really want to quit. The truth is I do. I tired of the game. And so is my wife. It is killing us financially, emotionally, and me physically. So I have four days to to do this. Any advice?
Hi Chris
That is gonna be a tough detox. Taking Tylenol 3 during the process completely negates the process, because they contain another opiate. If you want to get off of opiates then you have to stop putting them in your body. That includes Ceodine.
4 Days is gonna be tough. If I were you I would take absolutely nothing on Thursday. No opiates at all. If you do that then it will get worse on Friday and then peak on Saturday. Sunday will still be tough.
I would take half of what you normally take on Wednesday. Just cut it all in half. Then cold turkey on Thursday. That is the best way to do it with your days off. Gonna be a tough withdrawal though, sounds like. Might be easier than you think though, it all depends.
Anyway good luck. You might consider treatment too, if you can swing it. 3 days in detox would be helpful…..
← Previous Comments
Comments on this entry are closed.