Long Term Effects of Vicodin Abuse

Brain damage can include memory loss, cognitive function issues and drastic personality changes. Acetaminophen, while less potent in terms of abuse potential, plays a significant role in the overall impact of Vicodin on the body. In high doses, acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage, a risk that is compounded when combined with alcohol or other medications. Generally, those who have abused higher doses of hydrocodone or abused it for a longer time will experience more intense withdrawal symptoms. In the U.S. in 2016, it was reported that about 11.5 million people, at least 12 years old, misused hydrocodone at least one time in the prior year, according to the U.S. Hydrocodone is an opioid just like heroin and oxycodone, so there is a high potential for abuse.

More about Vicodin (acetaminophen / hydrocodone)

• This is a major concern for someone who experiences an overdose, slowing their breathing down far below acceptable levels.
• This means that unlawful supply is punishable by life in prison and possession, up to seven years.
• Knowing the hydrocodone abuse signs can help you to seek treatment for yourself or someone you know.
• Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
• Naloxone is typically given to reverse the effects of an overdose because hydrocodone is an opiate.

Any treatment center receiving calls from the site is a paid advertiser. Assess each patient’s risk before prescribing, and monitor for development of these behaviors and conditions. If you or a loved one is misusing, dependent on, or addicted to hydrocodone, help is available. Contact one of our admissions navigators today at to begin your life in recovery. It’s also worth noting that OUD occurs on a spectrum that ranges from mild to severe, depending on your unique symptoms.

Abuse and Addiction Potential

Some individuals start using Vicodin to self-medicate for issues such as untreated pain, mental health disorders like depression or anxiety, or to cope with stress. This form of abuse often begins with a legitimate prescription but gradually escalates as tolerance develops, leading to higher what is alcoholism doses and prolonged use. Some people may already have a high risk of developing a Vicodin addiction, including people who have mental health issues or people who have a history of substance use. A person at risk for developing Vicodin addiction may show signs and symptoms of drug abuse before an addiction develops.

Vicodin Side Effects

Chronic users may experience anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders, often exacerbated by the drug’s effects on brain chemistry. In addition, addiction to any substance brings a range of serious effects. Eventually, hydrocodone use will become the primary focus of a person’s life to the detriment of one’s career, family, other relationships, and health. Without proper addiction treatment, it’s highly unlikely that a person will recover.

Reserve concomitant prescribing of Hydrocodone ER and benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options are inadequate. For questions about how to get admitted to rehab for opioid addiction, call us today at . We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. While hydrocodone is typically taken orally, some who abuse the drug crush the pills and either snort or inject the powder.

• This medication has a risk for abuse and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death.
• If a person wishes to change their dose, they should speak with their doctor.
• Accidental ingestion of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen oral solution, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen.
• Unfortunately, despite its popularity, this formulation of hydrocodone carries additional risks for the people who use it.

During inpatient rehab at AdCare, patients struggling with opioid addiction may begin with detox and move directly into a residential program. It is not always immediately clear if someone is overdosing on opioids, but it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you think someone you’re is vicodin addictive with may have overdosed. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.

• The U.S. DEA mentioned that prescription drug counterfeiters often use pharmacy-grade machines that can make street versions of these medications look similar to the real thing.
• The Vicodin detox process should be medically supervised as withdrawal symptoms can be severe and potentially dangerous.
• Once the withdrawal symptoms begin, they can last for four to 10 days, on average.
• There’s no formal distinction of what constitutes long-term opioid use.

Take Back Your Life From Hydrocodone Addiction

• This medication may also cause severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems.
• The side effects of long-term hydrocodone abuse include numerous physical and mental health problems.
• Treatment for Vicodin addiction often begins with a detox program that uses medications to ease withdrawal symptoms.
• With repeated use over time, higher doses of Vicodin are needed to achieve the same pain-relieving or pleasurable effects, a phenomenon known as tolerance.
• Prior to these new regulations, hydrocodone once contained more than double that amount.

Hydrocodone addiction is clinically referred to as an opioid use disorder (OUD). With long-term use, the drug’s pain-relieving effects also decrease. Oddly, at doses of 120mg of oral morphine a day or above, pain actually becomes worse. Prior to prescribing hydrocodone, assess each patient’s risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, and regularly monitor all patients for opioid addiction behaviors or conditions. When the body is unable to process all of the opioids in its system, breathing and heart rates can plummet. In just a few minutes, someone overdosing on hydrocodone may stop breathing, depriving their brains of oxygen (also known as hypoxia).

Damage to the Liver

The addition of acetaminophen is thought to lower hydrocodone’s risk of abuse, causing many to question the FDA’s decision to approve Zohydro. Chronic constipation is linked to the long term effects of Vicodin abuse. Constipation is easily treatable; however, if left untreated it can cause serious health concern such as hemorrhoids. Each person entering treatment will have different needs and will present with factors that will impact their treatment. Speaking with a professional about your specific needs while pursuing recovery can help you feel more comfortable with the process of recovering from hydrocodone use. If you’re concerned about how long you’ve been taking opioids or want to cut back your dose, talk with your prescribing doctor.

Side Effects Of Hydrocodone

If a person wishes to change their dose, they should speak with their doctor. It is important to note that anyone can develop a hydrocodone addiction, and the risks of addiction can be severe. Fortunately, help is available if you or someone you love is struggling with a hydrocodone addiction. Substance abuse treatment programs can help you put an end to your addiction and learn the skills necessary to sustain sobriety. Variants of hydrocodone containing acetaminophen also pose a high-risk of liver damage or failure. 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.