Medical professionals prescribe the medication to help alleviate pain and make the patient more comfortable. The Recovery Village can give people the opportunity to treat a Vicodin addiction immediately when symptoms appear. Like Osbourne, the proper treatment tools can make all the difference when obtaining a drug-free life. Copyright © 2026, AddictionHelp.com The information provided by AddictionHelp.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice. View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion.

• When people use hydrocodone more often or in higher doses than recommended, they may become tolerant to it, meaning they no longer get the same result from the same drug dose.
• If you use too much Vicodin, even once, you could suffer from liver or respiratory failure or from an overdose.
• Heroin is one of the world’s most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine in the United States.
• If a loved one is struggling with hydrocodone addiction, a good starting point is to identify a safe place and an appropriate time to speak with them and encourage them to seek treatment.
• Both substances can be dangerous in high doses, and taking too much Vicodin can lead to an overdose.

It is a life-threatening emergency—if not treated promptly, it can lead to coma, brain injury, and death. Always track your Vicodin intake to ensure you don’t take an extra dose by accident. Vicodin withdrawal symptoms occur in people who try to quit the medication or reduce their dosage after becoming dependent. Vicodin is a potent opioid-based pain reliever composed of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, a highly addictive opioid. Knowing this, it’s hardly surprising that thousands of Americans taking it for pain management end up battling Vicodin addiction.

Side Effects of Using Vicodin

Some people try to overcome opioid addiction on their own, and for the most part, these efforts fail. According to NIDA in 2021, approximately 2.5 million people aged 18 years or older in the U.S. had an opioid use disorder, which includes misuse of prescription opioids like Vicodin. Though this process occurs naturally once a person stops taking Vicodin, if physical dependence has developed, severe withdrawal symptoms may occur.

Drug Interactions

In this guide, we will inform you about everything related to Vicodin, from what it is to how its dependency can be treated. Remember, understanding the addiction is the first step toward healing. If you realize your pain is decreasing, let your doctor know, even if your prescription hasn’t run out. Your doctor may want to https://baobiuv.com/guilt-and-shame-in-addiction-stop-the-cycle/ reduce your dosage gradually and have you stop taking it sooner than expected. Knowing the possible symptoms is another reason seeking professional help can benefit recovery. Verify your insurance today – treatment could be more affordable than you think.

• Once this happens, a person requires hydrocodone or another opioid to feel normal.
• Many other pain medications can be used as alternatives to Vicodin, including other medications that also include hydrocodone or other opioids.
• Tolerance means that you need to take more and more Vicodin to feel the same effects.
• As that happens, your brain releases dopamine, and your reward center is activated.

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This creates a cycle where you up your Vicodin intake to cope, which only enflames the underlying issues. Ophelia-affiliated physician group practices are independently owned and operated by licensed physicians who provide services utilizing the Ophelia telehealth platform. Understanding these dangers is critical for anyone using or considering using Vicodin, as recognising the potential for harm can be a powerful motivator for seeking help and making safer choices. Now, a letter from Phypers has turned the tables, and Richards is now the one being accused of abuse, infidelity, and addiction. Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking hydrocodone.

• Contact the Illinois Recovery Center today to find out more about how you can get help starting today.
• In cases of allergic reactions, seizures, breathing problems, and other severe side effects, call 911 immediately.
• While the terms “addiction” and “dependence” are sometimes used interchangeably, most healthcare professionals now differentiate between physiologic dependence and addiction.
• Hydrocodone can be very effective, but it can also become habit-forming.

Understanding Addiction and Substance Use Disorder

If it’s possible someone is overdosing on Vicodin, emergency medical help should be sought immediately. Vicodin addiction can develop in anyone, but certain factors can increase the likelihood of becoming dependent on this powerful opioid medication. Individuals with a history of substance abuse, such as previous issues with alcohol or other drugs, are at a higher risk. Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or trauma can also make someone more vulnerable to abusing Vicodin as a way to self-medicate or escape emotional pain. Vicodin addiction treatment typically begins with detoxification to rid the body of the drug and its toxins. In addition to medical support and counseling, patients may also enjoy alternative therapy options to ease their journey toward recovery.

Hydrocodone addiction may begin as a result of prescription opioid abuse. Symptoms of hydrocodone abuse include drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, and flushed skin. The outcome for recovery is generally better when people take medications for opioid use disorder, versus not sticking with them or not taking them at all. Experiencing trauma, like abuse or a vicodin addiction chaotic home environment, or exposure to stress as a child or adult may lead some people to turn to drugs as a coping mechanism. Peer pressure and lack of social support also increase the risk of addiction.

It can be useful in treating moderate to severe pain but has a very high potential for addiction. It is not intended for regular use and is most often prescribed for pain resulting from an injury or recovery from a surgical procedure. Since Vicodin contains acetaminophen, mixing Vicodin with alcohol significantly increases the risk of liver failure.

How to spot the symptoms of Vicodin addiction

As that happens, your brain releases dopamine, and your reward center is activated. You may feel a sense of euphoria or well-being, and then your brain is triggered to want to seek out what created that feeling. Your brain essentially becomes alcoholism treatment rewired, and chemical neurotransmitters are fundamentally changed to the point where your ability to control your cravings for the drug doesn’t exist anymore.

Unfortunately, Vicodin dependence can develop into addiction if left untreated. Opioid addiction is characterized by a loss of control over opioid use; people addicted to Vicodin continue to take it even when it wreaks havoc on their personal and professional lives. If you take Vicodin long enough, your body will get so accustomed to it that your usual dose will cease producing effects. This is known as tolerance, and it signifies that you’ve developed Vicodin dependence, i.e., your body needs the drug to function normally. Taking Vicodin as prescribed can minimize the risk of Vicodin addiction, but it doesn’t make it safe to take. Since it alters the brain, causing it to produce increasingly more opioid receptors, anyone taking it for a prolonged period will eventually build up tolerance to it and develop Vicodin dependence.