Hydrocodone Detox: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment for Hydrocodone Withdrawal

Hydrocodone is the active ingredient in some of the most commonly prescribed painkillers in the United States. Found in Vicodin, Norco and Lortab, Hydrocodone products are frequently prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain that has not responded to other alternative therapies.

This substance is one of many opioids that have led the U.S. to what is now termed the “Opioid Epidemic” which impacts millions of people annually. If you or someone you love is addicted to hydrocodone, it’s time to seek immediate help. Recent regulations have increased the monitoring of this drug to a Schedule II narcotic, which means it carries a relatively high potential for abuse and misuse.

Repeat use of Norco, Lortab or any prescription medication that includes any combination of hydrocodone (such as hydrocodone acetaminophen 5/325 or hydrocodone 7.5/325) will carry a risk of potential addiction. Physical dependence will lead to ongoing symptoms of withdrawal should you attempt to quit abruptly or without a medically monitored tapering schedule.

Prescription opioids such as Vicodin and Lortab are often prescribed to individuals who are struggling with chronic pain, even though these drugs having been found to provide no long-term benefits to most users. Unfortunately, opioids can also make people feel very relaxed and “high” so they’re also misused for recreational purposes.

More than 14 million people in the U.S. report misusing prescription drugs such as hydrocodone. For most, the fear or outright discomfort of withdrawal is what keeps them taking this opiate over and over again. Yet, nobody starts taking a drug with the “plan” of becoming addicted. Addiction and withdrawal are negative side effects that simply arise during the course of repeated use of this type of drug.

Hydrocodone and Your Brain

Opioids like hydrocodone attach to the opioid receptors that are naturally found in the brain and along the spinal cord. These receptors are responsible for transmitting pain messages from one area of the body back to the brain.

As a result, the brain doesn’t feel the pain because the message is never sent to expose the pain that you are experiencing. At the same time, opioids also cause initial feelings of pleasure because they strongly act on the brain’s reward system. This pleasure is the exact reason users take hydrocodone for recreational purposes, even if they aren’t in any kind of real pain.

How Can I Tell if Someone is Addicted to Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone addiction can result from a doctor’s prescription for the drug or may occur after you use the drug recreationally. Regardless of how you become addicted, quitting will be tough. Consistent, repeated use of hydrocodone-containing products such as Lortab will alter the way your brain handles pain and pleasure.

Below are some signs that you or someone you love may be addicted to hydrocodone:

• Running out of pills before the next refill date
• Carrying pills around in undefined containers or in your pocket
• Changes in mood that are not typical for the user
• Angry outbursts or irrational behavior
• Trouble concentrating on everyday tasks
• Lack of interest in hobbies or family events
• Taking more pills than prescribed or taking pills that aren’t prescribed
• Taking pills for anything other than the pain for which they were prescribed
• Using hydrocodone in any way other than how it was prescribed, including snorting or shooting hydrocodone

Hydrocodone addiction requires medical treatment and monitoring for patient safety. If you or someone you love needs help, call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) to get help today.

What are the Symptoms of Hydrocodone Withdrawal?

Hydrocodone withdrawal is one of the most hated side effects of becoming addicted to this drug. Symptoms generally appear within four to eight hours after the last dose, and they will persist for three to five days.

Common symptoms of withdrawal include:

What makes the withdrawal so difficult to cope with is the fact that the user knows without a doubt that just one dose of his or her drug of choice will effectively stop the symptoms in their tracks. Opiate withdrawal symptoms are comparable to a really bad case of the flu, but unlike the flu, which the user knows is only curable with time, withdrawal is curable with more drugs. This knowledge is what causes the vicious cycle of addiction to continue to repeat.

Hydrocodone Withdrawal Timeline

Determining the exact amount of time that it will take to completely overcome any symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal is difficult. Each person is different and various factors come into play. There is no clear-cut answer as to how long hydrocodone withdrawal will last. For some, symptoms dissipate in a day or two. For others, symptoms of withdrawal can linger for up to about seven days before they peak and begin to wane off.

The severity of withdrawal generally peaks around 72 hours for most people. During this time, the individual will generally feel irritable and anxious, nauseous, and achy. Most users report skin crawling sensations and a restlessness that makes it difficult, if not impossibl,e to sleep.

A typical hydrocodone withdrawal timeline looks something like this:

• First 48 hours: Withdrawal symptoms begin with muscle aches, joint pain, or bone pain and sweating. Nausea and diarrhea may also occur at this time.
• Three to Five Days: Profuse sweating, muscle aches, and pain, vomiting and diarrhea continue to be prominent for the user at this time as the body adjusts to life without hydrocodone.
• About Seven Days: Physical symptoms generally subside but a trail of psychological symptoms is left in the wake. Anxiety, depression, shame, and guilt are common during this time.
• Up to one month: Psychological withdrawal symptoms including anxiety and depression may continue during this time but should continue to dissipate. Speak with your doctor or healthcare provider if you continue to feel upset despite your recovery efforts.