Are You Addicted to Hydrocodone?

Addiction to Hydrocodone is very common and increased usage is being noted as a rising trend. This is largely due to the easy availability of this drug. It is often consumed with other drugs that are not severely restricted and these mixtures usually come in the form of painkillers that are prescribed by doctors. Some of the common preparations that are used are Vicodin and Lortab.

Medications containing Hydrocodone can come in tablet, capsule or syrup forms and all preparations are taken orally. In its pure form it is very hard to obtain, because of its addictive nature.

The symptoms of addiction are anxiousness to take the drug and the need to take more of the drug to get the desired effect. To feed their addiction, many addicts go from doctor to doctor faking the severity of a condition in order to obtain the medication. Some resort to criminal behavior such as breaking into pharmacies to steal the medication or forging prescriptions.

After prolonged usage, Hydrocodone begins to control the brain to make itself the highest priority. This makes the addict compelled to use the drug to gain pleasure from it. Hydrocodone addiction is a physical habit as well as a psychological habit. It is rare that an addict can quit this addiction on his or her own. In order to obtain help, an addict must seek treatment from a medical professional.

Treatment for addicts consists first of detoxification to rid the body of the drug. Once this is accomplished, the patient can be given treatments such as methadone and LAAM. These are much the same as the treatments used for heroin addicts. During this treatment period, there is often counseling offered for the psychological damage sustained while taking Hydrocodone over a long period.

Hydrocodone also has many common side effects such as light-headedness, nausea, drowsiness, euphoria and vomiting. Some of the less common side effects may include allergic reactions, blood disorders, anxiety, lethargy, difficulty urinating, breathing difficulties and rashes.

It is not recommended that pregnant women take this drug, as the effects on the unborn fetus are unknown. It is also recommended that alcohol be avoided as there is an increased risk of liver damage and overdosing causing hapatotoxicity. Alcohol is often mixed with Hydrocodone preparations because of the feelings of euphoria or drowsiness that are experienced.

It is recommended that if you feel you may either be at risk of addiction or you are already addicted, you should seek the advice of a doctor immediately. He or she can help you approach this problem with helpful advice and treatment. If you have a loved one who is addicted, there are support groups available to counsel and help families of addicts understand the addiction.

Disclaimer: The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to your doctor to learn more about Hydrocodone.

Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more Hydrocodone resources at hydrocodone-central.info.