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Importance of Quality Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment
Hydrocodone is a painkiller that is the primary ingredient in Vicodin, a widely prescribed pain medication. It is also available in brand names Robidone, Hycodan, and Zohydro ER. Even though it is capable of effectively relieving pain, even short-term use can become habit forming, leading to a possible hydrocodone addiction. Even with the large number of opioids that are abused throughout the country, hydrocodone is far more abused than any other alternative.
How Hydrocodone Works
As a member of the opioid class, hydrocodone is part of a drug class referred to as the narcotic analgesics. When ingesting these substances, they connect to the opioid receptors. These are proteins in the spinal cord and the brain. Opioids prevent pain signals from entering into the brain. Instead of feeling pain, users experience feelings of drowsiness and euphoria.
The drug has also been used to deal with cough suppression. It directly influences the part of the brain that is responsible for coughing. It is available in some cough medicines prescribed to people with lung infections, allergies and colds. It might also be prescribed for people who experience chronic pain caused by some other condition, surgery or an injury.
Treatment for Hydrocodone Addiction
One of the reasons that more and more people need hydrocodone addiction treatment is because of the prevalence of the drug. Doctors have been prescribing the narcotic regularly, and users have the perception that abusing this pharmaceutical drug is somehow safer than abusing illicit street drugs.
However, according to statistics published in the Pain Physician Journal, Americans use upwards of 99 percent of the hydrocodone around the world. This means that over-prescribing is a serious issue. With that many substances on the market, it also makes it easier for people to get their hands on the drug. With easy access and a faulty perception of safety, people are more inclined to use.
Hydrocodone – is it Addictive?
Because it alters the perception of our central nervous system and our brain, the use of hydrocodone can become very habit forming. It is possible to develop a chemical dependency to the medication relatively quickly, which can turn into full-blown addiction. If users abuse the medication rather than take it as prescribed, their body starts to develop a tolerance. Because of the tolerance, it means that the user will have to ingest more and more each time to experience the same sensations as before.
The Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction
Remember that before everyone ever seeks treatment for hydrocodone addiction, there are likely signs that suggest that he or she has a problem. Someone who abuses the medication may start to neglect his or her responsibilities at home or work. There may also be problems with personal relationships. Symptomatic of dependence is the fact that this user will try to find ways to get more medication. Withdrawal symptoms after not using, a lack of motivation and financial problems may be indicative of dependence.
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Short-term effects:
The short-term effects might appear relatively harmless, even beneficial to users. It eliminates pain in the user after ingesting. Some report that taking the drug leads to a sense of euphoria. Because it is prescribed for pain management, it should come as no surprise that the user feels little to no pain after ingesting the substance.
Long-term effects:
The most dangerous of the long-term effects of hydrocodone use is addiction. It is a narcotic, not unlike morphine, heroin or codeine. It is important to realize that even when taken as prescribed by a doctor; it is possible for a user to become addicted. A tolerance starts to build up after repeated use of the medication. This means that in order to achieve the same effect as before, the user has to take more.
Other long-term effects include physical problems such as liver damage or hearing loss. However, the adverse effect on the user’s personal life remains the most damaging result. It leads to issues with mental stability, causes difficulties with job performance or wreaks havoc on family relationships.
Going Through Hydrocodone Withdrawal
There are a number of mental, emotional and physical symptoms to undergoing hydrocodone withdrawal. This is why it is important to seek hydrocodone help at a qualified hydrocodone rehab facility. The inpatient treatment centers are far better equipped to handle medical detox, primarily because the patient is surrounded by qualified professionals at all time.
There are a number of different physical effects in relates to opiate withdrawal, these depend on a number of different factors, such as how long someone has been using the drug and how much their daily use was.
Some of the more likely withdrawal symptoms include:
- Vomiting
- Severe pain
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Nausea
- Intense sweating
- Hallucinations
- Fever
- Difficulty sleeping
- Diarrhea
- Constant shivering
- Anxiety
Any number of these sensations might be enough to get someone to relapse. This is especially true because the user knows that just using one more time would provide them with an intense feeling of relief. That is why hydrocodone withdrawal is best done in an inpatient hydrocodone treatment facility where this quick use is simply not an option.
Finding Hydrocodone Addiction Treatment
One of the most important decisions that someone struggling with hydrocodone addiction has to make is what type of program to complete. Inpatient programs have long been considered the gold standard in relates to drug treatment programs. They provide people with the necessary added structure in order to recover from addiction.
The fact that someone lives within a facility for 24 hours of the day ensures that they are not easily tempted. Long-term treatment also gives the user a chance to understand the underlying root cause of what led to dependence in the first place. What is the reason that this person started to abuse hydrocodone? Without getting to the underlying reasons as to why, chances are that nothing will ever change in the future.
If you or someone close to you struggles with dependence but wants to find a hydrocodone addiction treatment program that works with them, it is important to seek qualified recovery programs that match their needs. It is important to gather as much information beforehand, especially because this is one of the most important decisions that someone is ever going to make.