The opioid epidemic has rocked our nation with jaw-dropping opioid-related drug overdose deaths in each of our fifty states. Federal and state officials are scrambling to develop new solutions and strategies to reverse the trends that continue to skyrocket. Especially on the eastern coast. But how did the issue with hydrocodone addiction and other painkiller problems begin?
Opiate painkillers were originally and mostly used for post-surgery patients and situations of extreme pain. But during the 1990s, certain medical professionals approved opiate painkillers to be used for not only those purposes mentioned above but also for patients suffering from chronic pain. Of course, when this major change occurred, prescriptions for chronic pain started to rise, showing a significant year-to-year increase that has continued to climb. Some believe that hydrocodone was the main opioid being prescribed that started it all.
What is Hydrocodone Addiction?
It is in the family of drugs known as opiate analgesics (painkillers). Opiates or as they are also known, opioids, are derived from the opium poppy plant and are potent pain relievers. Hydrocodone-acetaminophen is slightly less potent than actual hydrocodone but can increase its strength and effectiveness. Hydrocodone is distributed under the brand names Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab. These brand names are combinations of hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
Hydrocodone can be found in over 200 different commercial drugs and is used to treat moderate to severe pain and also used to suppress coughs brought about by the flu or colds.
When someone takes an opiate drug, especially for the first time, the drug attaches itself to the numerous opioid receptors throughout the body. We also have opioids in the body that occur naturally and are meant to calm us down; they also manage the pleasure and reward systems in the brain.
When you take opioid painkillers, such as hydrocodone, your pleasure system experiences a considerable rush of a chemical known as dopamine, which is a major neurotransmitter. Dopamine sends signals to the neurons of the body and tells them to create elevated levels of pleasure or feelings of euphoria or a “high.”
Hydrocodone Side Effects
The short-term effects are mainly to curb pain by directly modifying the pain signals in the central nervous system.
- Sleepiness
- Lethargy
- Reduced feelings of stress and worry
- Numbness
- Increased sense of well-being
- Reduced pain
The side effects are unpleasant. Some users only experience the milder side effects when they take hydrocodone, while others may have more severe reactions that require medical intervention when hydrocodone addiction happens.
- Feelings of dysphoria and anxiety
- Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
- Headaches and muscle aches
- Problems with sleeping and nightmares
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Constipation
- Widespread muscle weakness
- Itchiness which can lead to skin abrasions when over-scratched
- Bowel obstructions
- Respiratory / breathing issues
- Problems with urination
- Severe allergic reactions can also occur such as hives, rash, itching or swelling
- Slowed or irregular heartbeat
With continued use of hydrocodone, tolerance begins to build up in the body and the effect that it creates on your central nervous system, and opioid receptors lessen. As a result, this means more of the drug is necessary to experience the same desired effect. Tolerance can happen faster than you may think. In some cases, tolerance develops after just a few times of taking the drug.
Consequences of Continued Hydrocodone Use
With each use, your body goes through a physical change as the drug takes its effect and over time your brain and body become reprogrammed to operate using the drug and physical dependence is formed. At this point, addiction is just around the corner. Undeniably, hydrocodone addiction is by far the worst long-term side effect of this substance.
Hydrocodone is a narcotic opioid drug, similar to that of morphine and heroin. Furthermore, like all other opiate drugs, it is highly addictive. These types of substances are unusually high risk because addiction can develop even when used as directed. Addiction isn’t always a choice. Typically, no one receives a prescription from their trusted healthcare provider thinking they will develop dependence, but unfortunately, it happens more often than not.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms
When someone has developed an addiction to hydrocodone, they will spend more time, effort, and resources on acquiring more to maintain their physical and mental addiction. Likewise, their lives can begin to unravel and managing other parts of their life, including their loved ones, can become increasingly difficult. Anyone with hydrocodone addiction should seek a treatment program that will help them achieve a life of sobriety. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available that will help you all the way through and help to ease the withdrawal process.
- Fever
- Cold-flashes
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety
- Muscle and joint pain
- Insomnia
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
For more information about hydrocodone addiction and treatment options, please contact A Forever Recovery today.
- livescience.com – Opioid Facts
- drugs.com – Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone