Why is hydrocodone addiction so common?
Evidence shows that hydrocodone addiction is increasing amongst habitual users in the United States. Perhaps one of the most important factors causing this alarming rise is the fact that hydrocodone is consumed with drugs whose use and distribution is not as severely restricted. Pure hydrocodone is classified as a Schedule II substance, whereas when it is mixed with other non-narcotic ingredients to create other medicines, it is classified as a Schedule III drug. Schedule III drugs, such as Vicodin and Lortab, which contain hydrocodone, are not as strictly restricted as pure hydrocodone would be if it was sold as is. Thus its easy availability becomes one of the root causes for its devastating addiction. The lack of regulation makes these drugs susceptible to misuse and addiction.

Painkillers containing hydrocodone are available in tablet, capsule and syrup forms. Chief sources of hydrocodone’s easy availability can be traced to forged prescriptions, large scale thefts at pharmacies and deviations by unprincipled pharmacists from ethical medical standards.

Treating Hydrocodone Addiction
The good news is that hydrocodone addiction is definitely treatable. Methods for treating hydrocodone drug addicts are similar to treatment given to heroin addicts. In most cases long-term abuse of the drug changes the brain in a fundamental manner in that the drug starts controlling the brain’s role in establishing pleasure and motivational hierarchy. The drug effectively moves itself to the highest priority in the person’s motivational hierarchy, superseding all other drives. Thus a person feels compelled to use the drug to derive pleasure and this slowly leads to a persistent addiction. It is in this state that people may start pretending to be ill to obtain prescriptions, steal from pharmacies and even go “doctor shopping”. So, much so that it may become impossible to quit the drug on one’s own accord and the person may have to resort to undergoing treatment to get cured.

Fortunately, there are a number of treatment options to treat hydrocodone addiction and to help mange the withdrawal symptoms associated with the treatment. These options include medications, such as methadone, levo-alpha-acetyl-methadol (LAAM), and counseling. Usually, a patient is detoxified prior to any treatment for hydrocodone addiction. This, although not a treatment in itself, can help to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms while the patient learns to live a drug free life.

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Within the first 72 hours of withdrawal, if a user abstains totally from nicotine, they will begin to feel the gradual effects of recovery. The brain is now getting used to being lavished with nicotine-free oxygen.

During the early stages of withdrawal, time seems to drag endlessly. The first few weeks are interminable. It is important not to let this overshadow the greater purpose and really keep going with a positive attitude. One may experience an unbearable craving to grab a cigarette. During such an episode, it helps to take a look at the clock and actually time the duration of the ‘attack’. It will likely last no longer that 3 minutes, although it may seem endless � this helps to gain perspective.

Most nicotine addicts complain of not being able to concentrate like before during the first few days of withdrawal. However, concentration levels begin to return to normal within two weeks.

In their smoking days, most nicotine addicts could skip a meal without feeling the hunger pangs. This was because nicotine triggered the process of releasing stored fats and sugars in our blood stream. This ends when nicotine intake stops. Hence, in order to prevent falling blood sugar levels, it is important not to skip meals.

Nicotine is a powerful stimulant. Our body needs time and a great deal of effort to learn to live without it. It is natural to feel tired, drained out and fatigued during the first few days.

Normal sleep patterns get disrupted during withdrawal. One might find oneself sleeping comparatively less. It takes a couple of weeks for regular sleep patters to establish.

Other common symptoms of physical withdrawal are tightness in the chest, slight sore throat, coughing with mucus, bad breath and headaches.

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Sales and production of hydrocodone have been rising significantly in the past few years. Presently, in the United States alone about 20 tons of hydrocodone products are manufactured and sold.

What is Hydrocodone?
Simply put, hydrocodone is an effective anti-cough agent. It is also an opiate, due to which it is of often prescribed for mild to moderate pain control. Often weighed against morphine for its pain control abilities, many studies have shown that when hydrocodone is taken within the prescription parameters, it is considered safe and seldom causes any addiction. In fact, under these conditions it can be used to mange pain quite successfully. Hydrocodone is sold under several brand names such as Anexsia, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Tussionex, Tylox, Vicodin, and Vicoprofen. It is available as tablets, capsules, and/or syrups. By and large, it is abused orally rather than by intravenous administration.

Why is Hydrocodone addictive?
Narcotics like hydrocodone act by attaching themselves to particular proteins called opioid receptors. When they attach themselves to receptors in the brain, spinal cord and gastrointestinal tract, they have the ability to alter the manner in which a person feels pain. Drugs such as hydrocodone also have the ability to affect parts of the brain that control sensory perceptions such as pleasure, which results in the initial feeling of euphoria that is produced.

Persistent use of opioids leads to the body’s increasing tolerance towards such medication. Thus higher doses have to be taken to achieve the same initial effect. Continuing use can also lead to physical addiction. Persons undergoing treatment using such drugs should be medically supervised during administration as well as appropriately overseen when discontinuing medication to avoid and reduce withdrawal symptoms associated with this drug.

Side Effects of Hydrocodone
There are many side-effects of hydrocodone. These include, but are not limited to, allergic reactions, such as hives, constipation, decreased mental and physical performance, lowered sex drive, breathing problems, dizziness, seizures and many more.

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Coping with the intense urges and cravings is perhaps the greatest challenge for most individuals. In the case of substance abuse in particular, the drug radically alters the brain by literally taking control of certain neuro chemicals. It is important to understand the temporary nature of the urges. During withdrawal, the time that the urge lasts seems endless and unbearable. It helps to actually clock the duration of an urge and see for oneself that it does end. Recovering addicts have reported that urges initially reach a climax in frequency, intensity and duration, but gradually lose their strength and fizzle out.

Some specific techniques for coping with urges are as follows:
� Attempt to stand apart from it for a moment and witness it as an outsider, with detachment.
� Recall your list of ‘benefits of quitting’
� Go back to the task you were performing
� Consider the negative fallouts of succumbing to the urge
� Completely focus your energies on any other thought or activity
� Deprive the urge of your attention. You will find that it tends to disappear gradually.

In a nutshell, all urges go away eventually and should be viewed in perspective rather than blown out of proportion. With practice and perseverance it becomes progressively easier to do this.

Most recovering addicts are faced with the question of how to cope with the problems that were previously being coped with by the addiction. In fact, the origin of an addiction is often a problem or discomfort (emotional or physical) being faced by the individual. He sees no solution to the problem and the addictive activity seems to help in coping more than adequately. Sometimes these very problems may be bigger than the addiction itself.

The problems that have appeared as a result of the addiction may not end simply by stopping the addiction. They also may require psychotherapy in order to be dealt with effectively.

Finally, the best defense against falling prey to the addiction once again is to change one’s lifestyle in a positive manner. Good habits that provide a feeling of well being should be consciously inculcated. This will reaffirm the conviction that addiction is not necessary to feel good about oneself.

Jack Smith writes about various Addiction topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intacked, the bio remains in full and the rel=”nofollow” tag is not added to any of the links. Thank-you Please visit Addiction News

Drug overdoses occurs when people take drugs in greater doses than recommended. The higher the dose and longer its exposure in the body results in serious poisoning. Different individuals react differently to drug overdoses. And the treatment also differs from person to person based on individual needs. No two individuals react similarly and need to be dealt by professional help in such cases. It can happen to anybody of any age. Crawling children may be exposed to this danger of they happen to reach any of the drugs accidentally and consume it as they have a tendency to take every thing to mouth. They may swallow drugs due to curiosity about the medicine in hand which is consumed by one of the family members. This happens in tender age only if any of the drug is kept open and at reach accidentally.

Toddlers are in a habit to share all things. So if you detect drug overdoses in one of them, check all others kids around if present. But adolescents and adults may do it intentionally in the fits of depression or anger to harm them. It is called suicide attempt. If done frequently it shows that they underline some mental health problem. This is serious issue and doesn’t only need current safety but the person needs to visit a psychiatrist to share his or her fears and insecurities if any.

The side effects when overdosed are very pronounced. It depends upon the nature of the drug how large or small will be its side effect. The common symptoms of drug overdoses are:

- Increase in body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate is seen. It is life threatening and needs to visit doctor immediately.
- Confusion, sleepiness, dizziness are the other symptoms which can be seen in the person with overdoses of drugs. It can be highly dangerous if the person breathes vomit into the lungs than vomiting out.
- The person will be sweating or cold or hot or may be dry in extremes.
- Pain in chest is usually seen in such situations which can seriously cause heart or lung damage. This may result in forceful, rapid, deep or slow breathing.
- Diarrhea, nausea, pain etc. is possible. Blood in bowel movements and vomit is also possible.

Specific drugs can be highly damaging to various organs too and can harm life in serious situations. If you notice any of these symptoms you should take the person to some professional help, emergency department or hospital near home immediately. Only doctors can detect the seriousness of the overdose and the side effects it may have caused. And if you’ll be able to provide the bottle of drug consumed it will be of great help to the doctors to give antidotes.

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One of these drugs happens to be hydrocodone and the leaders which contain this drug names are Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, and Norco. Addiction to these drugs is beginning to be seen as much as alcoholism.

This is frightening to say the least. Beating any type of drug addiction is hard but beating an opiate addiction is I think even harder.

First thing you will have to do is tell dispose of all your drugs and cut your ties to all your connections this means deleting their phone numbers from your cell phone.

If you do not do this it will be darn near impossible to stop using hydrocodone. The reason I say this is that the hydrocodone withdrawal is very unforgiving when you do kick.

If you are using drugs to manage your pain you may want to seek other alternatives like maybe taking Motrin or going to a health spa that deals in pain management.

In any case you will be faced with some heavy withdrawals so be prepared. If you have tried to quit several times on your own without success you may want to look into hydrocodone treatment.

Hydrocodone treatment is a growing very fast with the number of new addicts we are seeing daily.

In hydrocodone treatment you can choose to be medically detoxed by a completely trained staff. They will be at your beck and call twenty four seven.

In most treatment facility’s they start you with subutex and lower your dose using suboxone.

This seems to work quite well and most people have no complaints and it is for the most part painless. So why not stop using today!

If you wish to learn more about Hydrocodone treatment.

Most people do not know that this type of withdrawal is really less dangerous than alcohol withdrawal which can be fatal. This is most addicts’ biggest nightmare. I have personally been in this situation many times and trust me here it is indeed a nightmare. Symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal include; upset stomach, vomiting, tremor, nervousness, hot and cold sweats, just to name a few. However it can be done successfully with little or no discomfort depending on which way you choose to stop using. There are a couple ways in which to kick hydrocodone one of which is just go cold turkey in your own home.

Let me clue you in right upfront this will not be easy and it is no fun. A much better way to go would be to find a rehab that offers medical withdrawal and go to hydrocodone addiction treatment. There you will have the luxury of being treated as you come off of the hydrocodone. There they will use medications to ease the discomfort of opiate withdrawal. This will be by far much more comfortable than kicking hydrocodone in your home with nothing.

Please visit if you would like to learn more about Hydrocodone withdrawal.

Drug detox, and particularly opiate detox, can be a very scary and difficult thing. The reality is that no matter what method they choose, drug addicts still have to go through it if they are going to be sober. A few modern techniques have been designed to make the process easier, however.

Naltrexone

First of all, there is Naltrexone. This drug is an opiate antagonist, which means it blocks the drug user from feeling any effects from heroin or oxycodone or other opiate, so that they become unappealing to them. With this method the patient is given a Naltrexone implant by injection, and then the person is forced to withdraw. Some medicines can help a little with the pain of withdrawal, but since the implant lasts 6 months, the person will not find any relief from going back to opiate.

Anesthesia-assisted Rapid Detox

Another method that has been developed more recently is the anesthesia-assisted rapid detox, where the patient is put under general anesthesia while given Naltrexone. The idea is that when they wake up, the patient will have been through the most difficult part of detox and can feel well enough to stay away from the drugs. Some people have found with anesthesia-assisted rapid detox that the benefits aren’t that great, that the person still has symptoms of withdrawal after they wake up, and that there are some serious side effects to using anesthesia, including pulmonary and psychiatric complications.

Buprenorphine

Another way people are making it through detox is to take buprenorphine, which regulates the clearing of opiate from the brain. This drug is a replacement drug for the opiate, and while it is supposed to be used to wean a person more slowly from drugs, the truth is that many people become stuck using buprenorphine for the rest of their lives.

Acupuncture

Other modern methods that are sometimes used are things like acupuncture and electrostimulation to manage the pain. While some people firmly believe these methods help to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, there have been few studies that actually show this works.

All of these methods are actually just the beginning of a drug addict’s journey to become sober. Following the physical opiate detox will be weeks, months, or years of therapy to keep from turning back to drugs. But with the right help, it certainly can be done.

Sources

Whitten, Lori Study Finds Withdrawal No Easier With Ultrarapid Opiate October 2006

Desperation to Overcome Addiction Leads to Unusual Solutions 4/14/2009

This article was written by Jared More for Poinciana at Palm Beach. Poinciana at Palm Beach is a high end opiate detox center in Florida if you would like more information give us a call at (561) 818-2922.