Hydrocodone Detox
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Hydrocodone is a type of opioid medication used to treat pain. It works through your central nervous system by binding to your opioid receptors, like other opioid drugs.
It is often prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain – for example, for treating injury-related pain, or pain from dental surgery. When you are prescribed hydrocodone, you may be given the brand Vicodin, Lortab, Hydrodan, or Vicoprofen.
Hydrocodone, like other opioids, can be addictive. If you find yourself addicted to hydrocodone, then a drug detox may be the best step for you – but what exactly is an opioid detox? That’s what we’re going to explore on this page.
Read on to learn more about hydrocodone addiction treatment – specifically detoxification, as well as information about hydrocodone withdrawal. We’ll also be discussing how our friendly team at Help4Addiction can help you overcome your hydrocodone addiction.
What is Hydrocodone Addiction?
Drug addiction is referred to as a chronic and relapsing brain disorder that is characterised by the continual use or abuse of a drug despite the negative consequences, as well as the lack of control over taking a drug.
It is considered a brain disorder as it is linked to functional changes in the brain in areas associated with stress, reward, and self-control.
Opioid use disorder refers to opioid addiction or opioid abuse. Opioid dependence is when you are physically dependent on an opioid drug, whether it is a prescription drug or an illicit opiate such as heroin.
Opioids are addictive substances – and hydrocodone is no exception. If you take hydrocodone for a long time, then you could develop a tolerance to the drug.
If you have a tolerance to your prescription painkillers, your body has become used to the effects of the drug – which means you’ll need to take a higher dose to feel the same effect.
If you are dependent on hydrocodone, you’ll experience symptoms of withdrawal when you cease taking the drug. You may also feel as though you need the drug to function.
Drug addiction can impact all areas of your life – and hydrocodone addiction is no exception. It can not only impact your physical health and your mental health, but have negative consequences on your relationships, finances, and even your career. Drug addiction impacts your overall well-being, and often affects your loved ones too.
It can be difficult to overcome drug addiction and live a sober life – however, at Help4Addiction, we can help you by finding the right rehab facility for you.
Nobody should deal with addiction alone, which is why we are here to help. It’s important you seek treatment sooner rather than later.
Although the damage caused by excessive drug use/ hydrocodone use is often preventable and treatable, not getting the right treatment can cause long-term damage and can also be deadly.
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Abusing Hydrocodone and Other Prescription Opioids
Hydrocodone is categorised as a Class A controlled substance in the UK, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 – meaning that it is only available legally via a prescription.
However, people still find a way to take hydrocodone despite not having a prescription. This is a form of drug abuse – hydrocodone abuse doesn’t always refer to excessive drug use.
Hydrocodone abuse can also refer to taking hydrocodone with other drugs (e.g illegal drugs/ street drugs), or with alcohol.
Essentially, hydrocodone abuse is when you take the drug in any way other than prescribed, whether it be to feel high or you source it through illicit means (e.g drug dealers).
As well as increasing the risk of developing a hydrocodone addiction, hydrocodone abuse can also increase the risk of having an accidental overdose.
An overdose is considered a medical emergency, and you should seek medical attention immediately. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions when taking opioid drugs.
Opiate Withdrawal Explained
Opiate withdrawal occurs when you stop taking the drug after developing a physical dependence on it. The withdrawal process and withdrawal timeline can vary from case to case in both severity and duration.
Some factors that can impact this include the severity of your addiction, the length of time you’ve been taking the drug, and your medical history. Often, the more severe the addiction, the more severe the withdrawal process will be.
Many people experience withdrawal symptoms that are mild and only moderately uncomfortable – however, there can often be complications when you withdraw from opioids – for example, opioid withdrawal syndrome. This can be life-threatening and should be treated by medical professionals.
Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
Many people experience a range of psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal. Some hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Muscle aches
- Stomach cramps
- Frequent yawning
- Sweating
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
- Anxiety and agitation
Opioid withdrawal can be particularly uncomfortable and is often best completed in a rehab facility – read on to learn more about opioid detoxification.
What Is An Opioid Detox?
The first stage of drug addiction treatment involves detoxification. Withdrawing from opioid medications can be difficult, which is why we recommend that opioid drug users complete a detox program instead of quitting ‘cold turkey’.
When discussing your detox options, addiction specialists will often use The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).
The Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale/ COWS is a scale that can be used in both outpatient and inpatient rehab settings for opioid withdrawal management. It can help to monitor withdrawal symptoms over time.
Medical detoxification involves medical supervision/ medical assistance. In some cases, you may be given detox medication such as Buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder. Symptoms of withdrawal may begin as soon as six hours after your last dose but can occur within 30 hours of stopping hydrocodone use.
Detoxification addresses physical dependence – however, it doesn’t address the physiological, behavioural, or social aspects of addiction.
This is something that is addressed as part of a larger treatment plan. At Help4Addiction, we can determine the best plan for you. Read on to learn more.
Book A Hydrocodone Detox Today
Addiction can be difficult to deal with, especially alone. At Help4Addiction, we understand how difficult it can be to come to terms with your addiction and find substance abuse treatment.
This is why we dedicate ourselves to helping people find the right rehab for them – and we can help you to find the right treatment for you. Check out this page – ‘What is rehab?’ – to learn more about the rehab process.
It can be difficult to detox from opioids cold turkey without support – which is why it’s always best to complete a detox with medical assistance – whether it be at home as an outpatient, or at a residential rehab facility.
As well as sourcing the right detox plan for you, we can put the right primary rehab plan in place for you – including addiction therapy and aftercare.
Addiction therapy is an integral stage of hydrocodone rehab – it can not only improve your mental health but teach you valuable coping strategies that can contribute to relapse prevention.
Therapy can also improve your confidence and well-being, and teach you more about yourself and your addiction. Some therapies in rehab include:
- CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)
- DBT (dialectical behavioural therapy)
- Group therapy
- One-to-one counselling
- Family therapy
- Interpersonal therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Many more...
Upon completing rehab, you may continue to receive support in the form of aftercare/ secondary treatment.
Recovery can be lonely, so you may wish to receive telephone support, online support, ongoing therapy, or attend support groups. Secondary treatment can streamline the transition from rehab to your everyday life and can help to prevent relapse.
At Help4Addiction, we aim to make the experience less daunting for you – so contact us today to begin your recovery journey.
About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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