If you suffer from an addiction to Vicodin, you know the hold the drug can have on your life. Vicodin is one of the strongest painkillers available, and its opiate nature leads to severe cases of addiction. In fact, some experts say that addiction to Vicodin is on the same level as addiction to heroin.
“If you suffer from an addiction to Vicodin, you know the hold the drug can have on your life.”
Those addicted to Vicodin should never attempt to detox from the drug on their own at home. Sudden cessation of Vicodin use, after long-term use or high dosage levels, can send the body into a state of shock, leading to intense withdrawal symptoms that could be potentially life-threatening. Vicodin detox should only be undergone in a respected Vicodin withdrawal facility where patients can be monitored 24/7 by medical professionals.
Why Professional Vicodin Detox Is Needed
When users take Vicodin for extended periods of time, the body builds up a tolerance to the medication. The smaller doses that worked initially to relieve pain and discomfort, or to produce feelings of euphoria, no longer work on the user. To counteract this, users often increase the amount of Vicodin they take. As their dosage levels increase, so do their tolerance levels, and a cycle begins. Since the body has become used to a certain level of Vicodin in its system, it feels like it needs the drug. If the Vicodin is abruptly taken away, it can send the body into a state of unbalance that could be deadly.
Withdrawal symptoms from Vicodin can be quite severe and include:
- Slowed respiration
- Cessation of breathing
- Slowed heart rate
- Shaking
- Clammy skin
- Poor circulation
- Coma
- Extreme fatigue
- Body aches
- Death
If a person who is experiencing withdrawal has a slow heart rate or breathing rate, they must be attended to by medical professionals. If they aren’t, their breathing rate or heart rate could slow so much that they eventually stop altogether and death occurs.
Vicodin Withdrawal Medications
Since Vicodin is an opiate, maintenance medications are often given during the detox process. These medications include methadone or buprenorphine. The medications will bind to opiate receptors in the brain and prevent the body from going into a state of withdrawal. Over time, the doses of these maintenance medications are gradually reduced until the user is no longer taking any medications. Some individuals do need to remain on maintenance medications for quite a while, however — even months to years.
During withdrawal, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications are sometimes prescribed to alleviate feelings of agitation or sadness that can occur during detox. When Vicodin withdrawal is undergone in a dedicated medical facility, professionals will monitor patients and treat symptoms as they occur.
If you’d like help locating a Vicodin detox and withdrawal facility that can assist with the detox process, call us at . We can connect you to a high-quality center in your area that can help you or someone you love safely detox from Vicodin. Don’t hesitate; call now for more information.
