Vicodin is an opiate medication used to help people lead pain-free and productive lives. When the medication is taken as it is prescribed, vicodin is safe, effective, and rarely causes addiction. However, as with any opiate, Vicodin can become addictive and a person may feel unable to function normally without it. Because Vicodin has such a great potential for physical and emotional dependence, it is important to be aware of the warning signs of addiction.
Side Effects
The typical side effects of Vicodin include constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, lightheadedness and heartbeat irregularities. While these side effects generally require little or no treatment, potentially serious problems are possible if the medication is overused. Other side effects of Vicodin use and abuse include blurred vision, hallucinations, extreme confusion and even permanent deafness. Pregnant users may give birth to infants who are born addicted to the drug. Emotional and social problems are also consequences of Vicodin abuse.
Tolerance
Repeated use of Vicodin may cause tolerance to the drug, and a person may eventually feel the need for increased amounts to get pain relief. Regardless of tolerance to its narcotic effects, there is a limit to how much Vicodin can be ingested safely. Because it contains large amounts of acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is toxic to the liver, taking too much Vicodin can result in severe liver damage. High dosages can also result in breathing difficulties, coma and even death.
Prescription Fraud
People who become addicted to Vicodin may feel so desperate to maintain a continuing supply of the drug that they fabricate or exaggerate pain symptoms, visit several doctors to get several prescriptions, or even use fraudulent or altered prescriptions. Such prescription drug fraud is a felony, and often the first sign to friends and family of someone's addiction to Vicodin or other opiates is the emergence of problems with the legal authorities.
Withdrawal
The treatment of Vicodin addiction usually involves the gradual decrease of daily intake and addressing the accompanying withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include pains in the bones and muscles, insomnia, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, chills, restlessness, loss of appetite, and panic attacks. Vicodin should not be stopped "cold turkey," because that tends to worsen withdrawal symptoms. Most symptoms usually diminish over the course of one to two weeks. Although Vicodin withdrawal is not ordinarily a life-threatening process, it can prove quite challenging, and monitoring by medical personnel is recommended.
Treatment
Counseling is an important part of getting past addiction to Vicodin. Recovery from a Vicodin addiction may even require treatment at a residential center. The use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques has also proven to be very beneficial in the fight against addiction to prescription medications. CBT helps people learn the skills they need to avoid drug use and to cope more effectively with their problems. Group counseling and the use of programs such as Narcotics Anonymous can provide additional resources and support.
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