Vicodin is the commercial name for an opioid analgesic manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. It contains the opioid drug hydrocodone in combination with acetaminophen. Vicodin and other opioid pain-relievers exert their effects by interacting with the nervous system's pain-signaling pathways, explains PubMed Health. Vicodin and related drugs have the potential to become addictive. Withdrawal symptoms are experienced by users who have become physically dependent on the drug.
Emotional Changes
The text "Molecular Neurophoarmacology" explains that taking Vicodin for a long period of time causes the body and the brain to make changes at the cellular level so that tissues and organs continue to function properly, despite the presence of the drug. Some of these changes occur in an area of the brain that helps people learn and respond to rewarding stimuli. This area is sometimes called the "limbic system." As a result of these adaptations, when Vicodin withdrawal occurs, addicted individuals may feel depressed, anxious and agitated. These emotional changes are normal and will dissipate as the person's system adapts to a drug-free environment.
Early Autonomic Changes
The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two divisions: the sympathetic and parasympathetic. They work antagonistically to adjust the body's physiological condition in response to the environment. The sympathetic division arouses the body in preparation to face a threat--a reaction commonly known as the "fight or flight" response. The parasympathetic division affects organs and tissues more discreetly and tends to restore physiological norms following excitement. The "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology" explains that withdrawal from Vicodin manifests itself, in part, in the form of sympathetic ANS hyperactivity. This means that during early withdrawal, users typically experience symptoms such as excessive yawning, runny nose and teary eyes.
Late Autonomic Changes
The text "Essential Psychopharmacology" explains that the late stages of Vicodin withdrawal are unpleasant and most likely to illicit drug-relapse as the addicted individual wishes to ease discomfort. Prolonged hyperactivity in the ANS causes such withdrawal symptoms as racing heart, excessive sweating, chills/goosebumps, pain originating from the bones and muscle spasms. However, the severity of withdrawal symptoms differs between individuals and depends, in part, on the length of time Vicodin was used and the dosage taken.
References
- Abbott Laboratories: Vicodin
- PubMed Health: Hydrocodone
- "Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience (Second Edition)"; Eric J. Nestler et al.; 2009
- "Clinical Manual of Addiction Psychopharmacology"; Henry R. Kranzler, M.D. and Domenic A. Ciraulo, M.D.; 2005
- "Essential Psychopharmacology (2nd Edition)"; Stephen Stahl; 2002
