Hydrocodone Addiction and Abuse

Vicodin is a white tablet that has the dosage debossed on one side, and the word “Vicodin“ with ES or HP debossed on the other.

Each Vicodin pill carries 300mg of acetaminophen and is available in three different Hydrocodone dosage levels, such as 5mg, 7.5mg, and 10mg. Under general circumstances, this drug is prescribed to be taken every four to six hours.

In 2011, around 131 million Americans were prescribed Vicodin, often in needless strengths and dosage. As a result, in 2014, lawmakers comprehended the growing dangers of Hydrocodone combined products and relisted them from Schedule III to Schedule II controlled substances. Following this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered manufacturers to cease the production and market of products that contained more than 325mg of acetaminophen due to the damages it caused to livers and the imminent risks of an accidental drug overdose. The prior formulations consisted of 500mg to 700mg of acetaminophen in each pill.

Narco pills are available in three primary colors. The white one with orange specks is debossed with the word “Watson“ on one side and “913“ on the other. The orange pill has “Narco® 729“ debossed on one side, while the other side is bisected. The yellow pill comes with “Narco 539“ debossed on one side, and the other side bisected.

Although Vicodin is the most common Hydrocodone prescription, Narco is also reasonably common in the industry. This drug is mostly prescribed in two strengths – 7.5mg or 10mg of Hydrocodone with 325mg of acetaminophen.

Before the FDA took measures to reduce the acetaminophen levels in medications, Narco had the lowest concentration of acetaminophen. As a result, most addicts started to rely on Narco over other prescription painkillers to diminish the risks of ingesting too much acetaminophen. At present, Narco now has the highest levels of acetaminophen amongst the Hydrocodone variants.

Lortab is available in many colors, such as white with pink, green, or blue speaks or wholly pink, depending on its strength. The pills are debossed with the word “ucb“ on one side, while numbers such as 901, 902, 903, or 910 are debossed on the other.

Zohydro is a capsule that is available in white, light green, dark blue, or dark brown, with the words “Z3## (dosage) in black ink.

Zohydro is a pure Hydrocodone medication that shot to fame right after being the first to be approved by the FDA in 2013. This approval was announced against the advice of the FDA‘s scientific advisory board, which voted 11 – 2 in denial of the approval. The presence of acetaminophen is believed to reduce the risks of Hydrocodone abuse, which led many to question the agency‘s approval of Zohydro.

As pure Hydrocodone has a higher risk of abuse, Zohydro is only prescribed to alleviate severe chronic pain in individuals who are extremely tolerant of opioids and do not show any progress with other alternatives.

Taking hydrocodone could make an individual feel tired and drowsy. However, it can also cause disrupted sleep patterns and insomnia.

The dose is usually not more than six tablets per day. Norco® is one tablet every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Anything more is considered too much.

Hydrocodone is a synthetic opioid derivative of codeine.

Chronic constipation due to Hydrocodone addiction can result in bowel damages. This, in turn, can lead to

• Hemorrhoids
• Damages to the skin around and inside the anus
• Fecal impaction, and rectal prolapse
• Nerve damage and ulcers around the anus
• Gastrointestinal bleeding

The long-term use of Hydrocodone decreases an individual’s breathing rate and directly restricts the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain. This could result in dire complications to the brain and other various organs as well as increase the risks of sudden deaths in individuals with sleep apnea and lung diseases. The method of consumption can also result in severe consequences as those who snort or smoke the drug can damage their lungs by inhaling the harsh chemicals.

Heavy use of Hydrocodone reduces hormone levels in the body. Since some of these hormones include testosterone and estrogen, it can lead to fertility issues in men and women. Low hormones can also result in high risks of depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis due to loss of muscle mass and bone fractures. A study has found that the levels of estrogen in women addicted to Hydrocodone were 30 to 70 percent lower than what was normal.

Individuals with an addiction to Hydrocodone are at a high risk of damaging opioid receptors in the brain, affecting how the brain perceives and responds to pain. Numerous studies have reported that individuals with a long-term addiction to Hydrocodone are much likely to experience excruciating pain. These individuals develop a heightened sensitivity to pain, making them require a longer period to recover from injuries or surgeries and experience intense cravings to use Hydrocodone to alleviate the pain.

A heavy addiction to Hydrocodone can alter the release and absorption of chemicals in the brain, specifically of the mood-regulating neurotransmitters named serotonin and dopamine. When one takes large doses of Hydrocodone for a significantly long period of time, huge amounts of feel-good neurotransmitters start to flood the brain. With time, this effect will modify the structures associated with emotional control, rational thinking, memory, and learning.

Long-term oxygen deprivation can also implicate the structure of the brain. Some of these damages are treatable with time, while some are not entirely reversible. The risks of irreversible brain damage as a result of reduced blood flow following a respiratory failure from Hydrocodone overdose are also imminent.

The lack of blood flow that occurs during Hydrocodone overdose may mandate the amputation of one or more limbs.

Most Hydrocodone variants containing acetaminophen pose a high risk of liver damage or failure. Studies have found that regular consumption of more than 4,000mg of acetaminophen can result in acute or chronic liver injury – which includes cirrhosis and liver failure. As a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) restricted the approved levels of acetaminophen to 325mg in Hydrocodone products.

Mild stomach and muscle pains, nausea, anxiety, depression, and flu-like symptoms may appear within the first 24 hours of withdrawal. Many find cravings and anxiety as the most challenging symptoms during this period.

Acute withdrawal symptoms such as muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and profuse sweating usually peak around the third day. For most individuals, withdrawal begins to fade during the fifth day, while emotional symptoms tend to remain but may improve as physical sensations begin to improve.

As most of the physical symptoms subside, psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and a strong urge to relapse will emerge during this period. Most patients will also start to feel remorseful and embarrassed about the things they did or said while being high.

Post-acute withdrawal symptoms may persist during this period depending upon the severity of the addiction. Psychological withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety may persist for 18 or 24 months after quitting the drug. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms may require further therapy and long-term treatment.

Although this medication falls under the opioid category, when adhered to a strictly prescribed dose, Methadone works a miracle in safely and effectively disconnecting an individual from addiction.

Methadone operates by barricading the pain signals and euphoria that is generated through other opioids. It is usually available in pill, liquid, and wafer form and is prescribed mostly to be taken every 24 hours. As per the regulations in force, Methadone can only be distributed by an opioid treatment program approved by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

As a partial opioid agonist, Buprenorphine tends to mock the effects of opioids such as Hydrocodone but in a slightly weak manner. The effects of Buprenorphine may peak at a certain point, after which it will show no significant effects upon taking it.

Buprenorphine is usually prescribed as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue. In most scenarios, it is instructed to be taken three to seven times per week.

Buprenorphine is highly useful during the detox process and long-term treatments. Several Buprenorphine drugs, including Subutex®, Suboxone®, Zubsolv®, Sublocade®, and several other generic brands, are also used explicitly to treat dependency.

Naltrexone is an opioid-blocking medication that is utilized widely to support the maintenance of recovery and the treatment of alcohol or opioid addictions.

The pill and injectable form of this medication operate differently to Methadone and Buprenorphine, which suppress cravings by triggering opioid receptors. In contrast, Naltrexone completely shuts down opioid receptors to avoid patients from getting high. Theoretically, this mechanism should make Hydrocodone undesirable for addicts.

Naltrexone is only prescribed for individuals who are firm-set on recovery, as the responsibility of taking the medication falls solely on the patient – the pill is required once a day, while the injectable is prescribed once a month

There is a high risk of accidental overdose when a patient relapses while taking Naltrexone. This happens when the individual takes large doses of Hydrocodone in an attempt to ward off the effects of Naltrexone. Subsequently, when Naltrexone wears off, the effects of Hydrocodone may linger on and cause an overdose.