The long-running TV drama House M.D. may have glamorized addiction to the prescription medication Vicodin, also known as hydrocodone, but the reality of abusing this fairly common prescription narcotic is far from entertaining. Like any addiction, dependency on hydrocodone comes with a number of life-altering consequences, not the least of which can include long-term health effects. If you believe that you or a loved one are addicted to hydrocodone, it is important to receive proper treatment, just as you would for any other addiction.
How Addictive is Vicodin?
Vicodin is one of the most commonly abused prescription medications among 12th grade students, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, ahead of Adderall, tranquilizers, and cough medicine by a strong margin. Vicodin is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Tylenol) that doctors prescribe to relieve moderate to severe pain in patients recovering from surgeries or other injuries. While it is a schedule III medication in the United States, which restricts its availability to a degree, there are few drugs as effective as Vicodin for relieving certain kinds of pain, and it has become viewed as “less serious” compared to other more intensive opioid medications.
Vicodin’s active ingredient, hydrocodone, works in the body similar to all opiate medications; it is metabolized into hydromorphone, and passes through the blood-brain barrier where it impacts production and absorption of natural pain-relieving chemicals that the body produces. Because of the way that the drug works, it has a high potential for addiction; this has resulted in many countries including France, Germany, and Belgium banning the narcotic medication altogether. Relatively speaking, studies have shown that hydrocodone is more potent in its effects than codeine, but only one-tenth as potent as morphine, which has led to its reputation in the United States and other countries as a “safer” pain relieving medication; however, this does not mean that it is not an addictive substance.
Recognizing Vicodin Addiction
The medication Vicodin can be addictive even in those individuals who follow their doctor’s instructions for taking the medicine. Over time, the body changes the way it processes the drug, and because of the opioid nature of narcotic medications like Vicodin/Hydrocodone, pain signals from normal activities and life can become amplified in response to short-term withdrawal from the medication, leading to increased dependency. Some signs and symptoms of Vicodin addiction include:
- Requesting frequent refills of the drug
- Seeing two or more doctors for additional prescriptions
- Going through money quickly
- Sudden changes in social activities
- Mood swings
Common side effects of hydrocodone include nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness, and can become serious—such as slowed or irregular breathing and chest tightness. Hydrocodone overdose in individuals is fairly easy to detect: characteristics include narrowed or widened pupils, slow, shallow or stopped breathing, slowed or stopped heartbeat, cold, clammy, or blue skin, excessive sleepiness, loss of consciousness, and seizures. These symptoms can lead to death.
It is important to receive treatment for Vicodin addiction for a number of reasons. While acute hydrocodone overdose can cause immediate health effects, in the long term repeated high dosages of acetaminophen can lead to very serious health risks including liver damage or even organ failure.
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