Information on Vicodin Addiction
Vicodin is a prescription medication, often given to patients to provide pain relief. It is a narcotic and is highly addictive. Vicodin causes both physical addiction and psychological dependency in users. As a result of the addiction, many individuals who are dependent on Vicodin continue to use the medication over long periods of time, which causes some health risks.
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Formulation
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Acetaminophen is combined with hydrocodone to create the medication Vicodin. Acetaminophen adds to the analgesic properties of hydrocodone, making it a more potent pain medication. Acetaminophen is a milder, nonnarcotic pain reliever found in popular headache medicines such as Tylenol. Hydrocodone is a strong narcotic in the opioid family and lends its addictive properties to Vicodin.
Time Frame
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Vicodin users can become addicted in as little as one week, depending on the individual. A person who takes large doses is more likely to become addicted sooner. Individuals who take regular doses are also more inclined to form an addiction to Vicodin. The occasional user, who takes only the recommended dose, is unlikely to become addicted to Vicodin.
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Physical Addiction
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An individual who is physically addicted to Vicodin will experience withdrawal symptoms if he is unable to access his medication. These symptoms may include muscle aches, fevers and chills. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can also occur as withdrawal symptoms increase in severity. In the event that an addicted individual stops taking Vicodin abruptly, he may suffer convulsions as a result of the withdrawal.
Psychological Addiction
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A Vicodin addiction causes intense cravings for the drug in the addicted person. Even if the addicted person is able to complete a drug rehabilitation program and is no longer physically addicted, the periodic cravings for Vicodin will continue. For this reason, many rehabilitation programs offer outpatient counseling and support groups to assist the addicted individual after the initial recovery period is over.
Side Effects
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Vicodin can cause many side effects in long-term users. Due to the acetaminophen content, long-term use of Vicodin can cause substantial liver damage. In addition, Vicodin addiction requires increasingly large doses in order to achieve the desired effect. These high doses of Vicodin can cause rapid and irreversible hearing loss in the addict.
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