Vicodin is a potent opioid-based pain reliever composed of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, a highly addictive opioid. Knowing this, it’s hardly surprising that thousands of Americans taking it for pain management end up battling Vicodin addiction.

It’s no news that opioids like Vicodin can lead to dependence and addiction. Nonetheless, it’s not uncommon for people to only become aware of the dangers associated with these potent drugs once they take a toll on their lives.

Therefore, if you’re taking or considering taking Vicodin, the best thing you can do for yourself is to learn more about Vicodin dependence and addiction.

This article will explain the key things you should know about Vicodin dependence and addiction, including their causes, treatment, and prevention.

What Is Vicodin?

Vicodin is a combination drug prescribed to relieve moderate-to-severe pain that cannot be treated with non-opioid medications and contains two active ingredients:

• Hydrocodone, a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from either codeine or thebaine, both of which are alkaloids found in poppy plants
• Acetaminophen, an over-the-counter medication used to treat fever and mild-to-moderate pain that enhances the effects of hydrocodone

Vicodin® is a brand-name medication that comes in the form of tablets. It is also marketed under Norco®, Lortab®, and other brand names. The generic version of the drug (acetaminophen/hydrocodone) is also available as an oral solution. Fluff, Hydros, and Vikes are the most common street names for Vicodin.

Vicodin relieves pain by binding to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), which stops pain signals from reaching the brain. It also causes a surge of dopamine, inducing feelings of euphoria and relaxation and, consequently, enhancing the risk of Vicodin abuse and dependence.

Side Effects of Using Vicodin

The most common side effects of Vicodin include:

• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Constipation
• Blurry vision
• Lightheadedness
• Difficulty urinating

If you experience any side effects while taking Vicodin, including those not mentioned above, inform your doctor. In cases of allergic reactions, seizures, breathing problems, and other severe side effects, call 911 immediately.

Moreover, long-term use of Vicodin increases the risk of:

• Tolerance
• Vicodin dependence and addiction
• Opioid overdose
• Fertility issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Organ damage, especially liver problems
• Death

Mixing Vicodin with other substances, including alcohol, increases the risk of liver damage and other severe side effects. To minimize this risk, always follow your doctor’s instructions while taking your medication.

Is Vicodin Addictive?

Vicodin is addictive, and anyone taking it risks developing Vicodin dependence and addiction. Due to the high potential for abuse, dependence, and addiction, all hydrocodone products, including Vicodin, were moved by the DEA from Schedule III to Schedule II in 2014.

Taking Vicodin as prescribed can minimize the risk of Vicodin addiction, but it doesn’t make it safe to take. Since it alters the brain, causing it to produce increasingly more opioid receptors, anyone taking it for a prolonged period will eventually build up tolerance to it and develop Vicodin dependence.

Unfortunately, many people start taking Vicodin more frequently or in larger doses than prescribed once their usual dose loses effectiveness. This constitutes Vicodin abuse, which further increases the risk of Vicodin addiction.

Some other ways in which people abuse Vicodin include:

• Mixing it with other substances, such as opioids or alcohol
• Taking it for non-medical purposes, i.e., recreational Vicodin use
• Consuming it in other ways than prescribed, such as snorting crushed pills

Vicodin Abuse Statistics

Here are some recent statistics that can help you better understand the magnitude of Vicodin abuse, dependence, and addiction in the United States:

• In 2022, 45.1% of prescription painkiller misusers (or 3.7 million Americans) above the age of 12 abused hydrocodone and its products, such as Vicodin. This made it the most commonly misused prescription pain reliever that year.
• More than 11,700 Americans died from an overdose caused by natural and semi-synthetic opioids like Vicodin in 2022.
• In 2021, acetaminophen/hydrocodone was the most commonly prescribed opioid in the United States, with nearly 26.6 million prescriptions issued to more than 8.6 million patients.
• According to the International Narcotics Control Board, the United States “accounted for almost all global hydrocodone use” in 2021.
• With 8% of high school seniors reporting Vicodin use, it is the most commonly abused prescription medication among twelfth graders.

Vicodin Addiction Signs and Symptoms

Learning about the signs and symptoms of Vicodin addiction can help you determine whether your opioid use has become problematic before it takes a heavy toll on your life.

On that note, let’s explore the tell-tale signs and symptoms of Vicodin addiction:

Vicodin Addiction Physical Symptoms

Since Vicodin dependence and addiction develop gradually, most people only realize they’ve become addicted once they encounter distressing opioid withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing their medication. These symptoms can be psychological, such as cravings and depression, as well as physical (e.g., nausea and muscle aches).

Other physical symptoms that may indicate Vicodin abuse and addiction include:

• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Enlarged pupils
• Loss of appetite
• Weight changes
• Difficulty breathing

Furthermore, Vicodin addiction can also manifest in psychological symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Vicodin Addiction Behavioral Symptoms

Here are the most common behavioral symptoms of Vicodin addiction:

• Hiding or lying about opioid use
• Becoming isolated from family and friends
• Failing to fulfill obligations at work and home
• Spending a lot of time trying to obtain or using Vicodin
• Abusing Vicodin (e.g., taking it more often than instructed)
• Taking Vicodin recreationally or when it’s no longer needed
• Continuing to take Vicodin despite the negative consequences
• Having difficulty controlling Vicodin use (e.g., multiple failed attempts at quitting opioids)

Vicodin Addiction vs. Vicodin Dependence

Vicodin addiction differs from Vicodin dependence in that addiction is largely psychological, while dependence is marked by physical symptoms—tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, Vicodin addiction and Vicodin dependence aren’t the same, even though they often co-occur.

If you take Vicodin long enough, your body will get so accustomed to it that your usual dose will cease producing effects. This is known as tolerance, and it signifies that you’ve developed Vicodin dependence, i.e., your body needs the drug to function normally. Otherwise, you’ll experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Many people who are dependent on Vicodin continue to take it just to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, Vicodin dependence can develop into addiction if left untreated. Opioid addiction is characterized by a loss of control over opioid use; people addicted to Vicodin continue to take it even when it wreaks havoc on their personal and professional lives.

Vicodin Addiction Causes and Risk Factors

The root cause of Vicodin addiction is the chemical imbalance that occurs in the CNS as a result of repeated opioid use.

In other words, repeated opioid exposure causes your brain to increase the production of opioid receptors and decrease that of endorphins. This leads to opioid dependence, which can then develop into addiction.

Extended medication use and Vicodin abuse are the main risk factors for Vicodin addiction. Nonetheless, you can develop Vicodin dependence and addiction even if you take your medication precisely as prescribed, as opioids gradually alter brain chemistry.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to start buying opioids illegally or using illicit opioids, such as heroin, if they can no longer obtain a prescription from their doctor. These are not only often more potent than prescription opioids, but they can also be laced with other substances, increasing the risk of a potentially fatal opioid overdose.

For this reason, it’s in your best interest to seek professional Vicodin addiction treatment as soon as you suspect you might be dependent.

Vicodin Withdrawal Symptoms

Vicodin withdrawal symptoms occur in people who try to quit the medication or reduce their dosage after becoming dependent.

Though the duration of these symptoms largely depends on the extent of your Vicodin use and other individual factors, acute Vicodin withdrawal symptoms typically subside within a week. Nonetheless, some people struggle with psychological withdrawal symptoms—cravings, mood changes, etc.—for weeks and even years after their last dose.

The most common Vicodin withdrawal symptoms are:

• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Agitation
• Depression
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Dilated pupils
• Stomach ache
• Opioid cravings
• Muscle and joint pain

Going through the Vicodin withdrawal process on your own is neither easy nor safe. Since these symptoms often feel unbearable, home remedies might not be effective enough to prevent relapse, which could lead to overdose and death. Therefore, you should never stop taking Vicodin suddenly or without medical supervision.

Risks of Vicodin Overdose

Vicodin overdose happens when you take a larger amount of the drug than your body can safely tolerate. It is a life-threatening emergency—if not treated promptly, it can lead to coma, brain injury, and death. Always track your Vicodin intake to ensure you don’t take an extra dose by accident.

Those who relapse are at an exceptionally high risk of opioid overdose. When you stop taking opioids, your tolerance to them gets lower, meaning even your typical dose might be potent enough to cause an overdose. Mixing Vicodin with benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, alcohol, and other substances can also increase the risk of overdose.

Seek medical help immediately if you notice the following signs of a Vicodin overdose in yourself or someone around you:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Confusion
• Weak pulse
• Pinpoint pupils
• Extreme drowsiness
• Cold and clammy skin
• Loss of consciousness
• Slow and shallow breathing
• Discolored lips, fingernails, and skin

How to Prevent Vicodin Addiction

Preventing Vicodin addiction is only possible by not taking this medication in the first place. If you are suffering from acute or chronic pain, explore non-opioid treatments with your doctor before initiating opioid therapy. If you must take opioids, take them for as little time as possible to minimize the risk of Vicodin dependence.

Here’s what you can do to reduce the risk of Vicodin dependence and addiction if you have no other options besides opioids:

• Closely follow your doctor’s instructions.
• Discuss any concerns you have about Vicodin with your doctor.
• Never increase your Vicodin dosage or frequency of use without their permission.
• Keep your doctor informed about any unpleasant effects you experience due to Vicodin use.
• Do not combine Vicodin with other substances, including herbal medicines, without your doctor’s approval.

ANR Treatment for Vicodin Addiction

Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is an innovative opioid dependence treatment that can help you break free from Vicodin dependence within days. ANR has helped close to 25,000 patients worldwide turn their lives around and overcome opioid dependence.

Unlike traditional Vicodin dependence treatments, ANR is designed to target the root cause of opioid dependence rather than its symptoms.

The therapeutic goal of the ANR treatment is encoded in its name; this treatment re-regulates the neurochemical imbalance resulting in the brain due to opioid use. By re-regulating the endorphin-receptor system, ANR restores your brain to its pre-dependence state, eliminating withdrawal symptoms and negating the risk of relapse.

Most importantly, ANR is not only highly effective but also very safe. The treatment is tailored to the patient’s needs and medical history, which makes the procedure safe even for those with complex health conditions.

Better yet, ANR is carried out by highly experienced medical professionals in an ICU setting of accredited hospitals, ensuring your utmost safety. The hospital stay for most patients lasts just 36 hours.

Contact us today and take the first step toward an opioid-free life!

Key Takeaways

No matter how long you’ve been struggling with Vicodin addiction, know that there’s always a way out. The ANR Clinic can help you conquer Vicodin dependence safely, quickly, and effectively.

Before you leave, let’s reiterate the key points we covered:

• Vicodin is a potent medication containing acetaminophen and hydrocodone that carries a high potential for addiction.
• Vicodin dependence stems from opioid-induced changes in the CNS, meaning anyone who takes this medication can develop it. If left untreated, it can turn into Vicodin addiction.
• Some signs and symptoms of Vicodin addiction include the inability to control opioid use, Vicodin abuse, and preoccupation with obtaining and using the drug.

Vicodin Addiction FAQ