Vicodin Detox in Orlando
Vicodin is a prescription pain-relieving medication that combines hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is an opioid while acetaminophen is an over-the-counter pain medication. Vicodin can be prescribed to treat pain ranging from moderate to severe, and it’s classified by the Federal Drug Administration as a schedule II controlled substance. Schedule II controlled substances are viewed as having a high potential for abuse and addiction despite medical uses.
Vicodin Withdrawal
When someone is prescribed Vicodin, they should use it exactly as instructed to lower the risk of addiction and dangerous side effects. Along with addiction, when any opioid is used, dependence can form. Hydrocodone and other opioids bind to opioid receptor sites in the central nervous system. This changes the production level and functionality of feel-good neurotransmitters such as dopamine.
With repeated exposure to the drug, the central nervous system depends on the presence of hydrocodone to function normally. Once this happens, if someone stops taking hydrocodone suddenly, their central nervous system will struggle to readjust. The result is often withdrawal symptoms. Even if someone takes Vicodin exactly as prescribed, they may have symptoms of withdrawal when they stop using the medication.
Doctors will often recommend patients slowly taper down their dosage of Vicodin rather than stopping cold turkey, which is the abrupt stop of all use of a substance.
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Vicodin Withdrawal Symptoms
Vicodin withdrawal symptoms can vary in their severity. Some people may experience few side effects of Vicodin withdrawal, while other people may have severe symptoms. Some people may have symptoms that are similar in intensity to heroin withdrawal. Some of the factors that play a role in the severity of Vicodin withdrawal symptoms include:
- How long someone has been using Vicodin
- The dose someone typically uses
- Whether other substances are also being used
- Underlying mental or physical health concerns
Possible Vicodin withdrawal symptoms include:
- Yawning
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Sweating
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Goosebumps
- Dilated pupils
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Foggy thinking
- Cravings
Vicodin Detox in Orlando
Some people may opt to go through Vicodin detox in a professional medical setting. During Vicodin detox, the drug leaves the patient’s system. If someone is going to go to addiction treatment, they should detox first. Some treatment centers include a medical detox as part of their services.
Certain medications may be used during an opioid detox program. These medications might help prevent or reduce withdrawal symptoms or drug cravings. There are also medications that can help prevent relapse. Some of the medications that might be used as part of a Vicodin detox program can include:
- Methadone, a weak, long-acting opioid. Methadone can help prevent withdrawal symptoms or reduce the intensity of the symptoms, but it has an abuse potential of its own. Some people end up staying on methadone for years, so it’s not always the first-choice treatment during opioid detox
- Buprenorphine, which can reduce the length of opioid It is also used as a long-term maintenance drug in some cases
- Clonidine, which is used to mitigate symptoms that include anxiety, agitation and muscle aches.
- Naltrexone , which can reduce the risk of relapse
- Lofexidine, which is intended to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms
During a medical detox, along with administering medications specifically for opioid withdrawal when necessary, doctors and nurses will monitor the patient’s vitals. There is a high level of care in a medical detox.
Along with the symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal being managed in a medical detox, there is another advantage as well. When someone doesn’t use Vicodin, their risk of an overdose is high if they relapse. This is because the person’s tolerance may have declined while they weren’t using it. If they relapse, they may not consider their reduced tolerance. Medical detox can be an important way to reduce the risk of relapse and overdose.
Vicodin Detox Timeline
How long does it take to detox from Vicodin? That depends on the individual and their history of Vicodin use, including the dosage, but the general Vicodin withdrawal timeline is:
- During the first two days after using the last dose of Vicodin, symptoms of withdrawal occur. Initial symptoms include muscle aches and pains, sleep disturbances and changes in mood.
- By the third day, many people will experience the peak symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal. The symptoms include diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety and panic attacks. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are possible at this point in the Vicodin detox timeline also.
- The symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal will become less intense within five days for most people.
- Within a week, most symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal will have dissipated. If there are longer-lasting or lingering symptoms, they’re more likely to be psychological rather than physical. For example, some people may have ongoing depression that occurs following Vicodin withdrawal.
Vicodin withdrawal isn’t life-threatening, but it can be difficult to manage. To learn more about medical detox options for Vicodin, contact the team at Orlando Recovery Center.
Medical Disclaimer: Orlando Recovery Center aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.