Vicodin Side Effects And Long-Term Abuse

Vicodin Side Effects And Long-Term Abuse

Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) is an analgesic medication that can be found in hospitals and is prescribed to people with severe pain. It is not always recommended that Vicodin is prescribed to people by their healthcare providers, especially those who are at higher risk for developing an addiction or dependency.

While Vicodin is meant to help people that are in pain, many people end up misusing it. Vicodin might not be the first drug you can find on the streets. This is because this addiction usually starts after being prescribed it.

Most people addicted to Vicodin and other prescription drugs once used it as pain medication for pain relief, but improper usage and habit-forming can happen quickly. Whether a person starts taking more than they need or tries to access it for longer periods than recommended, how the addiction starts doesn’t matter.

Patients can also find themselves experiencing dependency on benzodiazepines, such as Alprazolam, once prescribed for anxiety.

What matters is how long the abuse continues before you can seek treatment for it. In order to enter into recovery, you may need to undergo detoxification and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) at a recovery center like Soba Recovery. Keep reading to learn more about Vicodin, its common side effects, and long-term drug abuse.

What Is Vicodin?

Vicodin is the brand name for a prescription painkiller composed of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. These two components help to minimize pain and fever in someone who has been prescribed the pills. However, hydrocodone is an opiate that has a similar efficiency as morphine.

Acetaminophen may sound familiar because you can buy this at any drug store in the form of over-the-counter Tylenol. It is a fever-reducer and also works as a mild pain reliever.

Hydrocodone is one of the most frequently distributed opioid medications, with Vicodin and Lortab being the top two brands being prescribed to people. Drugs with hydrocodone in them are abused by over five million people in the United States and are constantly being seized on the illicit market.

While the intention might not be to cause addiction, using this drug heightens the risk of developing one over time.

What Is Vicodin Used For?

Vicodin is most commonly prescribed to people experiencing moderate to severe pain due to injury or after surgery. It has a rather fast response time, setting in after about 30 minutes to an hour, and will last four to six hours, providing immediate relief. On top of diminishing feelings of pain, it can bring about feelings of elation and euphoria, which assists in pain management.

Short-Term Side Effects

Due to Vicodin containing hydrocodone, the effects of the drug can be very similar to the effects of other opiates. As the drug enters the system, it attaches itself to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other various organs. Once attached to these receptors, a chemical reaction occurs and creates various effects.

Some of the effects of using Vicodin are:

  • Euphoric feelings and a sense of calm, and relaxation
  • Lower perception of pain
  • Suppression of cough reflex
  • Lightheadedness

These feelings will last between four and six hours after taking Vicodin. People abusing the medication might need a higher dosage to feel these same effects. Otherwise, they might wear off faster than normal.

There can be unwanted adverse effects that happen as a result of taking Vicodin, such as:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Impaired judgment
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Drowsiness
  • Shallow breathing problems
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Dangerous drug interactions

The Risk of Abuse

When you take Vicodin for a long period, your body begins to get used to having it in its system. Vicodin impacts the reward system in your body, creating a desire to consume the substance to achieve feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

You will inevitably begin to build up a tolerance over time as your body continues to adapt to it being in your system. What happens as a result of that is needing high doses of the drug to feel its effects.

This mix of tolerance and your body becoming accustomed to the drug to get rid of pain and increase euphoric feelings can lead you down the path of addiction. Soon, you may not be able to function without Vicodin in your system, doing whatever is necessary to get your hands on it.

When a person’s Vicodin prescription runs out, other ways for them to get ahold of the drug might be:

  • Seeking out prescriptions from multiple doctors
  • Falsifying or modifying their doctor’s prescriptions
  • Giving pharmacies fraudulent information
  • Seeking it out on the black market

Withdrawal from Vicodin

If a person cannot obtain Vicodin once their prescription has run out, they might experience withdrawal from the drug. This withdrawal often enforces the need for the drug because the user understands it that if they can take more of it, it will subdue the pain they are experiencing.

A person that is going through the withdrawal of Vicodin will have symptoms that mirror the withdrawal from heroin. Some withdrawal symptoms to expect are:

  • Discomfort throughout the entire body, not just the original source of pain
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Cold Sweats
  • Loss of appetite
  • Inability to sleep
  • Irritability
  • Agitation and aggression
  • Anxiety
  • Mood swings
  • Panic attacks
  • Cardiovascular issues

Long-Term Side Effects

Someone addicted to Vicodin can also expect to see negative long-term side effects. There is a reason that when Vicodin is prescribed, it’s often only a very small amount and is instructed to be taken with the right dose as needed.

Because the main goal of Vicodin is to relieve pain and help people with their discomfort, long-term usage is often overlooked. People might think, “If it’s helping me, isn’t it doing its job?”

When you misuse Vicodin, the job it was meant to do becomes null and void. Instead, you’ve created an entirely new issue for yourself that Vicodin can’t fix. Instead, it makes things much more difficult in the long run.

Tolerance

With long-term use of Vicodin comes tolerance and addiction. Even if you start using Vicodin as prescribed, continued drug use will raise your tolerance. You might begin to notice that what you’re prescribed is no longer allowing you to reach the drug’s desired effects.

You might feel that you’re still experiencing pain and think that raising your dose on your own could do the trick. Soon you’ll need higher doses more frequently than originally intended as your tolerance builds up.

This is when addiction really begins. As you need more of the drug, you put more time and effort into finding and obtaining Vicodin. For many, it becomes like a full-time job acquiring Vicodin illegally, as it’s not always the easiest of processes.

Physical Effects

Using Vicodin at an unintended rate can lead to serious side effects. For one, there is the risk of overdosing on Vicodin if you take too much of it at one time.

This is because your heart rate slows, and you can have trouble breathing, not allowing enough oxygen to reach your brain. These effects can be life-threatening.

Some physical effects related to long-term Vicodin abuse are:

  • Liver damage and problems with its functioning
  • Respiratory infections and lung problems
  • Chronic constipation and permanent damage to the intestinal tract
  • Infections in the urinary tract can lead to kidney problems
  • Cardiovascular damage
  • Reproductive issues
  • Loss of pregnancy
  • Hearing loss
  • Increase of bodily harm as a result of frequent sedation

Mental Effects

Vicodin addiction can cause serious mental health-related issues to arise. Not only does addiction impact you physically, but it takes a toll on a person’s mental health. Trying to obtain a drug that is not easy to get can create a lot of tension and frustration in a person’s life.

Addiction controls a person’s behaviors, and the possible side effects of long-term use of Vicodin can make seeking help very difficult.

A few mental health side effects that arise when a person has been using Vicodin long-term are:

  • Anxiety and stress
  • Mood changes
  • Long-term mental illness
  • Irritability and aggression
  • Loss of memory skills
  • Tension among family and loved ones

Get Help From Soba Recovery Center

When you are struggling with addiction to Vicodin, getting help can be a scary thing. For many, the whole point of Vicodin was to help the person receiving it, so admitting that it has made your life worse can feel contradictory. It can also bring up many feelings of shame and guilt about substance abuse of a drug that was prescribed to help.

If you want to get help, then you should. Everyone deserves treatment for their addiction, no matter how deep it has taken them. At Soba Recovery Center in San Antonio, Texas, you can access the best care in a way that makes the most sense for you. By undergoing the detoxification process with us, you can lower your risk for opioid overdose simply by putting yourself into good hands.

Our goal here at Soba is to help you get back the life you had — free from pain but also free from addiction. Whether you stay with us through our inpatient treatment or become a part of the outpatient program, the goal is to help you overcome your addiction and get back on track.

If you’re ready to make the change to sobriety, reach out to a Soba representative today to discuss how we can help free you from addiction.

Sources:

Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf

Hydrocodone (Trade Names: Vicodin®, Lortab®, Lorcet-HD®, Hycodan®, Vicoprofen®) | Drug Enforcement Administration

The Vicodin Abuse Problem: A Mathematical Approach | ScienceDirect

Signs of Cocaine Addiction: What To Look Out For

Often glorified in movies and television, cocaine is a drug that is used by millions of Americans who may not understand its full potential danger. It’s highly addictive, with dependencies forming easier than one might anticipate. Cocaine addiction is a serious condition that requires intervention and commitment to getting better in order to overcome it.

If you or a loved one are struggling with cocaine addiction, finding professional treatment can help you through recovery. It can be difficult to ask for help, so having others recognize the signs of cocaine addiction can kick start the road to recovery.

Reaching out to your loved ones about problems they might be struggling with can be intimidating, but in the end, it is always worth it.

What Is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a stimulant that causes a person to feel alert and euphoric feelings. Cocaine is a white powdery substance that is often snorted, but it can be injected and swallowed as well.

There is also crack cocaine, which comes in rock form and is typically smoked. Regardless of how you ingest it, it can leave you feeling high for anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours at a time. This is just one reason why addiction to it is so prevalent – people use it frequently because the high wears off “too fast.”

Side Effects of Cocaine

When someone is using cocaine, many side effects can occur. The most prominent of these include alertness and euphoria. Others include:

  • Overconfidence
  • Paranoia or confusion
  • Runny nose or sniffles
  • Irritability
  • Anger and aggression
  • Dilated pupils
  • Insomnia or long periods of being awake
  • Increased heart rate

Signs of Overdose

Someone might have used too much cocaine if you notice the following symptoms:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Panicking and anxiety
  • Chest pains and trouble breathing
  • Tremors, shaking, confusion

What Are Signs of Cocaine Addiction?

Some people who abuse and misuse cocaine don’t develop into a full-blown addiction. Sometimes, there are immediate adverse consequences as a result.

Not everyone will develop a cocaine addiction. However, it can be very difficult for those who do develop an addiction to stop using cocaine.

Physical Changes

A person experiencing cocaine addiction might suffer from severe headaches and frequent bloody noses. They also might not be sleeping, further contributing to these symptoms. People who develop an addiction to cocaine might stop caring about their hygiene, like showering regularly or brushing their teeth daily.

You might notice rapid weight loss or an overall look of exhaustion, especially in moments of comedowns and periods without using. When a person is using, you might also notice erratic movements, wide eyes, and an overall sense of unpredictability.

Mental and Emotional Decline

When you struggle with cocaine addiction, you become dependent on that drug to keep you afloat. It can feel like you simply won’t be able to exist without it, but in reality, it’s causing you to wither away. Cocaine addictions can cause severe depression and anxiety to occur as well as intense mood swings.

When actively using, you might also suffer from delusions, hallucinations, and paranoia, especially in large amounts. Cocaine has a severe toll on your mental and emotional health because it becomes all-consuming. You rely on cocaine to do what dopamine should be able to do for you. If you already struggle with mental health, using cocaine could be detrimental.

Changes in Behavior

When someone uses cocaine, their behavior is almost the easiest to acknowledge. If you suspect that your loved one is using cocaine, you might notice a few signs first. A person might begin sneaking around behind your back more, not having direct answers to support decisions or actions, and lying more frequently.

If you notice that someone is becoming more secretive and uneasy during basic conversations, they might be trying to hide drug use from you. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but if you suspect that cocaine use might be happening, these are things to look out for.

People may also develop financial issues because they have to keep up with their addiction. It’s a fast-acting drug, so multiple uses throughout the day to keep the high going is not uncommon. While these are all things that someone might try to deal with on the back burner and not directly ask for help with, they are still signs that you could pick up on and assist with.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Use?

Someone who uses cocaine once probably isn’t subject to major long-term side effects. You might experience an uncomfortable come down after using, which may increase your anxiety and any depressive thoughts. You might feel run down the next day as well.

Long-term users might experience:

  • Consistent nosebleeds and the loss of smell
  • Respiratory infections
  • Asthma
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Heart-related issues, like heart attacks and arrhythmia
  • Gastrointestinal issues, including perforation of the stomach and intestines
  • Kidney problems
  • Easier time contracting blood-borne diseases, like HIV and Hepatitis C

Impact on Loved Ones

Cocaine addiction can seriously impact the relationships around you, which means it’s not just you that is affected by it. You might begin to pull away from your close friends and family members, lie and hide things from them, and potentially even use them for finances to help continue the addiction.

Many might notice that you are struggling but not be sure how to come to you about getting help. Entering a treatment facility like Soba Recovery Centers can allow for a safe place for you to deal with your addiction, surrounded by people who understand your struggles and want to help you.

Getting Help With Soba Recovery Centers

Treatment for one person may look different than your own treatment plan, but at Soba Recovery Centers, the goal is to craft an individual recovery plan that you can find success in. The three main kinds of treatment you can get are detoxification, inpatient, and outpatient.

Choosing to undergo a detox from the drug can help you begin recovery. While you can attempt to do this independently, you may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms and might relapse. When at a detoxification treatment, you are supervised and cared for to keep you safe. Once you complete your detox, you may be urged to participate in inpatient services.

Inpatient is when you stay in the treatment facility with medically trained staff and participate in therapy sessions, both individual and group, and recreational activities like yoga and meditation. This can last for a few weeks or several months, depending on how severe the addiction is.

Transitioning out of inpatient might seem scary, but with outpatient services, you can continue going to therapy and participating in activities at the facility while gaining your independence back. You might be able to start back up at your job while you continue to work towards your recovery.

Call a Soba representative today if this is something that you believe could help you or your loved one. Addiction is nothing you should be ashamed about, so let’s get you the help you deserve.

Sources:

What is Cocaine? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

What Are The Short-Term Effects Of Cocaine Use? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Adverse health consequences of cocaine abuse. | PMC

Klonopin Addiction: Treatment Steps

Knowing when you have reached a problem with Klonopin drug use can be difficult. Some of the reasons that Klonopin is prescribed, like anxiety and panic attacks, can also surface in the withdrawal stage. Getting treatment for a Klonopin addiction is not always easy. It does require multiple steps and trying different methods to guide you through. Not everyone needs the same kind of treatment, so it’s about what works best for you or your loved one.

Most people struggling with a Klonopin addiction need to undergo supervised detoxification, followed by inpatient or outpatient therapy services.

If you can get through these steps with plenty of support behind you and a dedication to getting better, you can create a happier and healthier life.

What Is Klonopin (Clonazepam)?

Klonopin is the name brand for the drug Clonazepam. Klonopin is a long-acting benzodiazepine that stays in your system for a long time and eases your issues by working as a central nervous system depressant and slowing the brain.

Benzodiazepines help release the GABA neurotransmitter, which is supposed to be created during times of stress. When you struggle with anxiety, seizures, and mood disorders, your body doesn’t release enough GABA, so Klonopin can help increase this production and calm you down.

So, while it can be helpful to those who are in serious need of assistance due to their health issues, Klonopin is a drug that can easily become addictive and difficult to wean yourself off of. The sedation and relaxation that it puts a body through can become appealing and comforting to someone once they’ve become dependent on it.

What Are the Uses for Klonopin?

Klonopin is prescribed to treat patients who suffer from anxiety disorders, panic attacks, epilepsy, seizure disorders, and mood disorders.

With an increase in understanding how to treat different mood disorders, depression, and anxiety, the use of drugs like Klonopin are more prevalent. Though they are prescribed more frequently, it doesn’t mean that it can’t become a dangerous drug to use.

What Are the Side Effects of Klonopin?

If you begin to misuse your Klonopin, there are a variety of side effects that might arise. People that develop a Klonopin addiction may start by upping their dosage and taking more than is prescribed.

Soon it’s hard to achieve the same feelings on the regular dose, so more is needed. Side effects that come from this kind of misuse and overuse are:

  • Trouble breathing
  • A loss of appetite
  • Paranoia
  • Tremors
  • Loss of memory
  • Blurry vision
  • Extreme anxiety
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Extreme sleepiness and fatigue
  • Slowed reaction times
  • Overdose

Who Is at Risk for Klonopin Addiction?

People who receive a prescription for Klonopin are the ones that have the highest risk of developing an addiction.

People with a Klonopin prescription who begin adding to their doses without consulting a doctor can experience extreme feelings of euphoria while taking it, which they then begin to crave.

What Are the Signs of Addiction to Klonopin?

If you begin to misuse Klonopin, you will end up with permanent changes in your brain structure that leads to addiction. Your body will be able to handle the small dosages that you are prescribed, and may eventually require higher doses to feel the drug’s effects.

While withdrawal and overdose symptoms are signs of addiction to Klonopin, which we will get into, some others to look out for are:

  • Inability to maintain the responsibilities in one’s life
  • Running out of Klonopin before the refill is due
  • Being unable to lower the dosage
  • Buying clonazepam on the streets
  • Stealing other people’s Klonopin
  • Seeking other benzodiazepines to use when there is no access to Klonopin
  • Avoiding situations where Klonopin won’t be able to be used

If you notice that you or a loved one is beginning to struggle more with their drug use, is avoiding spending time with their friends and family, and has been acting out, contact a medical professional immediately to learn about treatment options.

Overdose Symptoms

Klonopin is a long-acting drug, and though you can overdose from any benzodiazepine, there are other complications to consider with Klonopin. If you’re taking too high of doses or are taking Klonopin frequently, you could create a build up of the drug in your system that could lead to an accidental overdose.

People who use Klonopin also risk overdosing if they mix Klonopin with other substances, like alcohol or opioids. Some signs that someone is undergoing an overdose related to Klonopin are:

  • Bluish lips or fingertips
  • Unbalanced
  • Unconsciousness
  • Sedation
  • Lack of coordination
  • Clammy and sweaty skin

If someone is experiencing these symptoms, they need medical help immediately. Medical professionals might be able to administer romazicon, which reverses the effects of clonazepam overdose.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Someone who is experiencing withdrawal from Klonopin will be undergoing a world of pain. It can be very uncomfortable and painful to go through a withdrawal from clonazepam.

If you are experiencing a withdrawal from this drug, you might be very tempted to use more so that you can alleviate your symptoms. Finding a detoxification center can help you through this very difficult and painful time.

When you are going through a Klonopin withdrawal, you might experience:

  • Increased heart rates
  • Higher blood pressure
  • Insomnia
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Muscle spasms
  • Lack of appetite
  • Sweating

Stopping the Use of Klonopin

Quitting Klonopin cold turkey is not recommended and weaning yourself off is best. Doing this under medical supervision in a detox center can ensure your own safety and success.

You’re going to feel a lot of pain and discomfort during the withdrawal, and if you try to quit “cold turkey” you might find yourself even more sick and uncomfortable. By controlling your intake and being under supervision, it’s a lot easier to go through the process and end up stronger on the other side.

Finding the Right Treatment

Everyone is different. No two people require the same kind of care and attention, and that goes for drug addiction as well. Everyone has their own background and story, which means they require unique care. Finding a treatment plan that works for you is key in your addiction recovery journey. If you want to see results, you need to do what is best for you.

When you are struggling with an addiction to Klonopin, it might be that you already are struggling with your mental or physical health, hence why you were prescribed it. In order to get the full recovery effect from your addiction, you need to treat all parts of your body that are connected to it. You need to undergo detoxification, therapy sessions, group therapy, and other methods that can lead you to success.

There is no shame in getting help for your addiction. One of the strongest and toughest things you can do is get help for yourself and change your life.

Detoxification

People with a Klonopin addiction are encouraged to go through medical detoxification. This means that you are under supervision 24 hours a day while you go through withdrawal. The detoxification process can be very difficult, and especially with a long-acting drug like Klonopin.

Most professionals will not let you quit cold turkey, but will encourage you to go through a Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT), which involves low doses of the drug to help wean yourself off. This is the safest way to go through the detoxification process, but if not done while supervised can lead to continued use.

Inpatient

After undergoing a detox, you won’t just be let back out into society to fend for yourself. Now that you are no longer using, you will be agitated and confused, and this is when the next treatment step begins.

With inpatient services, you stay monitored by staff at your addiction recovery center and are guided through recovery. You will go through both individual and group therapy sessions where you learn more about your own mental health and work to build a community with people struggling with the same issues.

Inpatient care is great for someone who has a heavy dependency on a drug, because these facilities work to improve both your physical and mental health. They understand that therapy can help with your psychological state, so it’s always encouraged.

If you are in for Klonopin addiction, it’s likely that you struggle with your mental health already. Inpatient works to encompass all your struggles and find the best way to treat you for them.

Outpatient

After undergoing inpatient services, you might still want the additional support of group therapies or individual sessions, but with more freedom. Outpatient services allow you to leave the center and go on with your everyday life, but with set times and days that you have to come for sessions or treatment.

For people who are feeling confident with their Klonopin addiction but still need the structure that therapy gives, outpatient is a perfect opportunity to receive continuous care.

Getting Help With Soba Recovery

With Soba Recovery Centers, you can access detoxification, inpatient, and outpatient services with ease. With two locations in Mesa, Arizona, and San Antonio, Texas, you can find what you need to treat your addiction.

Getting help should not feel taboo. If you are choosing to get help so that you can live a happy and healthy life, then do it! And we want to help.

At Soba, you receive top-of-the-line care however will best support your needs. We work to create an individual treatment plan that has your best interest in mind, so you can walk out a better version than you came in as. Get help today by reaching out to a Soba representative to learn about how we can help you overcome your Klonopin addiction.

Sources:

Klonopin (Clonazepam): Uses, Withdrawal & Addiction Treatment | American Addiction Centers

Addiction: Part I. Benzodiazepines-Side Effects, Abuse Risk And Alternatives | American Family Physician

Management Of Benzodiazepine Misuse And Dependence | NCBI