Hydrocodone, Vicodin, Lorcet, Hycomine, Hycodan and Norco are the names of a prescription medication used to treat cough and different types of pain. It can be bought as liquid, capsules or tablets and in these forms hydrocodone can be used on its own, or combined with some other substances, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. Patients who, for some reason, cannot take codeine to relieve pain are usually recommended to take hydrocodone instead. This drug, however, is highly addictive, especially if a person uses high doses for a long period of time.
About Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Sudden cessation of hydrocodone has been known to cause withdrawal symptoms, both in patients using hydrocodone for some time and in recreational users of this drug. Severity of withdrawal symptoms depends on the degree of addiction and on the patient. Some patients develop hydrocodone addiction after only a week of using this drug. Once they stop using it, they generally experience first withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours after the last dose of hydrocodone and these symptoms may last for several days and up to a week or two.
Withdrawal symptoms include runny nose, yawning, excessive perspiration, nausea, diarrhea, muscle aches, weakness, irritability, insomnia, depression and mood swings. People experiencing hydrocodone withdrawal may also complain about fever and body chills and drug craving is also frequently noticed.
In order to prevent addiction and withdrawal, always use hydrocodone as it was prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it for any other purpose and do not abuse the drug either. If you want to stop using hydrocodone, ask your doctor about the best way to do it and how to avoid development of unwanted withdrawal symptoms.
How to Manage Hydrocodone Withdrawal?
Treatment of each specific case and associated withdrawal symptoms is known to be efficient hydrocodone withdrawal remedy. Some specialists advise lowering the dose gradually and only then quitting the drug, but there are also others recommending complete and total quitting instantly.
Prescription medications are commonly used to treat individual symptoms and every patient should be treated differently according to his/her needs. Use of these withdrawal remedies should resolve all withdrawal symptoms and bring the person back to his/her normal condition. Some serious cases of withdrawal may need to be sorted out with methadone (also a prescription drug) or in certain rehabilitation centers.
Doctors advise taking plenty of water during hydrocodone withdrawal treatment. This simple home remedy will prevent any dehydration caused by diarrhea or vomiting and aid in eliminating the drug and other toxins from the system.
- medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm
- medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614045.html
- Photo courtesy of Labandita by Wikimedia Commons: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hydrocodone_liquid.jpg
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