Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone is an opioid that is made up of two opiates codeine and thebaine. It works very much the same way that morphine or heroin does. It produces a calm, almost euphoric state. It is a highly addictive narcotic pain reliever and is also prescribed as an antitussive, which means it can help to relieve a severe cough. Hydrocodone is often times mixed with acetaminophen (Vicodin or Lortab), or it can be mixed with ibuprofen (Vicoprofen), or aspirin (Lortab ASA). Hydrocodone is available in several forms, tablet, capsule or syrup.
As with any medication, there are some drug side effects you may want to be aware of before taking hydrocodone:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Decreased sex drive
- Muscle twitching
- Vomiting
Constipation is also a very common side effect, so you should drink several glasses of water a day while taking this medication.
Some more serious side effects follow, and you will definitely want to seek emergency medical attention if you have any of the symptoms listed below:
- Yellowing skin or eyes
- Severe weakness
- Severe dizziness
- Slow breathing
- Allergic reaction, such as swollen tongue, lips, face or closing of the throat
- Seizures
As with any narcotic pain reliever, the chances of becoming physically and/or psychologically dependent are very high. Hydrocodone is meant to provide relief for pain. It might be a good idea to refer to a pain scale chart before taking hydrocodone. Try to be as honest as you can in regards to your level of pain. If you take hydrocodone for an extended length of time, you may develop a tolerance to the drug. This means that it will require more medication to achieve the same level of pain relief. Along the same lines, you may develop a dependency on the drug.
Hydrocodone drug addiction is not uncommon and should be taken very seriously. If your doctor has recommended a certain dosage, be sure that you follow the directions exactly. Take only the amount prescribed and only at the times prescribed. If you find yourself wanting to take more, or wanting to take it more frequently, notify your doctor right away. Addiction to hydrocodone and other drugs that contain hydrocodone is very common. In fact, hydrocodone is one of the most commonly prescribed narcotics and over the last decade, the amount of prescriptions has increased over 250%. If you develop a tolerance or dependency, there is a possibility that your doctor may want to discontinue the prescription of hydrocodone, but you should not stop taking the drug without direction from the physician. There may be some withdraw symptoms that you may have and your doctor should be the one to gradually decrease the dosage.
If you feel you have developed an addiction to hydrocodone, seek help. Start by telling your doctor or a therapist and get yourself into treatment right away before the addiction gets out of control.