Hydrocodone Abuse & Addiction: Signs, Effects & Treatment

What Is Hydrocodone Addiction?

Hydrocodone is a powerful semi-synthetic opioid prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain. It works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing the sensation of pain and often causing a feeling of euphoria. While hydrocodone can be effective when used exactly as prescribed under medical supervision, it carries a high risk of dependence and addiction.

Hydrocodone addiction occurs when someone develops both a physical and psychological reliance on the drug. Over time, the body and brain adapt to hydrocodone’s presence, needing progressively larger doses to experience the same relief or euphoria. This phenomenon is known as tolerance, and it can fuel a dangerous cycle of misuse.

In the context of opioid use disorder (OUD), hydrocodone addiction is characterized by an inability to control one’s use of the substance, persistent cravings and continued use despite harmful consequences. These consequences can include health problems, legal issues and strained relationships. Addiction can impact people from all walks of life, and overcoming it often requires comprehensive treatment and a strong support system.

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Consequences of Hydrocodone Addiction

When used as prescribed, hydrocodone can effectively treat pain for a short period. However, when misused or used for an extended duration, it can lead to profound physical and psychological effects.

• Physical dependence and withdrawal: As the body grows accustomed to hydrocodone, it begins to rely on the drug’s presence for normal functioning. Abruptly reducing or stopping use can trigger withdrawal symptoms such as muscle aches, insomnia, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and chills. These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and may lead individuals to continue using the drug to avoid withdrawal.
• Changes in brain chemistry: Hydrocodone influences the brain’s reward pathways, increasing the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine. Over time, this can alter a person’s brain chemistry, leading to intense cravings and compulsive drug-seeking behaviors. People may struggle to experience pleasure from everyday activities, finding only hydrocodone provides relief.
• Respiratory depression: Like other opioids, hydrocodone can slow down breathing. When misused or taken in high doses, it can cause dangerously low respiration rates, increasing the risk of overdose and, in severe cases, death.
• Cardiovascular issues: Hydrocodone use may lead to lowered heart rate and blood pressure changes. Chronic misuse also increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, though the primary acute danger often involves breathing rather than heart function.
• Gastrointestinal problems: Opioids commonly cause constipation and other digestive issues. Chronic use can lead to significant bowel dysfunction.
• Mental health impact: Those who misuse hydrocodone may also experience mood swings, confusion, depression and heightened anxiety. Chronic opioid use can worsen underlying mental health conditions and interfere with normal emotional regulation.

Hydrocodone addiction can have a ripple effect throughout the entire body, underscoring the importance of timely intervention and comprehensive treatment.

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Immediate Effects of Hydrocodone Abuse

Even a single episode of misusing hydrocodone can lead to several immediate effects. These effects vary depending on the dosage, individual physiology and whether hydrocodone is combined with other substances. Common immediate symptoms include:

• Euphoria and sedation: Hydrocodone can induce an intense feeling of relaxation or happiness (euphoria), often accompanied by drowsiness. People might find themselves nodding off or having difficulty staying awake.
• Nausea and vomiting: Like many opioids, hydrocodone can cause an upset stomach, resulting in nausea, vomiting or dizziness.
• Slowed breathing and heart rate: Opioids reduce activity in the central nervous system, slowing breathing. In severe cases, breathing may stop altogether, especially if taken in high doses or mixed with depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines.
• Confusion or impaired judgment: Opioids can interfere with cognitive function, making it difficult to concentrate, remember information or make sound decisions. This impairment can put individuals at risk in situations like driving or operating machinery.
• Constipation: Opioids reduce gastrointestinal motility, often leading to immediate bouts of constipation that can worsen over time.

If you or someone you know experiences these immediate effects in a way that seems excessive or dangerous, it’s crucial to seek medical help right away, as opioid misuse can quickly become life-threatening.

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What Are the Different Types of Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is available in various formulations, and each may carry a slightly different risk profile. The following are common brand-name medications containing hydrocodone. While each medication has unique properties, they all have a high potential for dependence and addiction when misused.

Vicodin

Vicodin is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (commonly known by the brand name Tylenol). The acetaminophen component helps enhance pain relief. However, high doses or chronic use of acetaminophen can lead to liver damage. People who misuse Vicodin may be unaware of the danger of consuming excessive amounts of acetaminophen, raising their risk of liver toxicity and permanent damage.

Norco

Similar to Vicodin, Norco also combines hydrocodone and acetaminophen. However, Norco typically has a higher ratio of hydrocodone to acetaminophen than some other combination products. This means it may provide stronger pain relief but can also carry a higher risk of overdose if misused. As with Vicodin, the presence of acetaminophen raises concerns about liver health, especially with chronic misuse.

Lortab

Lortab is yet another combination medication containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Depending on the dosage strength, the hydrocodone content can vary. Lortab misuse poses risks akin to those of other hydrocodone-acetaminophen combinations: addiction, dependence, liver damage and overdose.

Zohydro

Zohydro ER (extended-release) is a hydrocodone-only medication without acetaminophen. Designed for around-the-clock pain management, it’s formulated to release hydrocodone slowly into the body. However, people who misuse Zohydro sometimes crush or chew the pills to bypass the extended-release mechanism, causing a rapid, potentially dangerous influx of hydrocodone. This practice greatly raises the risk of overdose, dependence and severe respiratory depression.

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Hydrocodone Addiction Statistics

Opioid abuse remains a significant public health crisis in the United States, and hydrocodone plays a substantial role due to its widespread availability. While exact numbers may vary from year to year, the following points illustrate the scope and severity of hydrocodone misuse:

• High prescription rates: Hydrocodone has been one of the most frequently prescribed medications in the U.S. The CDC reported that 37.5 opioid prescriptions per 100 people were written in 2023. Due to its prevalent use for pain management, it became more accessible and, consequently, more frequently misused.
• Abuse rates: The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that around 8.6 million individuals aged 12 and older had misused prescription opioids in the last year. Hydrocodone is frequently identified as the opioid most often involved in non-medical usage.
• Overdose deaths: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription opioids like hydrocodone have contributed significantly to the rise in opioid-related overdose deaths. In 2022, the United States recorded 81,806 deaths due to opioid-related overdoses, representing a rate more than 1.5 times higher than that of 2019.
• Transition to illegal opioids: Research indicates that individuals who misuse prescription opioids may later transition to more potent illicit opioids, such as heroin or fentanyl, when prescription medications become inaccessible or too costly. This transition further increases the risk of overdose and other severe health consequences.
• Demographic impact: Hydrocodone misuse affects a wide range of demographics, including adolescents, older adults and middle-aged individuals. It can impact anyone with chronic pain, injuries or surgeries that required prescription pain medications. Because of the drug’s addictive potential, patients who start using hydrocodone for legitimate medical reasons can develop dependence over time.
• Economic burden: Opioid misuse, including hydrocodone, has a staggering economic impact. Healthcare costs, lost productivity and costs associated with criminal justice can amount to billions of dollars every year. This burden highlights the need for both preventative measures and accessible treatment resources.

These statistics underscore the urgent need to address hydrocodone misuse at both individual and societal levels. Access to education, harm-reduction strategies and evidence-based treatment can significantly reduce the devastating consequences of opioid addiction.

Hydrocodone Treatment

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they’re trying to combat a hydrocodone addiction is that instead of exploring professional hydrocodone addiction treatment options, they think they can stop using the drug on their own.

Addiction is a complex disease of the brain, and treatment for hydrocodone addiction needs to address it in a multifaceted way. The most successful treatment for hydrocodone addiction usually includes a stay at a professional rehab center, and a combination of medicine and behavioral interventions, as well as long-term aftercare planning.

Addiction to any substance is viewed as a chronic disease, so the goal with hydrocodone treatment is to provide patients with the tools and resources they need to recover and live a healthy life without relapsing, even if they’re not necessarily “cured.”

Hydrocodone treatment options in Colorado include both inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as medically supervised detox. Following treatment for hydrocodone addiction, patients can usually then go on to live their daily lives but continue attending local support groups or programs like Narcotics Anonymous.

Hydrocodone Rehab in Colorado

If you or someone you love has a problem with hydrocodone addiction, you may want to know what hydrocodone rehab is like and what you can expect in treatment.

It varies for every person, but in general, you can expect that it will begin with the intake process and then a medically supervised detox. Various medications may be given as you detox from hydrocodone to alleviate physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal, but your treatment team will try to avoid anything that could become habit-forming.

If you’re participating in an inpatient hydrocodone rehab program, you will then start the treatment process. Your days will be very structured and will include a combination of group therapy, individual counseling and, in some cases, family counseling. Typically, there are also supplemental activities and therapies, such as nutritional counseling.

Once someone completes inpatient hydrocodone rehab, which lasts on average 28 to 90 days but sometimes longer, they may then move to an outpatient program or a sober living facility.

At our Palmer Lake hydrocodone rehab facility, our focus is always on the person and how to best treat their particular addiction, and the circumstances surrounding it.