The limit was placed at 325 mg, but individuals taking these painkillers should also be wary of acetaminophen in over-the-counter cold and flu medications, to prevent overdose. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury. If an opioid is prescribed, let your healthcare team know if you had any trouble tapering off opioids in the past. If you’ve successfully tapered off opioid medicine in the past, taking opioids for a brief time — with guidance from your healthcare professional — may be OK. But ask about all nonopioid pain medicine options to treat your pain, including the benefits and risks.

When you quit taking Vicodin, you may experience feelings of irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. As your body withdraws from the drug, you may feel as if you have a cold or flu, with a stuffy or runny nose, fever, sweats, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When prescribed by a medical professional, the drug comes as a tablet or an oral liquid. Vicodin also became very popular within Hollywood, giving individuals more incentive to try the drug since they knew celebrities utilized it. Fortunately, many members of the Hollywood elite came forward with their struggles to warn others regarding the dangers of Vicodin addiction. In addition, always discard unused medication, including any unused Vicodin pills, properly.

What to Know About Hydrocodone Addiction

As a Schedule II controlled substance, Vicodin has a high risk of being misused. Misusers can quickly become dependent on it, paving the way for addiction to develop. If an individual feels that Vicodin is essential to function during everyday life, an addiction may have developed. Although Vicodin has a legitimate medical purpose, the prescription narcotic is dangerous to those who may take it for the euphoric high it can provide.

Hydrocodone is a controlled substance, categorized as Schedule II. Though the side effects of Vicodin withdrawal are uncomfortable, they are not lethal. Always talk to your healthcare provider before taking any drug when using hydrocodone. Furthermore, a healthcare provider will gradually increase the dose if required until the therapeutic effect is achieved. Hydrocodone is also available in combination with other ingredients prescribed for different uses.

Managing Pain without Vicodin or Opiates

In the United States, more than 2.1 million people are addicted to opioids, including hydrocodone. One of the negative complications of Vicodin abuse is liver damage or failure caused by the Acetaminophen in the drug. Typical cases of liver damage involve doses of 4,000 mg or more a day of Acetaminophen. Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment vicodin addiction below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result.