Vicodin is a mixture of 2 medicines: acetaminophen and hydrocodone. It is mostly prescribed as a pain reliever for treating short term pain. Most commonly it is used to provide relief from unceasing and severe pain. It is also used to treat the post operative pain.
Vicodin is one of the strongest pain relievers. It is given only on the advice of a doctor. The problem with Vicodin is that, as time passes, it becomes less powerful because the body of user becomes used to it. Therefore, the user needs more amount of Vicodin to cure the same level of pain. Its nonstop unrestrained use causes vicodin addiction.
Apart from providing relief from pain, it also makes the user feel tranquil,relaxed, sleepy, free of tensions around him/her and euphoric. The abuser need to use more and more Vicodin to get these effects. The abuser might start to include other things (for example alcohol, other painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs) to the Vicodin to achieve the wanted feeling.
Signs of addiction to vicodin:
At the start, there are no noticeable signs of addiction to vicodin. The treacherous thing about vicodin abuse and addiction is that by the time any sign becomes apparent, the addiction has already developed. Unlike cocane, heroin and other similar drugs, Vicodin does not cause any noticeable physical signs.
The first few times, an individual uses Vicodin, he feels drowsiness, happiness and dizziness but these fade away very quickly. The abuser might feel perfectly normal until he or she misses the dose.
The side effects of vicodin addiction become apparent ones the withdrawal signs and symptoms show up. Ones the body has become used to Vicodin and the addict skips the dose, the brain sends out large waves of pain. This happens because the brain feels that the existence of Vicodin in the body of the abuser is necessary for the normal working of the body. The type and intensity of pain may vary from individual to individual.
Withdrawal symptoms might be sudden constipation or diarrhea, huge amounts of sweating, nausea, vomiting, mood swings, migraines, muscle cramps, skin rashes, coordination problems and many others.
Apart from these physical symptoms, some behavioral signs of vicodin addiction and abuse are also evident. The addict unexpectedly becomes withdrawn from friends and family and wishes to be alone at all times. He/She might begin claiming to be ill at all times and wanting to see a medical professional. The addict might begin to take loan (or even steal) money.