Hydrocodone Withdrawal and Detox

Medically Reviewed
By The Recovery Village
The Recovery Village
The Recovery Village
About our Editorial Team
Editor Thomas Christiansen
Thomas Christiansen
Thomas Christiansen

With over a decade of editing experience, Tom is a content specialist for Advanced Recovery Systems,... read more

Medically Reviewed By Conor Sheehy, PharmD, BCPS, CACP
Conor Sheehy
Conor Sheehy, PharmD, BCPS, CACP

Dr. Sheehy completed his BS in Molecular Biology at the University of Idaho and went on to complete his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at... read more

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This medical web page has been reviewed and validated by a health professional. The information has been screened and edited by health professionals to contain objective information on diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Contains bibliographic reference sources. If you are a healthcare professional and you find any issue, please reach out to [email protected]
Updated on 10/15/21

Hydrocodone — commonly known by the brand names Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, Vicoprofen and Hycomine — is one of the most prescribed drugs in the United States. The opioid is commonly used for chronic pain relief, but many patients with a prescription misuse hydrocodone to achieve a rapid, euphoric high similar to heroin. Additionally, some people develop an opioid addiction from hydrocodone and begin using other drugs. Due to its dependence-forming potential, hydrocodone is a contributor to the country’s opioid epidemic.

Hydrocodone interacts with opioid receptors in the brain, altering how a person’s body reacts to and manages pain. You or a loved one could become addicted to hydrocodone just from a doctor’s prescription. After consistent use, people can develop a tolerance for the drug’s effects and may need a higher dosage to achieve the same tranquil feeling. Signs that someone could be addicted to hydrocodone include:

  • Hiding pills in the car or home
  • Being secretive about taking the drug
  • Seeing multiple doctors and making frequent doctor visits
  • Exaggerating pain or injury
  • Mood changes and angry outbursts
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Confusion
  • Disinterest in hobbies or other activities
  • Difficulty concentrating

It is important to seek medical treatment if you or a loved one are addicted to hydrocodone. The Recovery Village can help people suffering from substance use disorder begin a better way of life.

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Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms

If a person develops a dependence for and then stops taking hydrocodone, the body typically experiences withdrawal symptoms. This happens even if a person isn’t going through a detoxification process. Some common effects of hydrocodone withdrawal include:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Insomnia
  • Shaking
  • Irritability
  • Excessive sweating
  • Watery eyes and runny nose
  • Anxiety
  • Aching
  • Stomach aches and diarrhea
  • High blood pressure
  • Increased heartbeat

Safely managing these symptoms is an important part of the withdrawal process. With assistance from a team of medical professionals, you can overcome hydrocodone withdrawal side effects.

Hydrocodone Withdrawal Timeline

Individuals preparing to undergo hydrocodone detox often ask, “How long does hydrocodone withdrawal last?” While there is no clear-cut answer, physical withdrawal symptoms from hydrocodone can begin within a few hours after the last dosage. Within a day or two, people often experience muscle aches, nausea and abdominal pain. Withdrawal severity often peaks within the first five days as the body may experience sweating, vomiting and diarrhea.

The timeline for hydrocodone withdrawal varies depending on how long the drug remains in the body, which is based on many factors, including:

  • Age
  • Height
  • Body weight
  • Genetics
  • The health of the kidney and liver
  • Metabolism
  • The frequency of use and dosage

Psychological symptoms — such as anxiety, irritability and mood swings — can last for a month or longer, even after physical withdrawal symptoms end. The risk of recurring use is still present following withdrawal. It is important during this stage to continue receiving medical treatment in a professional rehab facility.

Even after hydrocodone withdrawal ends, opioid addiction is a lifelong struggle. However, with the help of The Recovery Village, you or your loved one can work through withdrawal symptoms and learn coping mechanisms to help live life beyond addiction.

Hydrocodone Detox

If you or a loved one suffer from a hydrocodone addiction, you’ll want to know how to detox from hydrocodone. The detoxification process can be challenging, but it is a necessary part of a person’s recovery. A medically supervised detox program is important to safely remove the drug from the body. Some people choose to go “cold turkey,” a potentially dangerous detox approach that does not involve any medical or clinical ways to manage severe withdrawal symptoms.

Another option is rapid detox, which uses anesthesia to put patients to sleep during the physically uncomfortable part of hydrocodone detox. Many medical experts believe rapid detox is risky and a study published in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence stated that 80 percent of patients who underwent the program experienced a setback within six months. A 2012 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that six people died in part due to an anesthesia-assisted rapid detox program.

There is not one specific detoxification program that works for everyone. To meet individual needs, some treatment facilities, like The Recovery Village, have the staff and resources to tailor a detox approach for each patient. At a rehabilitation facility, trained medical professionals can guide you or your loved one through detox symptoms.

Hydrocodone Detox Symptoms

While detoxification and withdrawal symptoms are similar, a medically supervised detox program can increase comfort. A home detox or rapid detox strategy could be dangerous and lead to severe symptoms.

To help patients safely manage withdrawal symptoms and remove the drug from their body, The Recovery Village provides individualized, medically supervised detox programs. Dedicated staff members can monitor your health and comfort levels and possibly administer any necessary medications to help in the process. Common hydrocodone-replacement drugs include:

  • Buprenorphine – Can shorten the detox process
  • Naltrexone – Mitigates hydrocodone cravings and prevent recurring use

These or similar detox medications should only be administered by a trained professional, as they deem needed. Self-medication during the detox process is dangerous and can lead to injuries or death.

Removing hydrocodone from the body is an important part of the drug rehabilitation process. While detox can be uncomfortable, completing the step is vital to living without hydrocodone addiction.

Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

How Long Does It Take to Detox From Hydrocodone?

The length of detox is largely dependent on how long it takes to remove a drug from a person’s system. There is no exact answer for how long hydrocodone detoxification takes, as each patient is different. Various factors including age, body weight, dosage and length of time since last use can play a part in detox length.

Hydrocodone has a half-life of four to six hours, which means the drug often remains in the body for less than 24 hours. Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating and vomiting can begin within six hours since the last dosage, and it is important to be under the guidance of a medically supervised detox program when they start. Withdrawal symptoms often continue long after the last traces of opioids leave a person’s body. The initial phase of withdrawal, which includes many common physical symptoms, can last anywhere from seven to 10 days. Some psychological symptoms can continue for weeks after the last use of hydrocodone.

Withdrawal can be tough, but outlasting the symptoms is worth it in the end. The Recovery Village has a dedicated team of professionals ready to help you or a loved one begin hydrocodone detoxification and addiction recovery.

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