Vicodin Side Effects, Signs, & Symptoms
Doctors sometimes prescribe the opioid Vicodin to manage moderate to severe pain. Like other opioids, Vicodin is addictive and can be abused for its mind-altering effects.
If you or someone you love has been abusing Vicodin, now is the time to get help. Whether or not Vicodin addiction is present, misusing this drug can be dangerous. With the right prescription drug rehabilitation, recovery is possible.
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Doctors prescribe Vicodin because it eliminates a patient’s pain, but the drug also carries other side effects users may experience the longer they use the drug.
Short-term effects of Vicodin abuse include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Slowed breathing
- Impaired judgement
- Loss of consciousness
- Drowsiness
- Addiction
- Liver problems
- Jaundice
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Memory problems
- Seizures
- Blurred vision
Vicodin is a dangerous narcotic. Take too much and you may overdose, which could result in organ failure and death.
Symptoms of Vicodin overdose include:
- Seizure
- Unconsciousness
- Coma
- Slowed breathing
- Slowed heart rate
- Confusion
- Sweating
- Liver failure
- Jaundice
- Cold or clammy skin
- Blue fingers and lips
- Vomiting
Despite warnings on the prescription bottle, many Vicodin users combine the opioid with other drugs. Vicodin interactions can cause major damage to the body, though, and can lead to hospitalization or death.
Some of the most common interactions include:
- Vicodin and Alcohol – Drinking while taking Vicodin can be extremely dangerous to a person’s liver health because both alcohol and acetaminophen, one of the main ingredients in Vicodin, are both metabolized through the liver. Each drug can cause liver injury and liver failure when abused alone; when used in tandem, the consequences on the liver could turn deadly.
- Vicodin and Adderall – There is little research on combining Adderall and Vicodin, although their effects oppose each other as Adderall is meant to encourage focus and Vicodin can cause drowsiness and inability to concentrate. Ask your doctor before combining these two medications.
In order to avoid the harmful effects of Vicodin addiction, it is crucial to recognize a drug problem as soon as possible. Even if you keep an eye out for addiction signs and recognize the problem, you may not know how severe it is. It is important to have this information — it will guide you in determining the kind of treatment that is best for you and whether or not you require medical detox.
In order to determine the severity of a Vicodin addiction, seek the help of a mental health professional who adheres to the standards set in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This body of information, which is updated once every few years, is the authority on mental illness in America. Professionals use it to diagnose and better understand substance use disorders and other psychiatric problems.
The latest version of the DSM lists 11 criteria to define opioid use disorder (such as level of use, tolerance, uncontrollable cravings, and others). Severity of addiction is based on how many of those criteria a person meets. The current severity breakdown is as follows:
- Mild addiction – 2–3 criteria met
- Moderate addiction – 4–5 criteria met
- Severe addiction – 6+ criteria met
Speak to a Vicodin Intake Coordination Specialist now.
352.771.2700What to expect when I call?Seeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.
Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.
Speak with an Intake Coordination Specialist now.352.771.2700If someone you love has a problem with Vicodin abuse, it’s time to take action. Consider staging an intervention. During this event, you will sit down and discuss with your loved one how their addiction has impacted you and why you want them to get help.
Because there is a right and wrong way to go about staging an intervention, you may benefit from the help of a professional interventionist. This person has lots of experience helping families and friends communicate with one another and reach the common goal of getting a loved one to the best rehab center for their needs.
AbbVie. “Vicodin (hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen) Tablets, USP | HCP.” Vicodin (hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen) Tablets, USP, AbbVie, www.vicodin.com/hcp. Accessed 24 Jan. 2017.
The Recovery Village. “Street Names for Drugs: A List of Popular Drug Slang Terms.” The Recovery Village, 15 Sept. 2016, www.TheRecoveryVillage.com/resources/street-names-for-drugs/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2017.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Prescription Drug Abuse Symptoms.” Mayo Clinic, 19 Sept. 2015, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/basics/symptoms/con-20032471.
American Psychiatric Association. “Opioid Use Disorder Diagnostic Criteria.” PCSS-MAT, Providers’ Clinical Support System For Medication Assisted Treatment, pcssmat.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/5B-DSM-5-Opioid-Use-Disorder-Diagnostic-Criteria.pdf.
Hasin, Deborah S., et al. “DSM-5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders: Recommendations and Rationale.” PubMed Central (PMC), American Journal of Psychiatry, 1 Aug. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767415/.
Have more questions about Vicodin abuse?
Read the most frequently asked questionsSpeak to a Vicodin Intake Coordination Specialist now.
352.771.2700What to expect when I call?Seeking addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. We know the struggle, which is why we're uniquely qualified to help.
Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.
Speak with an Intake Coordination Specialist now.352.771.2700