Is Vicodin an Opiate? Yes, it is. Vicodin contains two active ingredients: hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The reasons why patients take Vicodin is to reduce or eliminate pain. When taken as prescribed by a doctor, there are typically no side effects to Vicodin. However, research has shown that Vicodin is extremely addictive and can lead to long-term dependency.
Once you start taking Vicodin, you may find that it is challenging to get off the drug. Eventually, you may experience a wide range of physical and psychological issues. If you are having a difficult time getting off of Vicodin, then you may want to seek help from an opiate addiction rehab center Portland, Oregon. If you have any further questions about how to get started with Vicodin addiction treatment, then feel free to contact Crestview Recovery Center.
Vicodin Dependency: The Road to Addiction
Is Victotin an opiate? The main active ingredient in Vicodin is a substance called hydrocodone. It blocks the pain receptors in your brain. This reaction keeps signals from transmitting through your central nervous system. Once you take Vicodin, you will start feeling better once the medication goes into effect.
However, there is an added side effect to Vicodin that produces feelings of euphoria. In more familiar terms, this creates a high. This feeling of euphoria can be addictive, as it makes you feel amazing. However, the longer you take the drug, the more the side effects will wear off. You have to increase your dosage so that you continue experiencing euphoria.
Dependency occurs when your brain craves the opiate. If you deny your brain Vicodin, then your body will undergo a wide range of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include anxiety, vomiting, hallucinations, insomnia or hypersomnia, or other symptoms.
Side Effects of Vicodin
Since Vicodin is an opiate, it causes many of the same side effects as other opiates such as:
- Ongoing headaches
- Nausea, constipation, or stomach cramps
- Feeling weak or extremely tired
- Severe cravings
- Heart problems such as elevated heart rate
If you overdose on Vicodin, you may experience more severe side effects such as depression, disorientation, vision or hearing problems, drastic mood swings, of fever. If you have any of these side effects, you should seek medical help immediately. Failure to do so could lead to irreversible medical conditions.
Treatment for Vicodin Addiction
If you are addicted to Vicodin and need help to get off the pills, an opiate addiction rehab center in Portland, Oregon can help you get a full recovery from the opiate. Your first step may be to enter a detox center so that you can get the drug out of your system. From there, you may want to look at different options for a treatment plan. If you are asking, “Is Vicodin an opiate?”, a therapist can educate you on what Vicodin is and why it is so dangerous.
Although detox is not easy, a treatment center provides services that can help you get through the most challenging symptoms or discomfort. Treatment options for detox and rehab available to you include:
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Holistic treatment therapy (massage therapy or chiropractic care)
- Residential, inpatient, or outpatient treatment services
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Individual, group, and family therapy programs
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Once you complete detox, you can transition into a rehab center. Your therapist can go over your condition and help you discover treatment options available to you. With a team of professionals there to support you, your chances of recovery are much higher.
Addiction Treatment Services in Portland, Oregon
Is Vicodin an opiate? Find out more at Crestview Recovery Center. We offer a wide range of addiction services for drug and alcohol addiction. To find out more, call us at
866.262.0531. We are here to help you break the cycle of addiction and get on the road to recovery.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
