Is Vicodin an opioid? Are you an individual fighting an uphill battle against Vicodin addiction? Have you tried to stop, but found it impossible to get through the intense withdrawal symptoms on your own? Many people who wish to get clean fail when the withdrawal symptoms become too much to bear. Thus, the cycle of addiction continues, and the user’s left feeling more hopeless than ever.
Is Vicodin an Opioid?
Is Vicodin an opioid? In reality, Vicodin is a synthetic opioid and is a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Like other opioid medications, physicians commonly prescribe Vicodin to relieve mild pain. When used as prescribed, individuals experience sufficient pain relief when recovering from surgeries and injuries.
The trouble with Vicodin, however, is that many people abuse the drug and take larger or more frequent doses than necessary. When this happens, opioid addiction almost always develops. While dependency and addiction can develop quickly, overcoming either is a different story.
Why Can’t I Stop Abusing Vicodin?
Addiction is a chronic disease. Once dependency develops, it can be quite challenging to break the habit. Opioids alter the brain’s pain receptors and activate its rewards center. In turn, affects the body’s “feel good” sensors. This feeling is what keeps users coming back. The brain becomes accustomed to Vicodin over time, and eventually, it requires more to maintain everyday function. If a user suddenly tries to quit abusing Vicodin, the body goes into shock and will do what it needs to do to “correct” itself.
Vicodin withdrawal is similar to other opioid withdrawals. While symptoms are typically non-life-threatening, they can be uncomfortable. Many people report withdrawal as feeling similar to having the flu.
Vicodin withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Flu-like symptoms including cold chills, runny nose, fever, sweating, and nasal congestion
How Crestview Recovery Can Help
Now that we’ve answered your question, “is Vicodin an opioid?”, it’s time to take action. If you or a loved one is having a hard time beating Vicodin addiction, Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, could be the solution. We help individuals struggling with addiction take control over their lives by assisting them to get sober and arming them with essential life skills to prevent post-treatment relapse.
We offer multiple levels of care, including:
- Extended care
- Partial hospitalization
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Detox Referrals to off-site location
We’ve combined traditional treatment with beneficial experiential therapies to help thousands of individuals conquer their addiction and learn to live a healthy and sober life. We can help you or a loved one, too, even if your addiction is not to an opioid. Crestview Recovery offers a variety of addiction treatment programs, such as:
Don’t Wait, Act Today
Don’t wait until addiction cripples your entire well-being. If you or a loved one would like to overcome your addiction to Vicodin or other opioid medications, Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, can facilitate change. Our compassionate team of physicians, therapists, and other medical professionals are eager and ready to help you take the first step towards positive and life-long recovery. To learn more about how our programs can help you, call us today at 866.262.0531.
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.
