Vicodin is a prescription medicine best for relieving medium- to extreme pain. When other painkiller medicines fail to work, Vicodin dosage appears as a hero. It stops hitting the pain message to the brain and does this work with the help of hydrocodone, which is an opioid. Hydrocodone gets control over the brain’s opioid receptors to reduce pain and stop them from sending pain signals. But it comes with higher chances of developing addiction. Its withdrawal symptoms can be unpleasant, and overdosing may lead to death.
So, we are here to tell you all about Vicodin’s benefits, side effects, and addiction potential. Besides this, you will also know overdose signs, the best treatments, and alternative ways to get relief.
What is Vicodin?
Vicodin is a powerful painkiller that is prepared by mixing acetaminophen and hydrocodone.
- Acetaminophen is a less powerful pain controller, which increases the effects of hydrocodone.
- Hydrocodone is a synthetic opioid that operates in the same way as an opiate drug like heroin.
The Drug Enforcement Agency labeled Vicodin as a Schedule III Control Substance but changed it later to Schedule II in 2014. DEA set tight restrictions on Vicodin due to the presence of hydrocodone and a huge quantity of acetaminophen. These restrictions protect people from abuse or misuse because negative use of this medicine can lead to liver damage or failure.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Vicodin as a pain reliever. But later, this organization decided to seal all products with more than 325 mg of acetaminophen in 2011. Vicodin’s previous formulations have had 500 to 750 mg of acetaminophen. So, the manufacturer has to reproduce Vicodin with new formulas that contain a low quantity of acetaminophen (300 mg).
What Does Vicodin Look Like?
The most frequently recognized form of Vicodin is tablets. However, in the illicit market, you will find the capsule and liquid form.
This substance is available in three names (tablet):
- Vicodin
- Vicodin ES
- Vicodin HP
The generic equivalent of Vicodin is available in tablet form. The following are a few of all available:
| Tablet Name | Composition | Color | Shape | Imprint |
| Vicodin 5/300mg |
Acetaminophen:300 mg
Hydrocodone: 5 mg
|
White | Oblong |
A14 on one side
C114 on one side
n351 on one side
|
|
Vicodin ES 7.5/300 mg
|
Hydrocodone: 7.5 mg
Acetaminophen: 300 mg
|
White
|
Oblong
|
A41 on one side
n352 on one side
C115 on one side
|
|
Vicodin HP 10/300 mg
|
Acetaminophen: 300 mg
Hydrocodone: 10 mg
|
White
|
Oblong
|
C116
n353
A43
|
Uses and Vicodin Dosages
Vicodin is most commonly used to relieve various types of pain. Let’s take a closer look:
- To deal with chronic and acute pain, you may not find the best medicine than Vicodin.
- Whether you are fighting against the cancer pain or pain after surgery, you will also find it a reliable treatment.
- It can be directed to off-label uses (for what uses also that are not approved by the FDA, for example, cough suppression, anxiety relief, sleep aid, and others)
Vicodin Dosage
The dosage of Vicodin is based on the specific formulation and the needs of the patient. The following outlines key dosing recommendations for adults:
| Vicodin | Adult Dosage (as needed for pain) |
| USP 5/300 mg | 1 or 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours (should not more than 8 tablets daily) |
| USP 7.5/300 mg | 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours (not more than 6 tablets per day) |
| USP 10/300 mg | 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours (not more than 6 tablets daily) |
Special Considerations
- Avoid using Vicodin and alcohol with each other. If you use both in combination, you may consume more acetaminophen than recommended, which leads to live damage.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, taking Vicodin may be harmful. So, make sure to tell about your pregnancy to the doctor. Unfortunately, if you consume it during the start of pregnancy (first 2 weeks), it may lead to birth defects (any type of disability a baby may face). It also may harm the baby if you consume its high dose near the expected delivery date.
- 400 mg of acetaminophen is a limited maximum dose for adults daily. This quantity is not for children, elders, and adults with liver problems. So, make sure to get direction from a doctor and never use it as your own.
- Never use this drug with other medicines that also have acetaminophen in their composition. Many prescription & nonprescription medications are prepared by using acetaminophen. Check the labels of medicines are better before consuming.
Mechanism of Action
Due to the presence of hydrocodone, Vicodin also gets control of the opioid receptors in the brain like all other opioid medicines. It helps to minimize the feeling of pain.
Vicodin changes the function of these receptors, so they stop sending pain messages to the brain. In other words, the affected person does not feel pain after consuming this pain relief. At the same time, acetaminophen helps hydrocodone to relieve pain and reduce fever.
How Long Does Vicodin Take to Work?
It often starts working in the body within 20 minutes. It only happens when you are taking it for the first time. If you are a regular user, your body may take a long time to process. After dependence, you have to take the heavy doses to get the same result.
How Long Does Vicodin Stay in Your System?
In healthy people with no specific medication history, it can move out of the bloodstream within one day. But a few factors can extend its timeline to stay in the body. For example
- If you are a regular user.
- The patient with liver and kidney problems is not able to wash out it first, so it stays for longer enough.
- Age is also a big factor. As a person gets older, the body takes longer to deal with Vicodin.
Side Effects of Using Vicodin
Vicodin leaves side effects whether someone abuses it or uses it according to the prescription.
Common Side Effects
- Constipation
- Anxiety
- Dry mouth
- Problem urinating
- Sedation or drowsiness
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Liver toxicity
Serious Side Effects
The following are serious side effects of Vicodin abuse:
- Heart attack and stroke
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Weakened immune system
- Multiple forms of cancer
- Digestive condition
- Seizures
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
Side Effects of Long-term Vicodin Users
What does Vicodin feel like? When someone uses Vicodin for a long time, it may badly affect their physical health, psychological well-being, and brain. The regular user lost his natural ability to fight against the pain. They start to feel mild pain as severe. This thing forces them to use opioids again and again. Because it controls the brain messages, it also changes the mood and behaviors of long-term users.
Addiction Potential and Abuse
Is Vicodin addictive? Vicodin is a controlled substance because there are higher chances of its abuse or addiction. All controlled substances are strictly administrated by the government in manufacturing, storing, handling, and distributing. Vicodin addiction means you start depending on it. Let’s find out which people are most likely to be addicted:
Risks of Vicodin Addiction
- Mental Health Condition: People struggling with mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, etc) have higher chances of addiction than those who are not.
- Genetics: Research has proved that genetics play a big role in developing substance use disorder (SUD). If your parent is drug abuse, including Vicodin, you will automatically be involved in it.
- Environment: If you are living in a stressful environment, you may try to get relief through drugs like Vicodin.
Symptoms of Vicodin Addiction
The following are some addiction symptoms:
- Want to stop using it but fail to do so
- Consuming heavy doses or continue to take it for a longer time than prescribed.
- Continue to consume it despite knowing its life-threatening harms
- To get the required result, start to take its heavy doses.
Withdrawal Symptoms
The following are some withdrawal symptoms of Vicodin dependence and tolerance that lead you toward addiction:
| Tolerance | Dependence |
| After using the drug for a long time, the body becomes used to it. So, the users have to take a higher amount to get the same result. | Fail to work normally without consuming |
| Withdrawal Signs | |
| Trouble sleeping | Aching muscles |
| Drug cravings | Increased heart rate |
| Depressed mood | Shaking |
| Decrease appetite | Sweating |
| Irritability | Difficulty concentration |
| Aggression | Hallucination (false perception) or delusions (false beliefs) |
Overdose Signs
If you take heavy doses of Vicodin as compared to your brain and body handling ability, it will be considered an overdose. Since it leads to deadly impacts, overdosing requires immediate medical attention. You may feel the following signs of Vicodin overdosing:
- Slow or stop breathing
- Low heart rate or blood pressure
- Sweating
- Muscle weakness
- Cold Skin
- Extreme drowsiness
- Fingernails and lips may turn blue
- Loose of coordination
Before showing the signs of hydrocodone overdosing, the affected person may show the signs of acetaminophen overdosing. These signs include:
- Yellowing of skin
- Diarrhea
- Convulsions
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Naloxone injection can be used to control emergency conditions. If the condition is going out of control, you must get help from near medical emergency center or call 911.
Treatment for Vicodin Addiction
Do you know how long does Vicodin lasts in your body before appearing its withdrawal signs? Within 24 hours after taking your last dosage, you may feel the withdrawal symptoms. At starting, the signs may be mild (you may not feel them) but with time the condition may become serious. Recovery is possible due to the presence of treatment. The following are a few treatment options for Vicodin addiction:
Detoxification Practice: Removal of drug traces from the body is an important step of drug addiction treatment. This process is called detoxification and may be difficult for patients. It is good to complete detox according to the direction of medical professionals. You may also get some medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and lofexidine as medication-assisted treatment) during this process. It is an excellent way to minimize the pain withdrawal signs.
Inpatient Rehab: The patient who prefers to get the inpatient rehab facilities gets around-the-clock care. Physicians stay with them all the time to provide them with intensive rehabilitation services.
Outpatient Facilities: On the other hand, to receive medical care, the patient does not need to be hospitalized in outpatient programs. In these program types, the affected person only needs to visit the rehabilitation center 1-3 times a week, depending on the condition. Outpatient programs may include group, or individual therapy, medication management, or other necessary activities.
Support Groups: To get long-term recovery, you must join the support groups. Here, you will receive or give nonclinical and nonprofessional assistance to people with the same conditions.
Alternative to Vicodin
Despite Vicodin, you can use alternative medicines to minimize the percentage of harm. These include:
- NSAIDs and Non-opioid analgesics: NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) Fluriprofen, ibuprofen, Diclofenac, etc. Non-opioid analgesics like naproxen (Aleve), Ibuprofen (Mortin, Advil), and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used in place of Vicodin.
- Opioid Medicines: If you compare the Vicodin with its same classes like Vicodin vs Percocet; then Vicodin (300 mg) is considered slightly weaker than Percocet (325). You may also be interested in whether is Vicodin stronger than oxycodone. No oxycodone is stronger than Vicodin. All opioid medications are addiction-forming. So, it is better to consult your doctor before consuming opioid medications as an alternative to Vicodin.
- Non-Medication Options: These include:
- CAM (Complementary and Alternative Techniques): acupuncture, message therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
- Relaxation Techniques: meditation and breathing techniques.
- Lifestyle Change: diet and supplements and exercise
Vicodin and Alternative Treatments
| Vicodin (Opioid analgesics | Non-Opioid Analgesics | Non-Medication Techniques |
| Addiction-forming | Not addiction-forming | Not addiction-forming |
| Pain-reliever | Pain-reliever | Pain-reliever |
| Control moderate to severe pain | Control mild to moderate pain | Control mild to moderate pain |
| Have a lot of side effects | Have minimum side effects | No disadvantages |
Conclusion for Vicodin
Although Vicodin is the best medicine to control medium to severe pain, it leaves harmful effects on your mental and physical health. It is a prescription medication, you can’t use it as needed. If you are a regular user, it leaves some withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. These withdrawal signs are due to acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Consult your doctor if you feel any changes in your behaviors or mental and physical health. If your doctor prescribes you Vicodin, you must tell your doctor if you are using any opioid or non-opioid medications, facing liver problems, or you are pregnant or planning of pregnancy. Overdoses should not be ignored, you must seek medical help in rehab immediately to reverse its effects.
