Saturday, 06 February 2010
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How to Handle a Vicodin Addiction
Vicodin addiction has been in the news in recent years. Radio personality Rush Limbaugh admitted to misusing this drug. But what is vicodin, and what kind of addiction does it produce?Vicodin is a powerful painkiller. It consists of acetaminophen, which most people know as Tylenol, and hydrocodone, an opium-based cough suppressant. The acetaminophen stops pain-causing prostoglandins and the hydrocodone binds to pain receptors to block pain.
Most people who become addicted start by using after an accident or surgery. But because vicodin is an opiate, its use can easily result in an vicodin addiction similar to heroin. Patients quickly build up a tolerance, and require more of the drug. This is especially true for people who develop chronic pain. This is sometimes called accidental addiction, since the person did not intent to take vicodin for recreational use.
Once a person has developed the addiction, he will keep taking the drug to avoid the symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms are very unpleasant. They include pain, cold sweats, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, panic attacks, and depression. Continued use of vicodin leads to more tolerance and the need for larger doses. A vicious cycle develops that is very difficult to break.
Besides the debilitating effects of the addiction, people can go to the length of breaking the law to get vicodin. Many lives have been ruined this way.
The only treatment for this vicodin addiction is to go through withdrawal. Some people try to do this on their own, but few succeed. The symptoms of withdrawal are too unbearable. The better alternative is to go to a rehab facility, where patients can be monitored by medical professionals. Some addicts can stop cold turkey. But others may take up to thirty or more pills a day, and have to cut down gradually.
Vicodin is a two-edged sword, that can alleviate and also cause pain.
Have you - or someone you know - ever been a victim to vicodin addiction?Post contributed from www.ChangeYourLifeHacks.com.
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Stats: This Week All Time Posts: 12 79 Views: 12447 82518 Comments: 163 1153 View all posts by xangasyndicatedsites@xanga
Comments (17)
I tried powerful pain killers and I just felt very drowsy as if I was floating around and had dreamless sleep. I didn't become addicted because I didn't like that feeling of my entire body feeling restless as if I didn't have a skeleton and I was just hovering.
limbaugh was poppin oxy wasn't it?
Never understood pills. I'd just rather smoke a joint or have a beer.
I've been addicted to vicodin. It was after a car accident, so they were prescribed. The withdrawal is hell. I wish I would have just gradually cut back, but I was 14, and didn't know any better.
I was in a car accident a couple weeks ago, and I had to force myself not to take painkillers for longer than a week, because I knew I'd have a hard time quitting.
I've been addicted to vicodin, just recently actually. Not intentionally - it was being prescribed for chronic pain (a no-no) for over 6 months. Withdrawal was horrible. They cut me off out of nowhere, so I had to detox at home by myself. It was pretty freaking miserable.
I came close to a vicodin addiction thanks to it being prescribed after I had surgery.
Vicodin is made as a mixture of hydrocodone and paracetamol. Paracetamol, which is also called acetaminophen, acts as an analgesic/antipyretic. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic. This stuff is nowhere near as powerful as heroin. It's the same stuff that's in Percodan.
I started taking these 22 years ago after I broke my back. Believe me, these aren't that bad when it comes to addiction. Oxycontin for example are much worse, morphine is even worse, and then there's Fentanyl. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine
Vicodin or a perk addiction is a more psychological addiction than physical one. Sure, it has some of the usual physical side effects but believe me, it's nothing compared to a full blown morphine, Fentanyl or junk addiction. You can get off of Vocidin or Percodan pretty easy. If you have a problem with those, get help as soon as you can. Believe me, once they don't do the job, you'll be looking for the really hard stuff to put you on the nod and shooting up morphine or junk 5 times a day isn't fun.
No.
I've had to take various forms of hydrocodone several times, and never once did I take more than a few doses for immediate relief. Once whatever was happening calmed down enough for me to bear the pain, I deal with it.
I don't like putting unnecessary chemicals in my body, and if it's just going to hide the pain, I'd rather just deal with the pain instead of getting hooked on something.
@rainbowbrite2200@xanga - That's a little bit of a "helpless victim" mindset to have about it, isn't it? Either way, I'm glad you got off of it.
Only Dr. House <3
@P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga - exactly right. I don't think it would be possible for me to get addicted to vicodin... I hate how it makes me feel.
i hate vicodin. they're weak and they make me a total bitch when i take them.
I took one vicodin a few days ago and practically died. No thanks.
i took vicodin a few times before but it was given to me by a medical professional... it made me high as fuck... i love vicodin it does wonders but i don't take it all the time when i have pain in my back or i have a headache or some shit like that in fear i'ma be addicted 'cuz my lil bro and a friend of mine pop 'em like it's nothing...
GREGORY HOUUUUUSE.
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Drug Addiction is now a
global problem. This social cancer has spread its poisonous claw all over the
world. Frustration is the cause of this Addiction unemployment problem,
political cataclysm, lack of family ties, lack of love affection etc gives rise
to frustration. Again this addiction gives rise to social crimes. When the
addicted can’t afford to buy drugs, they commit many kinds of social crimes.
Like hijacking, looting, plundering, killing, robbery etc. Drugs bear a
terrible effect on human body. They kill them slowly but surely. No physician
can stop the changes that take place in the body of a drug addict. Drug
addicted people feel drowsy, lose appetite and sleep. The skins of their bodies
began change it’s color. Drugs also damage the brain and all internal function
of the body. However this curse shouldn’t be allowed to go on unchecked. At any
cost we must get rid of this social cancer by highlighting its dangerous
effects on human body and society. The remedy for drug addiction is not very
easy. Greed of drug traders has grasped the whole world. Drug business should
must be is punishable and the highest punishment is death sentence in any
Country. This law must be enforced immediately. Our young generation must be
aware of the dire consequence of drug abuse. Parents must be careful of their
treatment to children. Feelings of security under loving parents may hinder
children from being victims of drugs. Religious and social values must be
taught from early childhood. When each and every person is sincere to drive
this curse of drug addiction from the society, human beings can get rid of it.