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Vicodin Withdrawal

Withdrawal symptoms are common when you stop taking Vicodin suddenly. Whilst these symptoms are not usually severe, they still can be uncomfortable and unpleasant. Some of the symptoms you can experience from Vicodin withdrawal include sweating, diarrhea and vomiting. Before stopping or reducing your Vicodin dosage, always consult your doctor as they may wish to monitor your symptoms and reduce your dosage slowly over time.

Vicodin Withdrawal - Overview

Hydrocodone/APAP or Vicodin is a pain medication available by prescription only. Vicodin is recognized as a narcotic drug that can cause symptoms when stopped too quickly. Symptoms, whilst not usually threatening to your life, can still be uncomfortable and unpleasant to deal with.
 

Vicodin Withdrawal - Why Does it Occur?

The body can build up a tolerance to the medication over time. However, you can still experience Vicodin withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug suddenly or the dosage is lowered too quickly. Withdrawal symptoms are a normal and predictable physical response whenever quitting a narcotic. You can experience withdrawal symptoms whether you suffer from Vicodin abuse or use the drug legitimately.
 
It is also possible to experience withdrawal symptoms from using the drug naloxone. Naloxone prevents opioids including Vicodin, binding to the receptors located throughout the body. Naloxone has been known to cause withdrawal symptoms irrespective of the level of Vicodin dosage.
 

Symptoms of Vicodin Withdrawal

The symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal range from mild to severe. Whilst symptoms will vary from person to person, the most commonly reported symptoms include the following:
  • Runny nose and sweating
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Goose bumps
  • Muscle pain
  • Mood changed and agitation
  • Abnormal skin sensations
 
It is also common for people withdrawing from Vicodin to experience increased pain from the conditions that initially required Vicodin treatment. These could be either psychosomatic or physical symptoms; even so, the pain may be difficult to deal with. In cases where people are severely addicted to Vicodin, they can act irrationally or place themselves in harm's way, just to obtain more Vicodin.
 
Hydrocodone is a component in Vicodin which has addictive qualities. Hydrocodone addiction can occur as an emotional and physical addiction. It is typical for people going through hydrocodone withdrawal to experience emotional reactions such as feeling empty and devastated without the drug. To deal with this type of withdrawal, treatment may include individual counseling, drug treatment centers and support groups.
 
Although Vicodin withdrawal is rather unpleasant and uncomfortable, it is not a life threatening condition. In fact, coping with withdrawal can be achieved in the safety of your own home. On the other hand, long term users may find that staying at a drug rehabilitation center is necessary. A rehabilitation center protects people from seeking and gaining access to more of the drug, plus it provides the extra support needed to recover from the emotional withdrawal.
 

Limiting Vicodin Withdrawal

Whilst not dangerous, going through withdrawal can be challenging. There are some people who struggle with withdrawal to the point that they begin taking the drug once again to stop their symptoms. Vicodin should never be stopped "cold turkey." To help limit your withdrawal symptoms, ask your doctor to reduce your dosage slowly. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms does not mean that abuse has occurred, so you should never feel embarrassed about the symptoms.