Vicodin is the name brand for an opioid pain reliever medication that contains hydrocodone and acetaminophen.[1] While it can help manage pain short term, you can get addicted to Vicodin by taking it longer or in higher amounts than you are prescribed. People who abuse Vicodin do so because it causes feelings of euphoria, drowsiness, and feelings of warmness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2021, 45 people died each day from a prescription opioid overdose, totaling nearly 17,000 deaths.”[2]
While Vicodin does contain acetaminophen, a non-opioid pain reliever, the hydrocodone found within it is an opioid. When you abuse Vicodin, the hydrocodone will attach to opioid receptors in your brain, causing a “high” feeling that can lead to addiction. Once you are addicted to Vicodin, suddenly stopping its use will result in withdrawal symptoms.
Even though Vicodin withdrawal symptoms are not usually life-threatening, they can be impossible to cope with without professional support. Thankfully, Vicodin detox programs in West Palm Beach will use a combination of services like medical stabilization and the use of medications to limit symptoms to increase your chances of long-term sobriety.
What are the Symptoms of Vicodin Withdrawal?
Vicodin will cause similar withdrawal symptoms as other opioid medications like codeine, oxycodone, or morphine. Typically, people describe Vicodin withdrawal as feeling like a severe flu, as it causes symptoms like chills, sweating, body aches, and more. As a result, you should always seek treatment from a medical detox center in Palm Beach County.
The symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal may include:[3]
- Agitation and anxiety
- Muscle aches and pains
- Insomnia and sleep disturbances
- Runny nose and increased tearing
- Excessive sweating
- Frequent yawning
- Abdominal cramping and stomach aches
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Goosebumps and shivering
- Nausea and vomiting
Attempting to detox on your own can result in a relapse. Relapsing on opioids like Vicodin after a period of abstinence can lead to a life-threatening overdose if you attempt to take the same dose as when you had a tolerance. Due to this risk, you should never try to overcome withdrawal without assistance from a drug and alcohol detox program.
What to Expect During Vicodin Detox in Palm Beach County
If you or a loved one are considering attending Vicodin detox in Palm Beach County, you might be wondering what to expect. These programs will assess your needs, ensure that you are medically stable throughout the withdrawal process, prescribe medications to limit your symptoms, and create a treatment plan for further addiction recovery services.
Vicodin detox centers in Palm Beach County offer the following services and treatments:
Assessment
When you arrive at a detox facility, you will undergo an assessment that gathers information about your physical and mental health as well as your history of Vicodin abuse. Then, the medical staff will be able to determine what types of services you will require during your detox program. In other words, these assessments help nurses and doctors understand what medications, treatments, and types of support you will need to be successful.
Medical Stabilization
After your assessment, your medical team will begin monitoring your vital signs to ensure that you are stable. For example, this includes checking your blood pressure, breathing rate, body temperature, and heart rate. If anything comes up, you will be promptly treated, keeping you safe and comfortable.
It is important to note that nurses will routinely check your vital signs throughout the entire detox process. As a result, they will be able to treat any abnormalities before they become an emergency.
Medications
Once you are deemed medically stable, you will begin taking medication to limit your withdrawal symptoms. Because Vicodin is an opioid, you will be given FDA-approved medications that target the opioid receptors in your brain to trick it into thinking it’s gotten the substance it craves. Typically, this involves taking either methadone or Suboxone.
Methadone and Suboxone are both used to taper you off of Vicodin. This means that as your withdrawal symptoms decrease, so will the dose of your medication. Eventually, you will be tapered down until you no longer need these medications and your withdrawal symptoms have subsided.
Treatment Planning
Lastly, Vicodin detox programs in Palm Beach County will help you create a treatment plan that includes either inpatient rehab, outpatient treatment, or a combination of the two. Since medical detox programs only provide support for the physical aspect of addiction, this is an important step in the recovery from Vicodin addiction.
Get Connected to a Top-Rated Vicodin Detox Center in Palm Beach County
If you or a loved one suffers from Vicodin addiction, you’ve come to the right place. At Mandala Healing Center, we offer a highly-rated Vicodin detox program in Palm Beach County to ensure that you remain safe and comfortable in the early stages of recovery. Our caring and attentive team is ready to help each patient find solutions for lasting sobriety and truly heal from within.
To learn more about our Vicodin detox program in West Palm Beach, contact us today.
References:
- Medline Plus: Hydrocodone Combination Products, Retrieved November 2023 From https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601006.html
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Opioid Overdose, Retrieved November 2023 From https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/opioid-overdose.html
- Medline Plus: Opiate and opioid withdrawal, Retrieved November 2023 From https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm