subject: Abuse Of Vicodin And Its Signs And Symptoms [print this page] Vicodin is a mixture of 2 medicines: hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is commonly prescribed as a pain reliever for curing short term pain. Usually it is taken to provide relief from constant and sharp pain. It is also prescribed to control the post operative pain.
Vicodin is one of the most powerful painkillers. It is given only on the prescription by a physician. The problem with Vicodin is that, over time, it becomes weaker because the body gets used to it. Thus, the abuser needs more amount of Vicodin to get rid of the same amount of pain. Its nonstop unrestrained use leads to vicodin addiction.
Besides relieving from pain, it also makes the user feel tranquil,relaxed, sleepy, free of tensions around him/her and euphoric. The users have to use more and more quantity of Vicodin to get these effects. The user might start to include other things (such as other painkillers, alcohol, anti-anxiety drugs) to the Vicodin to attain the wanted sensation.
Signs of vicodin addiction and abuse:
At the start, there are no visible signs of vicodin abuse. The treacherous thing about vicodin addiction and abuse is that by the time any symptom becomes apparent, the addiction has already developed. Unlike cocane, heroin and other similar drugs, Vicodin does not show any noticeable physical symptoms.
The initial few times, an individual uses Vicodin, he feels happiness, dizziness and drowsiness but these fade away soon. The addict might feel completely normal until he or she misses the dose.
The side effects of vicodin addiction become visible ones the withdrawal symptoms and signs emerge. When the body becomes used to this drug and the addict fails to take the dose, the brain sends out huge waves of pain. This occurs because the brain feels that the existence of Vicodin in the body of the addict is necessary for the normal working of the body. The type and intensity of pain may vary from person to person.
Withdrawal symptoms might be sudden constipation or diarrhea, huge amounts of sweating, vomiting, nausea, mood swings, muscle cramps, migraines, coordination problems, skin rashes and other symptoms.
Apart from these physical symptoms, some behavioral signs of vicodin abuse are also noticeable. The abuser all of a sudden becomes withdrawn from family and friends and wishes to be alone at all times. He/She might begin claiming to be ill at all times and wanting to see a physician. The abuser might begin to borrow (or even steal) money.
