Hydrocodone Withdrawal

Hydrocodone is a painkiller medication that turns into an addictive drug. Patients who undergo a major surgery or are suffering from chronic pain are prescribed this drug for pain management. People become addicted to this prescription drug, and thus it has become one of the most abused drugs available in the market. It is seen that patients who get addicted to the drug will lie of pain in order to get the doctor to prescribe more of the drug for them. An individual addicted to the drug will undergo hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms, when he stops taking the drug.

Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms
A person tends to develop tolerance for the drug and needs to take more and more of it to get relief as well as satisfy their craving for the drug. Tolerance to the drug is the main reason people are addicted to hydrocodone. The level of addiction will be directly proportional to the hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms experienced after the use of the drug is stopped.

The hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms begin within 12 to 24 hours of abstinence from the drug. The symptoms are at their peak for the initial 2 to 4 days. The symptoms cause many physical and psychological effects on the patient. Those who are long-term users may experience intense hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms. The common hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms are as follows:

• Bone pain
• Chills
• Cold flashes
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Dilated pupils
• Fever
• Goose bumps
• Heart palpitations
• Involuntary leg movements
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Nausea or vomiting
• Restlessness (general restlessness and restlessness in the legs)
• Runny nose and tearing
• Sweating
• Yawning

The psychological symptoms include:

• Depression
• Irritability
• Lack of concentration
• Insomnia
• Panic attacks
• Cravings for the drug

Hydrocodone Withdrawal Duration
The hydrocodone withdrawal duration can vary from a few weeks to several months depending of the level of addiction. Usually, the hydrocodone withdrawal is at its peak for 2 to 4 days. After that the symptoms begin to wean out over 7 to 14 days. The hydrocodone withdrawal duration may continue to been seen for a few months, if the person was a long-term user.

Hydrocodone Withdrawal Relief
A person addicted to hydrocodone should not stop taking the drug abruptly. This abrupt discontinuation can lead to many hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms, like anxiety, concentration problems, breathing problems, fever, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, coma, cardiac arrest, etc. In order to provide hydrocodone withdrawal relief, doctors gradually wean the patient off the drug. This is done by decreasing the dose gradually. Patients who have become long-term abusers are advised treatment at a drug rehabilitation center. There are various treatment options available that help in providing the patient with hydrocodone withdrawal relief. Let's have a look at a few of these hydrocodone withdrawal remedies.

Hydrocodone Withdrawal Treatment
The first step of hydrocodone withdrawal treatment is detox. This is carried out under trained supervision at the rehabilitation centers. The patient may be given methadone to reduce the symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal. Patients who experience extreme muscle pain, chills, etc., are advised to take hot showers or soak in a hot bath. Over-the-counter medications are given to get relief from fever. The patients may be given intravenous fluids, if they experience excessive vomiting or diarrhea. The most important part of hydrocodone withdrawal treatment is psychological support. The patient is given therapy to overcome the cravings and avoid using the drug in future.

This was all about hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms and treatment. If one is addicted to the drug, they should speak to their loved ones about it. Without their support, one cannot overcome the addiction. Follow your doctor's advice to give up the hydrocodone addiction. Make sure you never use the drug without a prescription and never take doses more than the ones advised by your doctor. Self restrain is the only way to avoid hydrocodone withdrawal and its effects.