Treatment for hydrocodone withdrawal depends on the degree of addiction, and the overall health and attitude of the individual concerned. Go through this HealthHearty article to get an idea of what all is involved in it.
Hydrocodone refers to an orally active narcotic, analgesic, and cough suppressant. Available in tablet, capsule, and syrup form, it is compounded many times with other milder analgesics, like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Now, hydrocodone, being a narcotic, has all the properties of an addictive substance. Those who take or have been prescribed considerable dosage of hydrocodone can be prone to its addiction. The addiction is potentially hazardous for health, and the withdrawal symptoms can be immediately observed once the drug is discontinued. If not treated, it can cause health problems for the addict.
Symptoms of Withdrawal
Bodily Symptoms
- Severe pain
- Pins and needles sensation
- Sweating
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Fever
- Drug cravings
- Heart palpitations
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Runny nose and tearing
- Diarrhea
- Muscle ache
- Dry throat
- Drowsiness
- Itching
These are the physical symptoms of stopping the hydrocodone. There are some psychological symptoms as well.
Effects on the Psychological Health
- Excessive anxiety and restlessness
- Irritability
- Depression
- Lack of concentration
- Mood changes
- Enhanced sense of well-being
- Fear
- Emotional dependence
- Extreme calmness
- Mental clouding
These symptoms, if not checked quickly can have further bad effects on a person’s health. Thus, it can be seen that there are adverse effects on an individual, if he or she gets addicted to hydrocodone and then, the prescription drug is discontinued. Bearing and dealing with these symptoms is not a very easy task. Medical intervention is needed along with emotional and psychological support of those close to the addict.
Treatment
First things first; for the treatment to be effective, the person’s approach should be positive. He or she should realize and understand the importance of getting out of that rut. Only then, the treatment can be implemented, and it can work.
Clean it Up
The treatment begins from detoxification. The physiological effects of the withdrawal can be controlled and moderated with the help of detoxification. Detoxification, simply put, is to get the body rid of all the toxins and harmful substances. It ultimately helps in eliminating the addiction. If detoxification is done very rapidly, hydrocodone withdrawal can intensify. So, gradual detoxification is commonly used to lessen the amount consumed. This technique is called tapering off, and it allows a person’s body to slowly get used to lesser amounts of drug and medication.
Physical Treatment
The treatment for physical symptoms depends on what symptoms are experienced. Muscle pain and severe chills can be dealt with pain killers or perhaps taking hot baths. Over-the-counter medicines, like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help reduce the fever. Along with that, a good amount of fluid intake is extremely crucial for dealing with symptoms, like, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. In case of convulsions, the dosage of the drug has to be reduced slowly in the tapering off period.
Rehabilitation Centers
If the addiction is seen to be going beyond a certain limit, medical assistance could be necessary. That is where the drug rehabilitation centers come in the picture. Although, it is a good idea to speak to a doctor before starting off with any treatment or even a rehab, these centers do provide a medical overview of the treatment process involved, for instance detoxification. Sometimes, certain medicines, too, are specifically prescribed for immediate relief.
Finally, all these things will not be possible without the strong psychological support, care, and understanding from the near and dear ones of that person. The people close to the addict should try to help him get out of this mess by strengthening him or her mentally, and by giving 100% support, in any case. Only then will the treatment give good results.
