Vicodin
overdose and abuse is possible due to its
component, the opiate hydrocodone. Vicodin is used to treat pain due to severe
injury or because of surgery. It is prescribed to treat mild to severe pain. It
has two active ingredients such as acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Acetaminophen
is known as Tylenol while hydrocodone is the narcotic. Please take note that
this drug must be taken with your doctor’s prescription. Prolonged use of
Vicodin will result to resistance to the drug. Therefore, a person needs higher
dose of this medicine to get the desired effects.
The need for higher dose puts a person at
risk of overdose. The hydrocodone in Vicodin is also a semi-synthetic opioid
which has the similar effect of morphine. It gives you the feeling of euphoria,
reduces anxiety and gives you a pleasant experience. A lot of people abuse
Vicodin because they don’t want to undergo withdrawal. Vicodin overdose and abuse is possible when you no longer
experience pain relief on a normal dose.
Some attempts to take a higher dose to beat the symptoms of withdrawal.
Others take a higher dose to achieve the feeling of “high” without knowing that
they are at risk of a deadly overdose.
When To Know When You Are Suffering From Vicodin Overdose
Due
to the narcotic component of Vicodin, taking too much of this drug can lead to:
·
Cold and clammy skin
·
Low blood pressure
·
Slow heart rate
·
Drowsiness
·
Difficulty in breathing
·
Cardiac arrest
·
Death
Since it also contains acetamenophine, these
symptoms may also occur:
·
Confusion and irritability
·
Jaundice
·
Sweating
·
Nausea/Vomiting
·
Diarrhea
·
Appetite loss
·
Failure of the liver
When Vicodin is taken with alcohol, it will
maximize its depressant symptoms which can lead to coma and loss of life. If taken
with muscle relaxants, cold medications, seizure medications or sleeping pills,
it may lead to life threatening symptoms that need immediate medical attention.
Treatment For Vicodin Overdose
Both the active ingredients of Vicodin are
potentially fatal hen taken in large doses. Hydrocodone affects the nervous
system and causes respiratory depression. Taking large dose of acetaminophen
can lead to liver failure which may require a liver transplant if the damage
caused is severe.
If Vicodin overdose is suspected, emergency
number 911 should be called right away. One in the hospital, the medical staff
will either pump the person’s stomach or induce vomiting. Activated charcoal
may also be used by the doctor so that the drug is absorbed from the digestive
tract of the patient. Use of activated carbon is effectively used in treating
various kinds of poisoning.
Another option is to use an antidote such
as Narcan for the effects of hydroconone to be counteracted. This medication
should be carefully administered as it may cause unpleasant side effects. Detox
is the first step in the Vicodin treatment plan. To treat Vicodin overdose and abuse, a person must undergo rehab on a center
that specializes in Vicodin abuse.
