How Long Does It Take to Get Addicted to Hydrocodone?
How long does it take to get addicted to hydrocodone? This is one of the most prescribed pain pills in America. Find out how addictive it is before you take it.
How long does it take to get addicted to hydrocodone? This is one of the most prescribed painkillers in America. In 2010, doctors wrote over 100 million prescriptions for hydrocodone. These numbers are only rising more and more every year.
It’s commonly marketed under the brand names Vicodin and Norco, and is used to relieve severe pain. This prescription opioid is commonly prescribed to patients who need around-the-clock pain relief for long periods of time.
The Length of Time It Takes to Get Addicted
Hydrocodone is meant for long-term use. Most patients who take this drug may need it for several months. The length of time that it takes to get addicted to hydrocodone will vary. Some substance abusers report developing a dependence after several weeks. Others report developing an addiction after several months.
The length of time that it takes to get addicted to hydrocodone will depend on several factors, like one’s biological makeup, the dosage taken and more. To avoid developing an addiction, patients should take hydrocodone only as prescribed. This includes not increasing the dose more than once every 3 to 7 days.
How Do You Know If You’re Addicted to Hydrocodone?
So, how can you tell whether you’re addicted to hydrocodone? Many opioid users gradually develop a physical and chemical dependence to hydrocodone. The development is so slow that they don’t even realize that their drug use has turned into a full-fledged addiction.
Hydrocodone is one of the most commonly abused opioid drugs. Here are some signs that you are addicted to hydrocodone:
- You take a larger dose than intended. You may ignore your doctor’s recommendations and take more hydrocodone that you technically need. This is because you’re trying to get high. It also means that you’ve developed tolerance and dependence on this drug.
- Hydrocodone is all that you can think about. You might spend all of your waking hours thinking about when you’ll take your next dose or whether you have enough pills.
- You experience hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms when you quit. Common withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, diarrhea, cold flashes, seizures, profuse sweating, difficulties sleeping and nausea and vomiting.
- You engage in hydrocodone abuse. This includes taking the prescription opioid in ways that are not recommended for a more potent effect.
- You neglect household, school or work responsibilities in favor of being or getting high.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) outlines 11 criteria that count as a sign of addiction. You only need to meet 2 out of 11 criteria to be diagnosed with a mild addiction. If you suspect that you are addicted, get a professional diagnosis as soon as possible.
This type of drug abuse can lead to devastating consequences, both to your physical health and to your mental health. As hydrocodone is a potent drug, you’ll need opiate detox treatment at a drug rehab to recover.
Get a Free Addiction Assessment
It can be difficult to gauge whether you’re struggling with an addiction or not. Many people may feel that they rely on hydrocodone too much; however, that does not necessarily mean that they are a hydrocodone addict.
If you’re struggling to figure out whether you have an addiction to hydrocodone, give us a call. We’ll give you a free addiction assessment, listen to your problems and help you determine whether you need addiction treatment from an addiction center. We can also point you towards the right substance abuse resources that you need. Our goal is to help you achieve sobriety.
