Withdrawal from Hydrocodone
Withdrawal From Hydrocodone: What to Expect in Rehab
Hydrocodone is one of the most frequently prescribed and used opioid analgesics. It is a partially synthetic drug that numbs the body against pain by changing the way the brain works with it. Hydrocodone, when taken in larger quantities than prescriptions recommend, delivers euphoric feelings and, like many other drugs of its class, is deeply habit-forming. Once addiction sets in, withdrawal from hydrocodone can be challenging and time-consuming.
Withdrawal from hydrocodone
When you are physically addicted to hydrocodone, it means that your brain has adapted to the presence of this drug in the bloodstream and has changed internal chemical function to allow for the presence of this foreign substance. When you attempt to withdraw from hydrocodone, it fundamentally changes the chemical environment of the brain, causing the brain to struggle to adapt yet again. The period of time that it takes for the brain to adapt can come with severe disruptions to its function. This process comes with difficult and painful physical effects.
The hydrocodone withdrawal timeline starts only a few hours after the last dose of the drug is taken, and, depending on the individual, the length of time for which addiction has lasted, and the quantity of the drug taken, can last from two weeks to several months.
Withdrawal begins with cold sweats and a perception of chilliness. Insomnia, mood instability, agitation, irritability and an upset stomach, are all common. These symptoms start off mildly, and gradually intensify over the first 72 hours. They then begin to taper off. The length of the tapering-off period can depend on the individual. Past the first 15 days, withdrawal difficulties can persist, arrive unpredictably, set off waves of discomfort that last for hours, and then disappear.
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome is a complex of uncomfortable effects seen, that can come up even several months after quitting. It can result in a constant state of irritability, insomnia swings. All through this, it's possible usually to think of all different.
Rehab, especially inpatient rehab, can greatly help
It isn't a good idea to quit hydrocodone cold turkey, bringing up the difficulties associated with hydrocodone withdrawal in full. This is what detox centers are there for. They can assist patients as they go through withdrawal, and treat for the worst of the symptoms.
One of the most effective ways of helping with hydrocodone withdrawal relief is to wean the addict off the drug, rather than to stop abruptly. Doses are often lowered 10%-a-day over ten days. Sometimes, for long-standing addictions, the tapering off may last as long as 20 days.
The withdrawal symptoms that come with quitting hydrocodone can be severe enough to discourage most addicts from even trying. In rehab, however, addicts can expect a more- or-less pain-free withdrawal experience. Addiction experts in attendance prescribe many common medications to help with the symptoms. Patients may receive antidepressants to help with the mood, and buprenorphine or clonidine to help with the cravings, for instance.
Therapy is the most important component of detox
Quality rehab centers introduce intensive therapy into any detox program. From educational classes about addiction itself to individual and group therapy sessions, these activities can run to from 10 to 12 hours a day. Therapy is important because fundamentally, addiction is a psychological disorder. Along with psychiatric disorders, poor psychological health is the primary reason why some people turn to substance abuse when others don't under similar circumstances. Strong therapeutic programs at rehabs are an excellent indicator of successful withdrawal over the long-term.
Inpatient detox or outpatient?
In general, treatment for addiction is best done on an inpatient basis, where participants are simply unable to cheat and have no choice but to fully engage in treatment. The best rehabs offer both options for different types of patients.