Vicodin addiction is a dangerous condition that can also cause the user to start taking other drugs. The life-threatening nature of Vicodin addiction is quite daunting. Fortunately, users struggling with this problem can quickly get assistance and recover following a successful treatment program. The first step on the path to recovery is to reach out for help. You can speak to your physician or a certified therapist about Vicodin addiction so they can recommend ideal treatment options suited to your psychological and physical needs.
Anyone suffering from a Vicodin abuse problem will need to go through a medically supervised detox as the first step of their addiction treatment. After they complete the detox, they can then diagnose and treat the underlying problems that led them to start using in the first place. This helps prevent them from relapsing and makes recovery possible when implemented together with therapy and counseling sessions. Treatment for Vicodin addiction also consists of aftercare services and support groups to prepare recovering users for a drug-free life.
Vicodin Detoxification
As the first step of Vicodin addiction treatment, detox is aimed at helping the patient stop taking the drug immediately. Withdrawal from Vicodin is so painful and uncomfortable that the user will continue taking the drug to keep from experiencing them. This is why it is vital to opt for a detox program that helps the patient manage these withdrawal symptoms favorably and safely. Such detox programs also provide drugs that treat some of these symptoms separately while reducing their intensity on the user. Persons suffering from Vicodin addiction can also opt for medically supervised natural detox whose aim is to adequately and rapidly eliminate the drug toxins from the body. Based on the individual’s situation, the rehabilitation team member and the doctor will determine which is the safest option. Regardless of the kind of detox the user opts for, medical supervision is essential to ensure the body gets rid of the drug toxins safely.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Medication-assisted treatment is an ideal way to diminish the withdrawal symptoms from Vicodin detox. It requires the patient to take prescribed medication that helps to keep the patient from experiencing the worst withdrawal symptoms.
There are several drugs primarily used in Medication-Assisted Treatment for Vicodin withdrawal.
Methadone
For decades, Methadone has been used to treat persons suffering from Vicodin addiction since it is a long-acting opioid. It attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain, satisfying its need for any opioid drugs. The benefit of Methadone for MAT is that it does not bring out euphoric effects when taken according to the prescription. Thus, it prevents the user from experiencing any withdrawal symptoms, so they are also balanced enough to engage in the treatment program. Methadone is typically given to recovering Vicodin users once a day under medical supervision. The user then tapers off the Methadone with time and ultimately becomes opiate-free.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a newer drug and goes under the Brand name Suboxone, replacing Methadone as a treatment for Vicodin addiction. Suboxone is a blend of two different drugs: Naloxone, a complete opiate antagonist, and Buprenorphine, a limited opioid agonist. Buprenorphine works by providing users with a Vicodin addiction with minimized opioid doses. It makes it easier for the patient to wean off their current Vicodin addiction while reducing the withdrawal symptoms that occur from the process. As a partial agonist, Buprenorphine only partly activated the brain’s opioid receptors producing a diminished euphoric effect compared to Vicodin. The alternative ingredient in Suboxone, which is Naloxone, is an opioid antagonist. It works by preventing the agonist drug from binding to the opioid receptors and overturning the effects of any opioid agonists in the patient’s body. It is too dangerous for Naloxone to be administered on its own, so it is mixed with Buprenorphine to make it easier for Vicodin users to taper off. If one takes Vicodin while on Suboxone, the Naloxone component will make them develop physical withdrawal symptoms.
Under Medication-Assisted Treatment with the medications mentioned above, there are two ways to go about this regimen: Maintenance and tapering. Specific treatment programs will start by using one of the drugs to help the user taper off Vicodin ultimately, which is what is referred to as detox. In such a detox program, the user will only take the medication for a specified period that a medical professional can modify based on their needs.
A maintenance-based MAT program involves the participant taking medicine for an extended period, possibly for months or years, as the drug helps them maintain sobriety.
Alternative Vicodin-Addiction Treatment Methods
There is a reduced recovery success rate for Vicodin users who finish detox without following it up with a recovery program or an additional treatment method. The reason being that recovery from Vicodin addiction is more about shifting one’s thought processes and behaviors than simply getting sober.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT has proven to be quite effective in treating Vicodin addiction by helping users find alternative ways of managing triggers and cravings without using the drug. CBT has also assisted patients in controlling pain by reducing its harmful effects through attention diversion methods and activity changes. Relapse prevention combined with CBT helps Vicodin users determine the situations that can trigger their drug use. Relapse prevention plans also help recovering Vicodin users improve on specific areas in their lives affected by the addiction, such as education, employment, finances, or relationships. An additional but essential step for recovering Vicodin users is to inform their prescribing doctor of their addiction and request them not to prescribe narcotic drugs to them.
There are non-medication remedies to aid with Vicodin withdrawal, such as acupuncture, massage, or meditation. Such methods can help recovering Vicodin users feel more comfortable during the detoxification process while making the treatment feel more controllable.
Anyone suffering from Vicodin addiction and looking to start treatment can ask their doctor for recommendations on the best treatment programs available.
