Another drug from the class of opioids is Hydrocodone. The main medical use of this drug is for suppressing cough and alleviating medium to severe pain.
Hydrocodone is an analgesic pain-reliever which is commonly paired with Acetaminophen. Likewise, these two drugs are also often mixed with another substance called Vicodin for enhanced pain relief action.
In terms of potency, this drug has comparable efficacy as morphine and codeine. Further, this is the most popular opioid drug prescribed for patients in the United States.
In the market, there are several brands of this prescription drug with varying strengths and dosages. For instance, Vicodin contains 300 milligrams of acetaminophen with three dosages: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg.
Norco contains 325 mg of acetaminophen and two dosages: 7.5 mg and 10 mg. Lortab contains a greater amount of acetaminophen, approximately 3250 mg with three dosages: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg.
Zohydro is different from the ones earlier mentioned for it contains hydrocodone instead of acetaminophen. This drug has six different dosages: 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, and 50 mg. It is mostly used in treating extreme pain.
Aside from that, this prescription drug is known by several street names which vary depending on the culture of the area. These trivial names are made in order to hide the real identity of the drug when doing illegal transactions. Some of the common street names of this drug are 357s, Watsons, Tabs, Idiot Pills, Norco, Scratch, Fluff, Lorris, Hydros, Vicos, Vics, and Vikes.
In terms of physical appearance, this drug is mostly available in table forms which are oval in shape and white in color. Each strength of the drug has its specific pill imprint as its identifier. For instance, a 325 mg Hydrocodone Bitartrate has a pill imprint of “IP 110”.
Hydrocodone, How They Work
This prescription drug works in the same way as the other opioid drugs in the industry. Once orally ingested, this drug mixes in the blood and targets the brain.
In the brain, it specifically attaches itself in the opioid receptors and prohibits the brain from receiving signals of pain sensations. Likewise, it also stimulates the secretion of dopamine in the brain to reinforce the pain-relieving action.
Dopamine is a brain chemical and hormone which contributes to the regulation of body movements, motivation, and mood. It is also called the “happy or glad-feeling hormone” in the body.
Addiction and Dangers
Despite its health benefits, this drug is considered dangerous because of its high addictive potential and ill effects when mixed with other drugs and illicit substances.
In terms of potency, it has 1/10 strength of Dilaudid, which means one needs to take 100 mg of Hydrocodone to experience similar intensity as a 10 mg Dilaudid.
Because of its availability and wide use, this drug is commonly abused for recreational purposes. Abuse of this medication can lead to serious side effects which can further lead to death. In the United States, around 29,000 cases of hydrocodone abuse were recorded and 36 died from it.
Whether for medicinal or recreational purposes, the intake of this drug can lead to short and long-term effects. The short-term effects associated with the use of this drug are similar to other opioid substances. Some of its short-term effects include depressed breathing, stomach pain, fainting, vomiting, and paralysis.
Meanwhile, if the abuse or use of this drug is continued for a longer duration, the side effects intensify and may lead to other serious health consequences. Some of its common long-term side effects include joint and muscle inflammations, constipation, nausea, sweaty skin, low blood pressure, respiratory failure, and death.
If one plans to undergo a drug test, the knowledge of how long it stays in the body must be known. Typically, this substance has a half-life of four hours. For instance, a person orally takes 100 mg of hydrocodone, after four hours the amount of the substance becomes 50 mg or half of the original amount.
In the urine and saliva, a residue of this substance can still be detected 2 to 4 days and 12 to 36 hours after the last time the drug was taken. In the hair follicles, the presence of this drug can still be detected 90 days after the last intake of the drug.
Medications and Treatments
Early detection of the signs of an overdose or dependence is important to have an early application of first aid treatment. This is important to prevent further complication of its side effects.
There are several signs of determining the presence of addiction from this drug. The common signs of an addiction include lying about experiencing pain to get a prescription, having two medical personnel to get a prescription, social isolation, and constant craving for the drug.
Before a patient undergoes any treatment plan, the person must first gain self-awareness of having the condition and accept that one needs external help to have a faster recovery.
The first steps in any treatment plan are abstinence and detoxification. Gradual or abrupt abstinence from the drug can lead to certain withdrawal symptoms which include unstable mood shift, muscle spasm, sweaty cold skin, nasal congestion, vomiting, frequent headaches, depression, and weariness.
Detoxification from this substance can be done in three methods: inducing stomach lavage, oral ingestion of activated charcoal, and blood dialysis. This process is important for it helps remove huge amounts of the substance in the body.
In order to counter the effect of opioids, the common prescription given to patients is Suboxone. This medication contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. The general effect of this drug is to decrease the impact of opioid substances.
Naloxone decreases the effect of opioids by preventing opioid substances from binding in the opioid receptors in the brain. Whereas, buprenorphine works by attaching itself in the said receptors and decrease the impact of opioids in the brain.
These medications address the biological aspect of the addiction, but therapies correct unhealthy behaviors and hasten the recovery process. The two general categories of therapy incorporated in treatment programs are individual and group counseling.
Individual counseling aims to help the patient further understand one’s condition and formulate a positive coping mechanism to counter when faced with a trigger. In contrast, Group Counseling aims to enhance the socialization skills of all the members in the group. Every member has a chance to share one’s experience in dealing with the condition. Likewise, the group does community service in order to exercise and prove one’s social responsibility.
