Vicodin is a prescribed opiate medication that is widely used as a painkiller throughout the country. It relieves severe pain due to injury, illness, and surgery. Allergic reactions are rare and it is also a well-tolerated analgesic, making it a popular choice for most people.

Developing tolerance to the drug is the main reason why people get hooked to it. It is also highly addictive and can quite easily be obtained. People who develop tolerance will purposely increase their dosage to achieve an analgesic effect.

Using Vicodin over time can cause serious damaging effects. At first the side effects may include vomiting, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion, redness of the face, mood swings, vision problems, and also constipation. Some of the more damaging side effects are cardiac arrhythmia, hallucinations, blurred vision, loss of appetite, and even depression.

Vicodin or Vicodin metabolites can be traced by blood test, urine test, hair detection and GC/MS detection. A person suffering from Vicodin overdose may show symptoms like bluish tinge to skin, cold and clammy skin, extreme sleepiness which may progress to coma, heavy perspiration, limp muscles, low blood pressure slow heartbeat and breathing, and also vomiting. Abruptly stopping the intake of Vicodin will cause withdrawal symtoms like restlessness, muscle pain, bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, irritability, panic, chills, involuntary leg movement, and sweating.

Treating a Vicodin abuser takes a lot of effort. It is important that intake should be gradually stopped to elude the above mentioned withdrawal symptoms. It is also important that they have all the support from their families and loved ones, no matter what treatment method is implemented. There are quite a few behavioral therapies used to help them overcome their addiction. This can either be done inside or outside a controlled environment depending on the severity of one’s addiction.