{"id":709,"date":"2017-04-21T14:57:16","date_gmt":"2017-04-21T14:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.healingspringsranch.com\/?p=709"},"modified":"2018-09-08T10:07:18","modified_gmt":"2018-09-08T15:07:18","slug":"hydrocodone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healingspringsranch.com\/rehab-blog\/hydrocodone\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Use Hydrocodone After Surgery?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hydrocodone is used medically as a painkiller and a cough suppressant. It is a semi-synthetic opioid that is synthesized from one of the opioid alkaloids in the opium poppy called codeine. It is a prescription medication and has the common brand names of Vicodin, Norco and Lortab. Like other opioids and opiates, hydrocodone has the potential to be addictive.<\/p>\n

What Is Hydrocodone and How Does It Become Addictive?<\/h2>\n

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Doctors prescribe hydrocodone primarily for pain relief, such as after surgery, but it is also sometimes prescribed as a cough suppressant. When the drug is taken for an extensive time, or in doses larger than prescribed, patients have a strong possibility of developing a tolerance and eventually an addiction. Along with pain relief qualities, hydrocodone provides euphoric feelings that patients may get attached to. Because of the larger awareness of pain relief drugs causing addiction, patients may wonder if they should take commonly prescribed drugs like Vicodin after surgery.<\/p>\n

Not treating pain has its own risks, including the development of chronic pain due to permanent pain paths in the brain. One thing to understand is that dependence and tolerance are different from addiction. When a person becomes tolerant to a drug, they may need more to continue relieving pain. Tolerance or dependence can occur between a few days or a few weeks of taking the drug, which is a likely scenario considering how long surgery pain can last. This is where it’s extremely important to follow medical instructions when taking painkillers.<\/p>\n

Doctors are typically well aware of the addictive properties of these types of drugs and may even screen patients for a history of addiction. Often a plan to slowly wean patients off the painkiller will be developed when they’re ready. However, some patients may start using the painkillers in ways different than prescribed. They may take it in a stressful situation, or they may take larger doses, or crush time-release pills in an attempt to get more of the drug into their system. This type of use dramatically raises the risk of addiction.<\/p>\n

Addiction usually starts with tolerance and the patient then begins using more of the drug to achieve previous desirable effects.<\/p>\n

Hydrocodone Short and Long-Term Effects<\/h2>\n

Most hydrocodone medications like Vicodin are formulated using other substances, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Currently, Vicodin and similar drugs are the most prescribed painkillers in the country. The only pure formulation is Zohydro ER, which is a recent market addition. Patients may wonder what it is about hydrocodone that makes it potentially addictive. The following characteristics of the drug are usually considered desirable by users:<\/p>\n