Vicodin is a combination of Tylenol and the synthetic narcotic pain reliever hydrocodone. The Chemical formula for Vicodin is Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen. Vicodin is the third most popular prescription drug tracked by pharmacies. It is prescribed as a pain killer and a common dose of Vicodin contains 5 to 7.5 mg of hydrocodone.  Hydrocodone is the substance responsible for addiction. It is a moderate painkiller that is combined with acetaminophen.  When used as prescribed it works well for moderate to severe pain.  Vicadon is most often taken orally in pill form.  Vicodin combines a narcotic analgesic (painkiller) and cough reliever with a non-narcotic analgesic for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain. Vicodin is in the opioids family which also includes morphine, codeine and heroin.

Vicodin addiction is an extremely powerful disease that affects the lives of many Americans each year. It is the obsessive-compulsive misuse of a mood-altering drug.  Vicodin addiction is a serious condition that can be compared with narcotic dependency. Addiction of Vicodin results from dosage abuse which stems from its narcotic properties. Vicodin addiction can be a  result from an abuse of a legal prescription but can be as deadly as a heroin addiction. Some signs that the use has gone into addiction are:You feel physically ill when you run out or stop taking Vicodin. You commit illegal acts like juggling several doctors or lie to keep up your supply.Your tolerance has gone way up and you must take many more pills to feel the desired affect.You feel guilty or shame about needing the pills. Your Vicodin use has become an "issue" with a loved one.  You take Vicodin more, in quantity and/or frequency, than the doctor prescribed.

Vicodin addiction can have extremely negative effects on a person's mind and body. Most people who have become addicted to vicodin are in denial. Vicodin produces a euphoric feeling it relax’s both the body and the mind, as well as relieving pain. Many addicts feel that they can’t function normally without Vicodin.  Though the pain is gone the vicodin still produces an effect that they feel they cannot function without. Sufferers of vicodin addiction look to outside sources to find more prescriptions, they often go to great lengths to get more drugs. In vicodin the brain stops producing chemicals like endorphins and without these essential chemicals it causes the body to not function properly. A person who suffers from a vicodin addiction will go into withdrawal and cravings if he/she cannot acquire anymore.  Vicodin addiction impinges on the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of a person's life. Vicodin addiction can also tear apart families, relationships and ruin lives. Freedom from vicodin addiction is possible.

If not taken as directed it may cause drowsiness, constricted pupils, and nausea. Vicodin negatively effects a person's mind and body the effects can be serious and deadly. The acetaminophen can harm the liver when taken in larger quantities than prescribed.  Some possible effects of overdose: Shallow respiration, cold and clammy skin, weak and rapid pulse, coma and possible death. Vicodin effects are very severe that the body stops trying to fight. Vicodin is a prescription drug because it is too dangerous to use with such frequency the way drugs like aspirin are used. The body starts to build a higher tolerance to the drug. When this happens, the addict needs to take more and more vicodin; some addicts report to taking over a hundred pills a day. Any damage caused by vicodin effects could be permanent. Over time the vicodin effects will become more noticeable and more harmful. At first the user will experience vicodin effects such as constipation, irregularity in heart functions, nausea and dizziness. As the vicodin use grows, vicodin effects can also come in the form of hallucinations, vision problems and constant confusion. During the last stages of vicodin addiction, users have been known to be unable to control bodily functions and this use can sometimes result in coma or death. In some cases vicodin effects show up in the form of skin problems including hives, skin rashes and swelling in the face. These effects occur because the body is trying to rid itself of the numerous toxins that are being put into it each day. Several vicodin are internal making it much harder for people around the addict to notice.

Vicodin withdrawal is the period in which an addict's body detoxs off of vicodin. Vicodin withdrawal places an immense amount of strain on the body. The body must learn how to live without relying upon certain outside chemicals. A lot of addicts try to go through withdrawal without the use of a medical facility, these addicts find that they are unable to deal with the pain of detoxing. The discomfort associated with vicodin withdrawal ranges based on the person's use and length of time the drug was taken. Vicodin addiction often goes unnoticed until it is very severe, drug addicts that go through vicodin withdrawal usually have a high tolerance of the drug and are taking anywhere form 30 to 100 pills daily. For some addicts, tapering them off the drug may be necessary because the body would react adversely and unpredictable if taken off the drug completely. In less serious cases, the withdrawal period tends to be shorter and less uncomfortable.  Vicodin withdrawal is a two-part process and consists of both the physical and mental withdrawal. As the body begins to come off of the drug the body tells the mind that it needs more vicodin in order to function properly. Vicodin users that are in full-blown addiction may lie, cheat and steal in order to obtain more drugs.

Vicodin is not a time-release drug, the addict quickly builds up a tolerance making vicodin withdrawal much more difficult that detoxing off other types of drugs.  Vicodin withdrawal is uncomfortable and many users would rather die that have their drugs taken away. If vicodin withdrawal does not take place under the supervision of professionals, chances of lasting the recovery are very slim. The withdrawal symptoms associated with the discontinuation of Vicodin are restlessness, muscle pain, bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold-flashes, goose bumps, involuntary leg movements, watery eyes, runny noseloss of appetite, irritability, panic nausea, chills, sweating.

Vicodin detox is the first step in recovery from vicodin addiction. Vicodin's chemical composition reacts with an addict's body and changes the way in which the body and mind process information and function. Vicodin detox is necessary to cleanse the body of toxins. Since vicodin is an opiate, its high potency makes it extremely difficult to come down off the drug. Vicodin detox symptoms include cold sweats, nausea, convulsions, dizziness and delirium.  The detoxification program is aimed at mobilizing and eliminating foreign compounds, such as Vicodin residues especially those stored in the fat. Components include:

(a)   Exercise, preferably running, to stimulate circulation and enhance the turnover of fats.

(b)Prescribed periods in a low temperature sauna to promote sweating.
(c) An exact regimen of vitamin, mineral, and oil intake. Niacin in gradually increasing doses is used to transiently increase fat mobilization. Oil supplementation both reduces enterohepatic recirculation and promotes the exchange of fat. Vitamin and mineral supplements are included to replace vitamins, minerals and electrolytes lost during increased sweating and to correct any nutritional deficiencies.
(d) Sufficient liquids to offset the loss of body fluids through sweating.
(e) A regular diet including plenty of fresh vegetables.
(f) A properly ordered personal schedule which provides the person with the normally required amount of sleep

Prescription drug abuse has escalated with easier access to these medicinal drugs. Two main reasons prescription drug abuse have become so common are that pills are available through physician recommendations as well as through the black market and Internet also it is not only easy to hide, but the use of prescription drugs for different ailments and conditions is acceptable in society. Prescription drug abuse often leads people into the deadly cycle of addiction and throughout its course ruins lives and injures all people who come into contact with the addict. With the rise of prescription drug abuse, medical facilities and practitioners have cracked down on the number of prescriptions they fill for each of their patients. Many prescription drug abusers begin to steal from other people’s medicine cabinets. Other people see more then one doctor complaining of chronic pain to get an excess of prescriptions. The Internet is also a popular way for abusers to find the pills they are looking for. Countries, other than the U.S., host websites that sell prescription drugs without a prescription, and this has become a popular, yet costly way for addicts to continue in their disease. The potential abuser might have been injured or undergone an operation that requires the use of pain medication or a muscle relaxer. This prescription, even when taken correctly, may give the user a  euphoric effect that he/she finds desirable. When the prescription runs out or the pain has gone away, the user remembers the euphoric feeling and begins to have a craving for more of the drug. Often times the supervising physician will warn the patient of the drug's addictive properties however they have already been caught in the cycle of addiction. Prescription drug abuse can also start when a person is experiencing mental or emotional problems and have sought treatment through the use of medicine. Alcohol is most commonly used in combination with prescription drugs because alcohol enhances the effects of the pills.The combination of alcohol and pills is very popular, but it can also produce harmful and fatal effects on the body. The body has a difficult time processing all of the chemicals and toxins simultaneously. Prescription drug abusers that have developed a high tolerance and mix these drugs with alcohol may overdose or die.