Getting over an addiction is definitely not easy, so congratulations for contemplating to overcome your Vicodin addiction! Detoxifying from this substance is not that long.
However, it is important to note that the time before you complete your detox heavily depends on how much and how often you have used the opioid. So the time it takes to detox varies from person to person. Continue to read for a more in-depth discussion about detoxifying from Vicodin addiction.
How Long Does It Take To Detox From Vicodin Addiction?
Still, depending on the severity of substance use, different people will have varying time lengths in overcoming this drug. Some may only take a week but some can still have withdrawal symptoms for months.
However, you should not lose hope. According to the average timeline by American Addiction Centers, if you start immediately, you can finish your detox within 7-10 days. In this short timeline, the withdrawal symptoms associated with Vicodin detox are already significantly reduced.
Different Detoxification Processes
Detoxification or known shortly as detox is a great way to overcome withdrawal. Remember that this process will help you to function normally again without experiencing extreme symptoms.
Indeed, detoxification is not easy. Nonetheless, it is a sure way to get rid of the opioid in your body. It is important to know, though, that your detox timeline will depend mostly on your specific situation as well as the process you will be choosing.
The following paragraphs discuss about the different detoxification methods you can choose from.
1. Detoxify at Home
Truly, this is a very convenient way of detoxing. Also, you can eat prescribed foods by your doctor at the comfort of your home.
Certainly, detoxing at home is less expensive. In fact, you have the option to regularly visit your doctor instead of being admitted to a treatment center. On the other hand, because you are unsupervised while you are at home, this makes the risk of relapsing high.
2. Stopping Vicodin Use Cold Turkey
In this method, you just suddenly stop your use of Vicodin. However, studies show that you will most likely experience worse withdrawal symptoms after this method. Hence, this is not recommended unless there is medical supervision.
3. Detoxifying in a Treatment Center
If you opt to detoxify in a treatment center, you are monitored and supervised. It means you can abstain from your Vicodin use much more effectively through the help of medical professionals.
Moreover, there are different ways treatment centers help you to detox. The next paragraphs will enumerate different types of detox a treatment center can offer.
A. Medically Assisted Detox
Here, they gradually diminish your Vicodin use. In addition to this technique, they incorporate medicines to facilitate your process. Some of the common medications used are methadone, buprenorphine, naloxone, and clonidine. Furthermore, Naloxone helps in temporarily stopping Vicodin overdose.
B. Holistic Detox
Holistic detoxification model uses a comprehensive treatment technique that aims to heal not only the body but also the mind and spirit. Moreover, they may incorporate traditional Chinese and/or Indian medicine.
Besides the ones mentioned above, other holistic techniques that holistic detox make use of are yoga, massage, acupuncture, meditation, and lastly, spiritual counselling.
C. In-patient Detox
In this method, a medical professional closely monitors you and your progress around the clock within the confines of a treatment center. Meaning, you have little worry about relapse.
Getting over an addiction is immensely difficult emotionally. But in spite of this, the in-patient method includes emotional support from the medical professionals as well. This will certainly help you recover from opioid abuse.
D. Out-patient Detox
Similar to doing a detox at home, out-patient detox is a method you do at home with not that much supervision.
However, this method is only recommended for people who have a strong support system. For example, this may be a family or a group of friends. More importantly, you need to have a great sense of discipline and self-control.
Symptoms of Vicodin Withdrawal
The listed side effects below will still appear even if you are not abusing Vicodin. Even if you are using the opioid with a proper prescription, you can suffer from these withdrawal symptoms. On the other hand, most of these side effects are not dangerous and will usually subside within 2 to 3 days.
- Anxiety
- Changes in mood
- Difficulty thinking clearly
- Drowsiness
- Hoarse throat
- Itching
- Light headedness
- Opioid-Induced Constipation
- Problems with urination
- Queasiness
- Rash
- Vomiting
- Wooziness
However, abusing Vicodin will lead to more unpleasant symptoms. Tightness in the chest and/or irregular breathing are just some. If you abused the drug for a very long time, consequently, your brain, liver, and kidney will be heavily affected. Below are some of the symptoms of Vicodin abuse:
- Change in pupil size
- Cold, clammy skin
- Difficulty staying awake
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Slow or stopped breathing
- Slow or stopped heartbeat; and worst,
- Death
Withdrawal Symptoms from Long-Term Vicodin Use
If you happen to use Vicodin for a long amount of time, you will become dependent to the drug. For instance, withdrawal will happen if you have been using Vicodin for around five days.
These symptoms may either be physical or psychological. The following lists some of the major withdrawal symptoms from long term Vicodin use.
- Backache
- Chills
- Dilated pupils
- Gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- General weakness
- Increased blood pressure, breathing, or heart rate
- Joint pain
- Muscle aches or pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rapid breathing
- Runny eyes or nose
- Excessive Sweating
- Teary eyes
- Yawning
- Anxiety
- Restlessness or development of restless leg syndrome
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Mood Swings
- Nervousness
- Confusion
- Reduced sensation of hunger
Some of the factors that can aggravate or decrease these symptoms are frequency and dosage of use, substances you used along with Vicodin, weight and body composition, age, and gender.
Withdrawal Timeline
Certainly, each person has a different Vicodin withdrawal timeline. However, it is usual to feel withdrawal one day after you have taken your last dose. Some may stop experiencing withdrawal symptoms after three days after Vicodin has left your body. In contrast, some people may stop experiencing withdrawal after a week or two. Some still get to experience symptoms a year after they had stopped taking the drug. Vicodin withdrawal, when properly taken care of, is not fatal.
Conclusion
Vicodin detoxification may take an average of seven to ten days. Symptoms of withdrawal can include mood swings, anxiety, vomiting, drowsiness and constipation. Worse symptoms happen to those who are more dependent on the drug.
Even though these are truly distressing, there are a lot of available detox methods and treatment centers that can help you with your detoxification. Some detox methods include detoxifying at home and in treatment centers.
Do not lose hope and always remember that many people are willing to help you overcome Vicodin addiction!
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