Vicodin Warnings and Side Effects
Vicodin is a very powerful opiate (Controlled Substance) medication that can lead to serious risks including:
- abuse and dependence
- serious skin reactions
- hypersensitivity/anaphylaxis
- respiratory depression
- acute abdominal conditions
- acute liver failure and more
Doctors and pharmacists should provide the proper Vicodin warnings and be very careful in prescribing this medication because it can lead to habitual use, physical and psychological dependence and addiction. People who have a history of drug addiction or abuse should not take Vicodin or other opiate painkillers, as they are more susceptible to developing problems. Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of Vicodin so use within this group should be closely monitored. Pregnant women should only be prescribed Vicodin when it is determined that benefits outweigh the risks. The drug may also pass through breast milk so women who are nursing should not take it.
Patients with the bellow conditions should warn the prescribing physician before taking Vicodin:
- liver disease
- cirrhosis
- drug addiction
- alcoholism
- inflammatory bowel disease
- severe constipation
- colostomy or ileostomy
- kidney disease
- low blood pressure
- asthma
- COPD
- sleep apnea
Common side effects can include:
- drowsiness
- upset stomach
- constipation
- headache
- blurred vision
- dry mouth
Other More Serious Side Effects Might Need Immediate Medical Assistance Such as :
- shallow breathing
- slow heartbeat
- confusion
- unusual thoughts or behavior
- light-headed
- bleeding
- dark urine
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- nausea
Vicodin Use Can Lead to Tolerance, Dependence and Addiction
Vicodin is a combination of hydrocodone, a narcotic used to relieve pain, and acetaminophen, a non-narcotic analgesic. It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain, and that combination is also sold under the names Lortab, Lorcet and Norco. Even though it’s not considered addictive, acetaminophen carries it’s own risks, which include liver damage if excessive amounts are taken. The medication is most often taken therapeutically for legitimate purposes but is also used recreationally, abused and sold on the black market. Vicodin abuse and misuse is extremely dangerous. Even those who use the recommended and prescribed amount of Vicodin can develop a problem once a tolerance takes hold. This is when the drug builds up in the body and effects are diminished, causing patients to need increasingly larger doses. Dependence can follow quickly and patients may find they are addicted soon after. Other issues that can develop include serious side effects, allergic reaction and overdose.
Waismann Method Treats Vicodin Dependence Quickly and Safely
Waismann Method offers help for those who develop a problem with Vicodin or other opiates including OxyContin, Dilaudid, Percocet and Norco. Our rapid detox under anesthesia eliminates a physical dependence in less than two hours using a medical procedure performed in a hospital. We use intravenous medication to cleanse patients’ opiate receptors, while the patient sleeps. This happens while the patient is sedated in an ICU Unit. Our goal is to end the dependency quickly and safely, in the most compassionate and comfortable manner.
We believe that by treating the person in a humane and dignified manner while approaching the disease of addiction medically, our patients are given the best opportunity they ever had, to achieve an opiate-free healthy life.
