Hydrocodone Detox

Hydrocodone is a very powerful painkiller that is commonly prescribed following injury, illness or surgery. This is an opiate which means there is a high potential for abuse, physical dependence and addiction to occur with the use of this drug. Even using hydrocodone as prescribed can lead to addiction that requires professional treatment and medical detox in order to effectively quit.

Do You Need Hydrocodone Detox?

You may think that you can quit on your own, or maybe you realize that there’s more to it. Have you tried to quit using hydrocodone and found that despite your desire to quit and your will to do well, you still fall back into the old habits and keep taking the drugs? If you’ve noticed any of the following signs of hydrocodone dependence, and you’ve tried to quit but had trouble, you should consider detox:

• Feeling symptoms of withdrawal when you try to quit taking hydrocodone
• Overwhelming cravings for hydrocodone or other opiates if you are not under the influence
• Hiding hydrocodone use from others or lying about the drug use
• Suffering from mood swings or irritability when you don’t have hydrocodone

Choosing Hydrocodone Detox

Hydrocodone detox can help you overcome your withdrawal symptoms.

Detox centers provide you with the tools, support, medical care and strength to stay sober despite the withdrawal symptoms or other adverse effects you may feel when you quit taking hydrocodone, but how will you find a detox center that’s right for you? There are many options available to help you and choosing the best hydrocodone detox for your needs is an important step in the recovery process. Here’s what you should consider:

• Cost: some detox programs can charge in excess of tens of thousands of dollars for treatment, which is fine if you can afford such an amount, however, if you cannot afford a high cost of treatment, you may need to research your options further to find an affordable program—but they are out there!
• Insurance: Many detox programs accept insurance and many states require insurance companies to provide at least some coverage for drug or alcohol detox. Contact your health insurance provider to determine whether you have coverage and where your coverage is accepted.
• Location: If you have a family, children, work or other priorities that you cannot leave, then you may need to choose a hydrocodone detox facility that is close to your home. This is acceptable but it will limit the options that are available to you for treatment versus being able to attend detox anywhere in the country.
• Level of Care: Hydrocodone detox is not usually a dangerous process but it does pose various challenges to the overall recovery of the addict. There are varied levels of care in each detox facility ranging from residential and around-the-clock monitoring to outpatient and minimal monitoring. Each has benefits and potential pitfalls associated with the potential for recovery or possible relapse.

How Hydrocodone Detox Works

Addiction to hydrocodone sets in after just a few uses of the drug. Before you know it, you’re wishing you had just a few more doses, feeling as if you need the drug and cannot make it through the day without it. Detox takes time and can be uncomfortable at best but it does help. The process typically includes gradually reducing the use of the drug, or tapering the drug off or taking an alternative medication that will help to reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Detox centers typically provide around-the-clock care for those who are suffering from hydrocodone addiction offering medical intervention, support and guidance to the patient throughout the most challenging times of the recovery process. Hydrocodone detox will take about a week or so during which withdrawal symptoms will peak and then begin to gradually taper off. At times the situation can be tough but there is hope in recovery.

For patients who are severely addicted or who suffer from serious withdrawal symptoms, the process of hydrocodone detox could take a bit longer than a week. Some cases last up to a month, especially when use of the drug is gradually tapered off or when replacement medications are taken to forgo withdrawal symptoms. Following detox, the patient will be advised to seek additional addiction treatment to ensure their continued recovery on a psychological level.