Is Vicodin an Opioid or Opiate?
There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the category under which this drug belongs. While opiates and opioids are terms often used interchangeably to mean the same thing, they are actually different. Opiates are natural compounds extracted from the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. They contain chemical substances such as codeine and morphine through which they modulate their effects. Opioids, on the other hand, are synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds modified from natural opiates. They consist of drugs such as Fentanyl and Methadone which are synthetic and oxycodone and hydrocodone which are semi-synthetic.
Vicodin is a semi-synthetic opioid made up of a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is often prescribed in the management of acute pain especially following surgical procedures. The drug exists in various preparations including tablets, elixir, and oral formulations. While the drug is often prescribed for medical uses, its abuse has led to negative concerns when it comes to its use. When abused, the drug has various adverse effects that can be fatal especially in the case of an overdose.
How Does Vicodin Work?
The hydrocodone component of Vicodin is a semisynthetic codeine derivative that has a high affinity for opioid receptors. Once it binds to mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), it activates them leading short-term effects such as feelings of euphoria, pain suppression, respiratory depression, reduced gastric motility, and pupillary constriction. The acetaminophen component, on the other hand, inhibits the formation of prostaglandins which are responsible for pain modulation.
Common Side Effects
Vicodin’s side effect profile is somewhat similar to that of most opioids. Some of these effects include:
· Nausea and vomiting.
· Loss of consciousness.
· Impaired judgment.
· Confusion.
· Dizziness or lightheadedness
· Respiratory distress.
· Profound drowsiness.
Can You Become Addicted?
In the course of pain management using Vicodin, one is likely to begin overlooking the drug’s negative effects and only focus on those effects that improve their general feeling such as those of euphoria and analgesia. This is due to the body’s reward system which creates a desire to acquire more of what makes your body feel good while ignoring its consequences. This explains why we develop some tolerance as we continually take the medication hence psychological and physiological dependence.
When one develops a dependence, they become reliant on the drug to the point that they cannot function normally without it. When they stop using the drug, they get withdrawal symptoms which include:
· Nausea and vomiting
· Diarrhea
· Cold sweats
· Reduced appetite
· Anxiety and restlessness
· Trouble sleeping
How to Treat Withdrawals and Symptoms
To treat Vicodin withdrawal, one has to undergo medical detoxification, a process that helps reduce cravings for the drug. Usually, doctors prescribe Suboxone, a drug combination of buprenorphine and naloxone to manage Vicodin dependence.
Suboxone has a higher affinity for opioid receptors hence displaces bound Vicodin preventing any withdrawal symptoms from occurring. Once one is completely detoxified and tapered off, they can be enrolled at a rehabilitation program and encouraged to join support groups.