Vicodin is a medication which has powerful therapeutic use for people in pain. This opioid can potentially lead to a range of mild to severe side effects over time. The side effects can range for people in severity but it can also be highly addictive, creating other challenges in its wake.
Side Effects
Any medication which contains hydrocodone and produces mild to moderate side effects can have serious side effects. The most likely symptoms to occur for a person experiencing side effects includes:
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Unexplained sadness
- Unusual sleepiness
- Loss of clear-headedness
- Itch skin
- Skin rash
- Narrow pupils
- Throat dryness
Serious Side Effects
The more serious side effects that warrant immediate attention from a doctor can appear in various forms, but may have some of the following qualities:
- Unusually slow breathing
- Tightness in the chest
- Rapid heartbeat
- Stiff muscles
- Inability to coordinate body movements
- Fever and shivering
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Appetite loss
- Lowered sexual desire
With larger doses of Vicodin, it can expose a person to serious complications due to the consumption of acetaminophen. The most common of these includes trouble swallowing or breathing, rashy skin, redness in the skin, hives or swelling of lower extremities, face, or throat. The risk exists that a person who uses more Vicodin than prescribed can overdose and experience serious side effects. Millions of Americans have abuse/addiction problems related to use of Vicodin or other opioids. More people die from opioid medication overdoses than other forms of illegal drugs, which should tell us something about the risks and dangers, if left unmonitored.
Springboard’s addiction treatment programs are focused on meeting each person’s individual needs. We can help you focus on individual healing while working in tandem with a therapeutic team and support network that will aid in healing in recovery. Call us to get started: 432-620-0255
