What Does Vicodin Do to You When Not Prescribed?

Vicodin (also called Lortab or hydrocodone+acetaminophen) is a narcotic analgesic, which means that it blocks pain receptors in the body.

In short, it relieves pain. However, it does this by acting on the opioid receptors in the body, because the drug is a derivative of opium (as is heroin). In addition to providing pain relief, it can create a sense of euphoria which is the high most people are after. Unfortunately, it also causes respiratory depression, and if too much is taken, can cause respiratory failure and death.

Vicodin abuse is now of epidemic proportions among teens as well as adults. Unprescribed and not medically managed, Vicodin taken initially for “recreational” purposes quickly becomes both physically and psychologically addictive. User’s get into trouble when they build up a tolerance having to take more and more vicodin to achieve the same “high” they initially felt upon ingesting this opiod drug. Vicodin when prescribed is generally used to treat moderate types of pain after surgery, bone pain, and so on. The drug also suppresses the cough reflex. I have seen people build up such great tolerances that they were literally taking 100 Vicodin per day. Vicodin comes in 3 strengths: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg. Those addicted look to “score” 10 mg Vicodin which carry several street nicknames. To do this, those addicted Dr. Shop, write fake prescriptions, order drugs online illegally, sell everything they own to buy them on the street, and even go so far as to perform sexual favors to obtain the drug.

An even larger danger is the fact that most people are not aware that Vicodin contains tylenol that when taken in large quantity cause liver damage leading to liver failure and death. Large doses also cause respiratory failure leading to death. Most recently, long term abuse of Vicodin has been linked to deafness.

SIDE EFFECTS:

are fast or slow heartbeat, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, hives, skin rash, itching, hallucinations, changes in behavior, severe confusion or tiredness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, drowsiness, dizziness or weakness, dry mouth, nausea or vomitting, constipation, headache, & blurred vision.

Symptoms of withdrawal include: restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps involuntary leg movements, watery eyes, runny nose, loss of appetite, irritability, panic, nausea, chills, and sweating.

To make this more real for you, a few years back the great quarterback of the Greenbay Packers, Bret Favre, was sidelined when he was ordered to rehab for Vicodin abuse and addiction. It is easy to abuse Vicodin with production approaching 20 tons annually. The US, Congress recently heard statistics regarding opiod deaths as follows:

The number of deaths in the narcotics category that involved prescription opioid analgesics increased from 2,900 in 1999 to at least 7,500 in 2004, an increase of 160% in just 5 years. Since that time this number has increased significantly. A 2005 survey revealed that 19% of U.S. teenagers, roughly 4.5 million, reported having taken prescription painkillers to get high, current, estimates are 40-50%.
Adults are no less susceptible to abuse and addiction then are America’s youth.

If you, or someone you know are taking Vicodin recreationally, PLEASE PLEASE, speak to your physician, a friend, counselor, teacher, pastor, or someone that can help you seek the help you need and deserve before you suffer any of the above serious consequences, death, or hurt someone else while under the influence.

THE UNITED WAY HAS A VERY GOOD HELPLINE IN NEARLY ALL CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

Good Luck

P.S. One could argue whether or not Heroin is technically opium or not:

Heroin: Chemical make up

Heroin sees its origin in the opium poppy. It is semi-synthetic, meaning that something naturally occurring has been taken and processed into something stronger. Heroin is processed from morphine, which in turn is derived from the poppy plant. Often, heroin is seen in the form of a white crystal-like powder.

Heroin (INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine (hence diacetylmorphine). The white crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt diacetylmorphine hydrochloride, however heroin freebase may also appear as a white powder.

Heroin (INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from morphine, a derivative of the opium poppy. It is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine (hence diacetylmorphine). The white crystalline form is commonly the hydrochloride salt diacetylmorphine hydrochloride, however heroin freebase may also appear as a white powder.

What is Heroin?

Heroin is one of many drugs classed as “opiates”. The name comes from “opium” which is the original drug in the family. Opium, which is dried poppy sap, may be refined into morphine and codeine. Through minor chemical treatment “semisynthetic opiates” such as heroin, hydromorphine (Dilaudid) and oxycodine (Percodan) are produced. Through chemistry, not relying on the products of nature, completely synthetic opiates may be manufactured

It would be a semi-synthetic opium, wouldn’t it?