Vicodin Addiction or Vicodin Dependency?

Vicodin addiction ruins lives.

"At the height of my addiction I was taking up to 30 to 35 Vicodin a day," says Jackie (Vicodin dependent user). "My entire life became about pills. How to get them. How to make sure that I would have enough for the next day so I wouldn't get sick."

Like thousands, Jackie started taking Vicodin ® for pain relief and ended up with a Vicodin addiction.

Many individuals from soccer moms to high-profile celebrities who have developed an opiate dependency on Vicodin ® and other opiate-based drugs now seek detoxification. Opiate dependency afflicts people from all walks of life, regardless of social or economic status—homemakers, stockbrokers, athletes, entertainers, skilled laborers, students, and others like yourself.

Vicodin ® is one of many brand names for the combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol ®) and hydrocodone—a potent morphine-like cough suppressant and opiate analgesic. Acetaminophen halts the production of prostaglandins which otherwise cause pain. Hydrocodone works by binding to the pain receptors in the brain to deaden the sensation of pain. Long-term intake of Vicodin ® over months, though initially prescribed for moderate to moderately severe pain, may cause a Vicodin dependency. Vicodin® is an opiate drug and its effect on  the receptor sites mimics heroin.

Unknowingly, dependency starts with a debilitating disease or accidental injury that requires traumatic surgery or treatment followed by medication. It ends with a devastating dependency on the medicine that doctors had intended to help the pain. More than any other prescription, Vicodin ®, has become the addicted patient’s drug of choice due to its easy availability, efficacy, and assumed virtue. That is, until people like Jackie want to break out of their prison caused by over use and abuse, and muster the courage to follow a  detox program Like the Waismann Method that is humane and succesfull .

Many patients who come to us started out treating their neck pain, back pain, migraine headaches, or other musculoskeletal disorders at normal doses. Gradually, self-medication progressed to excessive levels as a means also to avoid withdrawal.

Persons with opiate dependency may not necessarily encounter the same social behavior as so-called ‘drug addicts’, but do experience the same symptoms with withdrawal:

• Unbearable pain
• Cascade of bodily reactions
• Cold sweats
• Uncontrollable diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Aching limbs
• Severe depression
• Distress and a mounting panic.

Opiate dependency, like any prescription medication dependency, can turn many back surgery and chronic pain patients like Jackie into what the medical community calls ‘accidental addicts’. They did not intend with their behavior to pursue addiction, but instead gradually ended up with a physical dependency to Vicodin ®.

Or, to other prescription painkillers like Anexsia ®, Anolor DH5, Bancap HC, Darvocet ®, Dolacet, Dolorex Forte, Hycet, Hycodan ®, Hycomine ®, Hydro, , Liquicet, Lorazapam ®, Lorcet®, Lortab ®, Maxidone, Norco ®, OxyContin ®, Percocet ®, Stagesic, T-Gesic, Tramacet, Tramadol ®, Tussionex®, Tylox ®, Vadunk, Vicoprofen ®, Xodol, and Zydone ®, among others.

The Waismann Method of rapid detoxification offers a humane treatment to individuals physically dependent on Vicodin ® and on other opiate drugs.

After Vicodin rapid-detox treatment, (Vicodin addiction patient) “…Mike still has zero cravings and we are doing better than ever,” his fiancé Gale wanted us--and you--to know. “Thank you to Waismann for giving Mike his life back.”

Read more about Jackie’s and celebrity addicts’ Vicodin addiction.