How Long Does Withdrawal From Vicodin Last?

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Vicodin is a prescription opioid pain reliever that is made of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is often used to treat moderate to severe pain, but it does have the potential for dependence and addiction. Vicodin withdrawal can produce a wide range of physical symptoms which can occur when someone stops or dramatically reduces their use of the drug after heavy or prolonged use.

What is the most important information I should know about Vicodin withdrawal?

  • Vicodin can cause dependence, even when taken exactly as prescribed.
  • Do not stop taking Vicodin without talking to your doctor if you've been taking this medication in high doses for long periods.

Overview of Vicodin Withdrawal

Since it is an opiate-based drug, Vicodin withdrawal is similar to withdrawing from heroin, morphine, methadone, or codeine. Anyone can experience withdrawal symptoms if they have taken Vicodin over a period of time, usually several weeks or more. Although the symptoms vary by person, most people experience some withdrawal discomfort when they attempt to quit or cut down.

Even people who take Vicodin exactly as prescribed for pain while recovering from injury or surgery can experience withdrawal.

When you quit taking Vicodin, you may experience feelings of irritability, anxiety, and mood swings. As your body withdraws from the drug, you may feel as if you have a cold or flu, with a stuffy or runny nose, fever, sweats, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Hydrocodone, one of the main ingredients in Vicodin, is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the United States.

Signs & Symptoms of Vicodin Withdrawal

When Vicodin is taken over a lengthy period of time, you can build up a tolerance to the medication. This means you have to take increasingly larger amounts to achieve the same effect.

All opiate-based drugs can become habit-forming and cause physical dependence. Once you develop a Vicodin dependence, quitting or cutting back suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. This is because your body needs time to adjust and recover.

Depending on how much and for how long you have been taking Vicodin, the withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to very severe.

Many people who used the medication only therapeutically and as prescribed, sometimes do not even realize they are experiencing withdrawals. They report they are having flu-like symptoms.

Early withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Muscle aches
  • Increased tearing
  • Insomnia
  • Runny nose
  • Sweating
  • Yawning

Later symptoms of Vicodin withdrawal include:

  • Abdominal cramping
  • Diarrhea
  • Dilated pupils
  • Goosebumps
  • Nausea and vomiting

How Long Does Vicodin Withdrawal Last?

The length of the withdrawal process and the severity of the symptoms will vary from individual to individual. Withdrawal symptoms usually begin six to 30 hours after the last use of the drug. Most people get through the most uncomfortable symptoms within a few days or a week.

If you find that your symptoms last longer than a week, you should seek medical attention.

Coping & Relief from Vicodin Withdrawal

While Vicodin withdrawal can be unpleasant, there are things you can do to help relieve many of your symptoms.

  • Drink plenty of water. Because Vicodin withdrawal can cause vomiting and diarrhea, you need to make sure you are taking in plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration.
  • Stay busy. Make sure you have activities that will help you take your mind off of your symptoms. Stock up on reading materials, find some TV shows or movies that you want to watch, or break out the video games to try to keep occupied.
  • Control symptoms with OTC medications. You can relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms such as fever and diarrhea with the use of over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDs and antidiarrheals. Always use the correct dose when taking OTC medications and talk to your doctor if you experience any unusual side effects.

You should seek medical help if your withdrawal symptoms become severe or if you begin to show signs of severe dehydration such as sunken eyes, disorientation, rapid breathing, or extreme thirst.

Warnings

There are complications that can be dangerous.

If you vomit and then breathe in stomach contents into the lungs, aspiration can occur, which can cause lung infection or choking. If you experience vomiting and diarrhea, they can cause dehydration as well as chemical and mineral disturbances in your body.

The biggest danger from detoxing from Vicodin and other pain medication takes place when someone decides to start taking the drug again.

The withdrawal process reduces your tolerance for the drug, so if you return to taking Vicodin at the level you previously took it, you have a high risk of overdose.

Most Vicodin overdose deaths happen for people who have recently gone through detox and withdrawal. Overdose can occur even at a much smaller dose than previously taken.

The opioid antagonist Narcan (naloxone) can block the effects of opioids and reverse an overdose. Your doctor may recommend keeping it on hand if you are at risk of a Vicodin overdose.

Don't try to quit using Vicodin on your own after heavy or prolonged use. Contact your healthcare providers and tell them you want to detox from Vicodin. They can recommend one of several regimens used to help with the detoxification process.

This can include using clonidine to reduce anxiety, agitation, muscle aches, sweating, runny nose, and cramping. They can also provide you with other medications for vomiting and diarrhea to make the process less uncomfortable.

If you find that you cannot quit using Vicodin in spite of all your efforts to stop, you may want to seek a professional treatment program to help you with your dependence.

Long-Term Treatment

Many people who have quit using Vicodin find that they need long-term support or treatment following withdrawal to stay off the drug, which can include support groups, pharmaceutical treatment, outpatient counseling, or intensive outpatient and even inpatient treatment programs.

Resources

If you need help quitting Vicodin or another opiate-based drug, discuss your options with your doctor. There are resources available that can help you get through the process and find the support you need to overcome Vicodin misuse.

Professional care from health providers can help ensure that your withdrawal symptoms are carefully monitored, but you can also go through this process at home. Let your doctor know that you will be withdrawing so that you can talk about any medications that may be helpful for treating possible side effects. 

Even if you withdraw at home, you should enlist the support and help of trusted loved ones, friends, or family. Make sure that someone checks in on you each day and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. You can also find emotional support and resources from support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Buddy T
Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.