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Hydrocodone Treatment

In 1923, the first report appeared linking hydrocodone to addiction and advising that use of this drug can result in noticeable euphoria. In 1961, the first report about hydrocodone addiction was published in the United States. In 2002, an estimated 4.5 million individuals (aged 12 and over) were reported to have used hydrocodone for nonmedical reasons at some point in their lifetime.

Hydrocodone, which is considered to be similar in morphine all all respects, have a laundry list of side effects. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • anxiety
  • addiction
  • decreased sex drive
  • emotional dependence
  • seizures
  • difficulty breathing
  • sedation
  • tightness in chest
  • severe dizziness or weakness
  • mood swings

Symptoms of hydrocodone overdose are:

  • kidney problems
  • liver failure
  • slow heartbeat
  • troubled breathing
  • low blood pressure
  • heart problems
  • extreme sleepiness possibly resulting in coma
  • cold, clammy skin
More Hydrocodone Treatment Articles

The Meditox Method has been specifically designed to help individuals who are high functioning and motivated people who have developed dependencies on addictive medications and who wish to become free of chemical dependency without losing time from their career or educational goals.

We provide our patients with safe and effective medication to assist them in personalized outpatient hydrocodone treatment according to their individual needs. A team member is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week to help you with your treatment concerns.

Hydrocodone Addiction Treatments

When your body is presented with an opioid like hydrocodone, there are three kinds of receptors in your brain that are activated. Named for Greek letters, your mu, kappa, and delta receptors are activated in response to any kind of opioid--including illegal drugs like heroin and prescription drugs like hydrocodone and oxycodone. When these receptors are activated, they induce analgesic and euphoria.

Prolonged activation of these sites causes the brain to respond in a way that causes two phenomena: tolerance and dependency. As the brain is exposed to opioids more frequently, it causes it to need higher doses to achieve the same analgesic and euphoric qualities. In addition, the brain starts to become dependent upon the opioid, and to experience painful withdrawal symptoms when it is removed.

At Meditox, we use the drug buprenorphine to treat opiate addictions. This opioid derivative causes activation of the mu and kappa receptors, but blocks the activity of the delta receptor. As a result, the buprenorphine is able to curb the withdrawal symptoms of the patient without creating a new dependency.

Buprenorphine works so well because of several factors. For one, buprenorphine tolerance never develops, so there's never any need to increase doses (in fact, we decrease them until you no longer need buprenorphine). In addition, buprenorphine doses experience a "ceiling effect" that prevents higher doses from being any more effective than moderate doses, so it carries a very low risk of abuse.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:
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Sucess Stories

“Today is week #5! I have my life back, this morning my husband told me he hadn't seen me like this in three years! My daughter told me "your back Mom"! My Fybromyalgia is down to 2 to 3 percent of what it was, I am fully able to live with the Joy and Love and Laughter which has always been my way.”

Mother, Real Estate Agent, 49
August 11, 2006