Vicodin for back pain is a powerful narcotic analgesic that is prescribed to patients with severe symptoms. Vicodin is the most common brand name for the drug hydrocodone and is an opioid derivative of codeine and thebaine. Vicodin is one of the most common pain killers given to patients for a variety of illnesses and injuries. Vicodin is also one of the most abused and misused of all prescription back pain drugs available today.
Of all the drugs I have seen used to treat back ache, Vicodin is perhaps one of the easiest to get and the one that can cause the most rapid dependency issues. Many patients have experienced mental and physical addiction to this substance, forcing me to issue a dire warning to all patients using it or considering its use for treating chronic pain.
Dangers of Vicodin for Back Pain
Vicodin has a variety of commonly experienced mild side effects including constipation, nausea, headache or stomach ache, drowsiness, dizziness and urinary complications. The primary risk from taking hydrocodone is physical and/or psychological addiction. Patients can become highly dependent on the drug after using it for only a short period of time. Withdrawal symptoms are common when usage is ceased and can be severe in some cases.
Vicodin is a highly abused prescription drug due to its availability for an infinite number of pain syndromes. Many patients continue to experience secondary gain related symptoms just to maintain legal use of this habit forming addictive substance. Make sure to inform your doctor of any health problems you are experiencing, or any additional drugs you are using, before taking Hydrocodone. This medicine has many warnings for drug interaction and is especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol. Vicodin and alcohol is a common mix for recreational use and can result in death or permanent liver damage.
Types of Vicodin for Pain
Hydrocodone is marketed under a wide variety of brand names including: Vicodin, Tussionex, Anexsia, Hycodan, Hydromet, Hycomine, Xodol, Lorcet, Norco, Novahistex, Dicodid, Hydroco, Vicoprofen, Lortab and Loritab.
Hydrocodone is most commonly mixed with another drug, such as acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen. This reduces the opioid side effects of the powerful pure form of the drug.
Epidemic Use of Vicodin for Back Pain
I have been prescribed Vicodin at least 20 times in my life for treating pain occurring from martial arts injuries, broken bones, oral surgery and of course, back ache. I have only filled the prescription twice. Two times when my back made me endure Hell on Earth, I reluctantly tried using the “doctor’s answer” to my pain complaints. These pills did little to help my horrible back pain, but certainly had a plethora of other unpleasant side effects. Why anyone would actually want to feel this way is beyond my reckoning.
Be very careful with hydrocodone usage. It is one of the most addictive prescription drugs. Its effects can sneak up on you quickly, making you dependent on a substance that slowly poisons your body.
If you are experiencing Vicodin dependency, ask your doctor for help. The longer you continue to abuse the drug; the worse off you will be when you are finally forced to quit.
Doctors and pharmacies are becoming increasingly careful about refilling Vicodin for long periods of time. Be warned, withdrawing from this drug cold turkey might require more willpower than you have available. If you have an addiction, seek professional assistance immediately.
