You can get help with vicodin addiction if you or someone you love has developed a dependency on the drug. If you find that you need to drug to feel OK then seek help immediately to determine if you have developed a dependency or addiction. There are hundreds of great treatment center available or you can talk to the doctor who prescribed the medication. What ever you do start today to rid yourself of the drug before it is too late.

Addiction to Vicodin and other pain killers is becoming an epidemic in the US. What started out as a drug used to treat acute and chronic pain has become a substance that is ruining the lives of entire families. Vicoin addiciton is gradual and thus it is easy to miss the early warning signs. It usually starts out with the drug being prescribed for pain resulting from an injury or acute disorder. The drug is very effective at relieving the pain but it is intended for only short term use. When taken for long periods of time a person can become both emotionally and physically addicted to Vicodin and start down a deadly spiral if help is not obtained.

The majority of people who become addicted to the substance are normal individuals from all walks of life and regardless of social or economic status. There is no shame involved in becoming dependent on pain killers. People from all walks of life have become addicted. The main thing is that you seek help now.

Most people do not start out to become addicted to Vicodin or abuse it. Instead they are prescribed the drug by a physician to treat pain caused by disease, accidental injury, or surgery. Many patients started out using the drug to treat ailments such as neck pain, back pain, migraine head aches, or other disorders. Vicodin is very effective for the treatment of these conditions when used for a short time but long term use can easily result in addiction.

Vicodin has a high level of physical and emotional dependence. If you are taking the drug you should watch out for the following warning signs of addiction.

• Feeling physically ill (including night sweats, muscle and bone pain, and and inability to sleep) when you stop taking the drug.
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating.  As the addiction progresses you find it more and more difficult to attend to daily routines like school or work on a daily basis.
  
• The need for more and more pills in order to obtain the same level of pain relief.
• Taking vicodin more often or in larger doses than prescribed by your physician.
• Feel quilty or ashamed of your Vicodin use.
• Have been told or seen that your Vicodin use is an issue with your family and loved ones
• Go "doctor shopping" to find new physicians who will prescribe the drug.
• Commit illegal acts such as buying vidocin on the black market or street in order to maintain your supply.
• Self denial-attempting to convince yourself that you do not have a problem. This is often associated with hiding drugs and disguising the taking of the pills to avoid confrontation over the drug usage.
• withdrawing for the ones you love and society because you find dealing with social situations difficult.  This leads to the addict becoming a virtual recluse.
  

If you have experienced any of these warning signs you need to seek help now. It will not get any better and the longer you wait to seek assistance the harder it will be to break your habit of abusing Vicodin. Talk to your physician immediately and explain to him or her exactly what the concerns are.

Vicodin is the trademarked name for a pain relieving drug which is a compound make up of hydrocodone and acetaminophen ( paracetamol) which is commonly known as Tylenol. Hydrocodne is a semi-synthetic narcotic like heroin. If you are taking Vicodin you need to realize that you are ingesting a drug that is very similar to the highly addictive heroin.

Vicodin is sold in tablet form under the brand names Vicodin, Vicodin ES, or Vicodin HP. The different names designate different drug strengths.

• Vicodin contains 500 mg paracetamol and 5 mg hydrocodone
• Vicodin ES contains 750 mg paracetamol and 7.5 mg hydrocodone
• Vicodin HP contains 660 mg paracetamol and 10 mg hydrocodone

Similar pain relievers are marketed under trade names Anexsia, Anolor, Bancap, Dolacet, Lorcet, Lortab, and Norco. Hydrocodone can also be combined with ibuprofen and is sold under the trade name Vicoprofen.

Vicodin is used for the temporary relief of moderate to moderately severe acute, chronic, or postoperative pain.  It is also used to severe cough has it has anti-tussic qualities as well.

Vicodin is the combination of two pain relievers, hydrocodne and paracetamol, which act on pain in different ways.

Hydrocodone is a strong drug that has effects similar to morphine. It operates as a block for opoid receptors which are one form of pain receptor in the brain.  Just like morphine and other opiates, hydrodocne works to block the pain signals in the brain.

Acetaminophen inhibit the action enzymes which are responsible for the manufacture of certain hormones.  These hormones are mediators or pain, fever, and imflamation.

There is an observed increase in pain reduction by combining these two drugs together which is greater than the sum of the two drug's pain reductions when taken seperately.