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How To Withdraw From Hydrocodone?
I have been taking hydrocodone for back and knee pain for a couple of months. I just got an injection for the knee pain and by back seems to be improving....I would like to wean off of the hydrocodone. I currently take 1/2 of a 5-325 pill in the morning, another 1/2 6 hours later and 1 whole at bed time. As I said I would like to start to wean off of them...what is the best way to do that?
posted on
Mon, 23 Jan 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 19 Dec 2018
Answered on
Thu, 20 Dec 2018
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Hydrocodone is an opiate drug that affects levels of dopamine in the brain. When an individual takes hydrocodone regularly for a length of time, the brain can become tolerant to the amounts taken, and in order to continue to feel its effects, more of the drug will need to be taken each time.
Taking increasingly large amounts of hydrocodone may lead to the swift development of physical dependence, however, and ultimately, addiction. Detox can be performed in either an outpatient or inpatient capacity, although a medical professional should always closely supervise opiate detox.
Often the most effective method of treatment is attendance at a hydrocodone detox center. Hydrocodone detox programs monitor vital signs around the clock and use medications to keep patients comfortable and stable for a period of 5-7 days in most cases.
The dosages of hydrocodone are slowly tapered down via dose reduction in medical detox. A medical professional will slowly wean the drug out of the body in a controlled way in order to keep withdrawal symptoms controlled.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Prabhash Verma,
General & Family Physician
Hydrocodone is an opiate drug that affects levels of dopamine in the brain. When an individual takes hydrocodone regularly for a length of time, the brain can become tolerant to the amounts taken, and in order to continue to feel its effects, more of the drug will need to be taken each time.
Taking increasingly large amounts of hydrocodone may lead to the swift development of physical dependence, however, and ultimately, addiction. Detox can be performed in either an outpatient or inpatient capacity, although a medical professional should always closely supervise opiate detox.
Often the most effective method of treatment is attendance at a hydrocodone detox center. Hydrocodone detox programs monitor vital signs around the clock and use medications to keep patients comfortable and stable for a period of 5-7 days in most cases.
The dosages of hydrocodone are slowly tapered down via dose reduction in medical detox. A medical professional will slowly wean the drug out of the body in a controlled way in order to keep withdrawal symptoms controlled.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Prabhash Verma,
General & Family Physician
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