Hydrocodone Addiction: Symptoms, Signs & Drug-Seeking Behavior

Hydrocodone is a prescription drug used to treat pain. It is more commonly known by the name Vicodin. Hydrocodone affects dopamine levels, giving users a sense of euphoria. This euphoria makes an addict want to overuse the drug.

Drug Seeking

• One of the symptoms of addiction is drug-seeking behavior. Addicts will often exaggerate or lie about symptoms to obtain hydrocodone.

Tolerance

• A high tolerance for pain killers is a sign that a user has become an addict. It will take increasingly more hydrocodone to produce the initial euphoria.

Overuse

• One sign a hydrocodone user has become an addict is use of the drug more often or in greater quantities than prescribed.

Withdrawal

• Symptoms of withdrawal in the absence of hydrocodone is a symptom of addiction. According to Lakeview Health Systems, symptoms of withdrawal from hydrocodone can include cold flashes, restlessness, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting.

Illness

• Frequent illness, likely caused by a weakened immune system, is a typical result of hydrocodone abuse. Because hydrocodone contains acetaminophen, liver damage is a sign of severe overuse.