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Lortab is a medication used to relieve moderate to intense pain. Its two main ingredients are acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Acetaminophen, known as Tylenol, is a conventional medication for mitigating mild pain and reducing fevers.
Hydrocodone is also used to relieve pain, but unlike acetaminophen, hydrocodone is an opioid, so it is the more powerful ingredient in Lortab and can cause overdose and addiction.
The acetaminophen in Lortab merely enhances the pain-relieving effects of the hydrocodone. Lortab’s composition is similar to that of Vicodin, another hydrocodone-based painkiller.
Lortab works like most other opioid-based medications. When an individual takes a Lortab pill, the hydrocodone binds to the brain and nervous system’s opioid receptors. This incites the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters, which dull pain sensations and cause euphoria.
When it is appropriately used, Lortab is useful for treating pain. However, it also poses risks for abuse. People can develop a dependence on the effects of Lortab if they misuse it. For this reason, Lortab is a Schedule III controlled substance in the US, and it is illegal to use or possess it without a prescription.
Lortab’s Addictive Nature
Lortab is regarded as addictive, but Lortab addiction is possible. About 5% of people who get a prescription for Lortab or other opioid-based medications end up abusing them and risk developing an addiction. A person who receives a prescription for Lortab can avoid addiction by using it precisely as the prescription directs.
When a person takes Lortab over the limits of a prescription and develops a tolerance to its effects, they can develop Lortab dependence.
Once this happens, the individual may take even more Lortab to continue to feel sedated and euphoric.
Someone who becomes tolerant of Lortab’s effects might also experiment with other opioids, either prescribed or synthetic, and may start to depend on opioids to feel healthy and stable.
Opioid dependence can escalate into opioid addiction. A person addicted to Lortab or any other opioid will exhibit chronic opioid abuse despite significant physical and psychological consequences. Furthermore, they will habitually use opioids to avoid withdrawal.
Opioid withdrawal is often a painful experience. Hydrocodone withdrawal occurs when a person who is accustomed to using Lortab or any other hydrocodone-based medication suddenly ceases taking it or reduces their dose. Withdrawal often hinders people from recovering from opioid addiction.
The symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal include:
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Congestion
- Frequent Yawning
- Heigtened Blood Pressure
- Increased Sensitivity to Pain
- Insomnia and Restlessness
- irritability
- Muscles Aches
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Runny Nose
- Shaking and Tremors
- Stomach Problems
- Seating
- Tearing of the Eyes
Despite the symptoms of withdrawal being painful and uncomfortable, they usually begin to improve within 72 hours. The symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal typically subside within a week.
Information on Lortab Side Effects
A person doesn’t have to develop an addiction to Lortab to experience its side effects. The side effects of Lortab are rarely severe and subside within a few days.
The most common Lortab side effects are:
- Dizziness and Lightheadedness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Stomach Pains and Digestion Problems
Since Lortab has acetaminophen, it can cause liver damage if someone misuses it by using it too often. A person who abuses hydrocodone-based medications or uses them along with central nervous system depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines also risks suffering an overdose, a life-threatening emergency.
An overdose of hydrocodone may cause respiratory depression, a partial or total cessation of breathing. This is a form of suffocation that requires immediate medical attention. A Lortab overdose can be lethal. Luckily, the medication naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose if quickly administered.
If you realize that you or someone else is suffering an overdose of hydrocodone, get help immediately. The most common symptoms of a hydrocodone overdose are:
- Constricted Pupils
- Blue Lips and Fingernails
- Dizziness and Lightheadedness
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Loss of Consciousness
- Fatigue and Weakness
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Spasms in the Muscles and Stomach
- Slow, Irregular, or Labored breathing
In life-threatening cases, a hydrocodone overdose may provoke comas in addition to respiratory depression. Additionally, it is also possible for the acetaminophen in Lortab to cause or aggravate an overdose. The most obvious symptom of an acetaminophen overdose is jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) due to liver failure.
At United Recovery Project, we offer intensive and unique programs for patients dealing with Lortab addiction. We offer various luxury treatment services to our patients, including drug detox, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs & sober living, and alumni programs.
Throughout your stay at the facility, you will be monitored by a team of specialists to ensure you have a comfortable and safe recovery process. If you or someone you love is struggling with a Lortab addiction, do not hesitate to call us at 855-580-4810 to start your drug addiction treatment.
