Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat You Should KnowWhat to ExpectFactors That Affect WithdrawalSigns and SymptomsCoping and ReliefWarningsLong-Term TreatmentAdditional Resources
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What You Should Know
What to Expect
Factors That Affect Withdrawal
Signs and Symptoms
Coping and Relief
Warnings
Long-Term Treatment
Additional Resources
Hydrocodone withdrawal can lead to unpleasant symptoms lasting several days up to a week. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that works like codeine to relieve moderate pain. It is often prescribed in combination with other compounds in products likeVicodinor Lortab, which contain hydrocodone and acetaminophen.
Hydrocodone can lead to physical dependence, which means people can experience hydrocodone withdrawal when they quit taking it. Hydrocodone withdrawal usually lasts about five to seven days. Symptoms usually reach their peak around day three and may include muscle pain, sweating, nausea, and tremors.
At a GlanceHydrocodone withdrawal is not easy, especially if you have been using opioids for a long time. Don’t be discouraged—there are ways to break the vicious cycle in which you feel trapped. Even if you have attempted detox several times before, you must keep up the hope that the next one will work.Talking to your doctor can help. Find a treatment center offering evidence-based therapies like medication management. In addition, don’t let anyone shame you for taking a medication that treats your disease. Make the best decisions for you and your recovery.
At a Glance
Hydrocodone withdrawal is not easy, especially if you have been using opioids for a long time. Don’t be discouraged—there are ways to break the vicious cycle in which you feel trapped. Even if you have attempted detox several times before, you must keep up the hope that the next one will work.Talking to your doctor can help. Find a treatment center offering evidence-based therapies like medication management. In addition, don’t let anyone shame you for taking a medication that treats your disease. Make the best decisions for you and your recovery.
Hydrocodone withdrawal is not easy, especially if you have been using opioids for a long time. Don’t be discouraged—there are ways to break the vicious cycle in which you feel trapped. Even if you have attempted detox several times before, you must keep up the hope that the next one will work.
Talking to your doctor can help. Find a treatment center offering evidence-based therapies like medication management. In addition, don’t let anyone shame you for taking a medication that treats your disease. Make the best decisions for you and your recovery.
How Hydrocodone Use Can Cause Withdrawal
Hydrocodone prescriptions have decreased in recent years, from 136.7 million in 2013 to 83.6 million in 2017. However, it is still the most commonly prescribed opioid in the United States.It is also one of the most widely abusedprescription painkillers.
Data from 2017 shows that roughly 6.3 million people age 12 or older had misused hydrocodone in the past year in the United States—amazingly, that is 2.3% of the population.Most people acquired the drug from someone they trusted, such as a doctor or family member. Unfortunately, hydrocodone misuse can quickly develop into dependence andaddiction.
Anyone who is physically dependent on opioids will experience withdrawal if they abruptly discontinue their dose.
What to Expect During Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on how much you’ve been taking and for how long. If you are currently taking a high dose of hydrocodone, or a mix of hydrocodone and other opioids, then suddenlyquitting “cold turkey"without tapering down will be really difficult.
Even if you are on a lower, therapeutic dose of hydrocodone, the withdrawal is challenging—expect a feeling similar to having the flu (the severity will vary), plus psychological distress. Without treatment, most people experience chills, cramps, and diarrhea, along with nausea, sweating, and agitation.
You might feel like your heart is pounding out of your chest or like you will never sleep again. Runny noses and teary eyes are common. Some peoplefeel extremely anxious, and others feel intense despair and hopelessness.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal TimelineOpioid withdrawal isn’t easy, but it is quick. Symptoms typically begin within 8 to 24 hours of your last dose. However, they typically subside within one week.Fortunately, there are medications that can get you through this period with minimal discomfort.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Timeline
Opioid withdrawal isn’t easy, but it is quick. Symptoms typically begin within 8 to 24 hours of your last dose. However, they typically subside within one week.Fortunately, there are medications that can get you through this period with minimal discomfort.
Factors That Affect Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Withdrawal will come on slower if you also use extended-release opioids, likemethadoneorOxycontin.
Signs and Symptoms of Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Common hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include any of the following:
If you are looking for a better idea of how mild symptoms compare to intense symptoms, take a look at thisopioid withdrawal scale.This is a tool clinicians use to help them diagnose what stage of withdrawal their patients are in. For example, sweating can include anything from feeling flushed to sweat streaming down your face.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms typically peak on the second or third day after your last dose, then start getting better. Most people feel better after five to seven days.
Protracted Withdrawal Symptoms
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the end of it. Once acute withdrawal passes, some people experience something called protracted withdrawal, also known aspost-acute-withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
Protracted withdrawal symptoms are much less severe and are mostly psychological in nature—meaning that you won’t be physically ill.Instead, you may experience waves of depression that come and go or bouts of insomnia.
Not everyone experiences protracted withdrawal, but those who do can expect symptoms to appear intermittently for around six months.
Coping and Relief for Hydrocodone Withdrawal
There are a number of steps you can take to ensure a smoother and less uncomfortable withdrawal experience. The best strategy for you will depend on your hydrocodone use patterns.
Tapering
If you have been using hydrocodone as directed for the treatment of pain, then your doctor can help you develop a tapering schedule. Tapering your medication means taking progressively smaller doses over a period of several weeks.
By incrementally decreasing your dose, you give your body time to adjust. While you may experience some withdrawal symptoms each time the dose is reduced, they should be relatively mild.
There is no standard tapering schedule, so it is important to work with your doctor to develop a schedule that fits your needs. As you reduce your dose, you may find that your pain returns. If so, talk to your doctor about alternatives.
In addition to tapering your dose, there are other evidence-based treatments foropioid detoxinclude medication-assisted treatment and symptom management.
Medications
Medications like methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone) can help prevent the symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal and make recovery easier.These drugs are made with long-acting opioids that prevent withdrawal without getting you high. Suboxone contains a mix of buprenorphine and naltrexone, an opioid antagonist.
This means it’s more or less impossible to abuse Suboxone to get high if injected. Suboxone can also prevent other opioids from getting you high, reducing your relapse chance.
Clonidine and Lucemyra (lofexidine) are two more prescription drugs used to treat the symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal.Clonodine and Lucemyra are similar medications that were originally designed to treat high blood pressure. When used for hydrocodone withdrawal, they can treat symptoms like sweating, chills, rapid heart rate, and anxiety.
They can also help reduce drug cravings. Since they contain no opioids, any doctor can prescribe these medications. This makes them much easier to acquire than methadone and buprenorphine.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications that may make you more comfortable during withdrawal include:
Herbal Remedies
You may have heard about another herbal medication calledkratomthat people buy online. Some opioid users have had success using kratom to treat the symptoms of withdrawal, but there are a number of risks involved. Doctors are just beginning to learn how kratom works, but it is already clear thatkratomis essentially just another natural opioid (like opium).
In 2018, the FDA issued a warning against kratom, because they believe it has addictive and harmful properties.There have also been reports of contaminated batches making people ill.
Warnings About Hydrocodone Withdrawal
Although scientific evidence shows that medication-assisted treatment is the most effective way of treating opioid dependence, it is often surprisingly difficult to find. In fact, most people have trouble finding any substance use treatment at all.
Lack of Treatment
In 2017, it was estimated that 20.7 million people in the United States needed substance use treatment, but only 4 million received it. Only a small number of those who did receive help got it at a facility offering medication-assisted treatment. Treatment providers offering buprenorphine and methadone can definitely be difficult to find, but they do exist.
It’s not an inability to find treatment that prevents people from getting help, rather it’s the belief that they don’t need help.
Among the 20.7 million people who needed treatment for a substance use in 2017, only one million actually believed that they needed treatment. People typically underestimate the seriousness of their substance use disorder and overestimate their ability to “quit when they’re ready.”
At-Home Withdrawal
Today, it is possible to detox from hydrocodone at home without help. Unlike alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal, opioid withdrawal isn’t dangerous, though it can be extremely uncomfortable.
Reduced Tolerance Increases Your Risk of OverdoseHowever, many people relapse within days or weeks of quitting.This can increase your risk of experiencing a drug overdose. When you detox from hydrocodone, your tolerance level drops fast. If you were to relapse with your pre-detox dose, it could kill you.
Reduced Tolerance Increases Your Risk of Overdose
However, many people relapse within days or weeks of quitting.This can increase your risk of experiencing a drug overdose. When you detox from hydrocodone, your tolerance level drops fast. If you were to relapse with your pre-detox dose, it could kill you.
There are some people in the recovery community who believe that “abstinence-only” is the best way to go. They believe medication-assisted treatment is just “replacing one drug with another.” Although this is technically true, it’s not so simple. Medications that prevent withdrawal have been shown to reduce relapse and allow you to participate in therapy.
Without taking the time to address the issues that led to your substance abuse, your chance of relapse will remain high.
If your goal is long-term sobriety, you will need to put a lot of effort into relapse prevention. If you have tried to quit opioids before, then you know how easy it is to relapse after detox.
Research shows that the best way to prevent relapse is a combination of medication and psychotherapy.
Preventing Relapse With Medication
Your long-term treatment plan may involve a maintenance dose of methadone or buprenorphine or a medication calledVivitrol (naltrexone). Naltrexone is only useful after you detox once your body is free of opioids.
AVivitrol injection taken once per monthwill prevent opioids from having an intoxicating effect.This discourages opioid use, because if you use, you will be wasting time and money for nothing.
Naltrexone can also help ease opioid cravings and may help prevent a lethal overdose.
What Medications Are Used to Treat Alcoholism?
Preventative Psychotherapy
Medication paves the way for the second leg of long-term treatment,psychotherapy. During talk therapy, you will learn to identify the thoughts, feelings, and actions that trigger your cravings. You will also develop the skills you need to handle those triggers in a healthy way.
Many people choose to continue taking their medication indefinitely, but you can also taper off after a few months or years. Therapy can prepare you for that transition.
There are many different types of treatment with varying levels of intensity. Places you can find help include:
If you or your loved one has a hydrocodone dependence, you will want to find a doctor or therapist who specializes in opioid use disorders.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Only certain doctors are allowed to prescribe buprenorphine (Suboxone). To find one in your area, check out thissearchable directory.
If you want to know more about Narcotics Anonymous (NA) take a look at theirwebsite. You can find a meeting near you with theirsearchable directory.
How Narcotic Anonymous Works
13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Hydrocodone.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Pergolizzi JV Jr, Raffa RB, Rosenblatt MH.Opioid withdrawal symptoms, a consequence of chronic opioid use and opioid use disorder: Current understanding and approaches to management.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020;10.1111/jcpt.13114. doi:10.1111/jcpt.13114Wesson DR, Ling W.The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).J Psychoactive Drugs. 2003;35(2):253–259. doi:10.1080/02791072.2003.10400007Zhou K, Jia P, Bhargava S, et al.Opioid tapering in patients with prescription opioid use disorder: A retrospective study.Scand J Pain. 2017;17:167–173. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.005Sigmon SC, Bisaga A, Nunes EV, O’Connor PG, Kosten T, Woody G.Opioid detoxification and naltrexone induction strategies: recommendations for clinical practice.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012;38(3):187–199. doi:10.3109/00952990.2011.653426Gowing L, Ali R, White JM, Mbewe D.Buprenorphine for managing opioid withdrawal.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2(2):CD002025. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002025.pub5Bryce C.Lofexidine (Lucemyra) for treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(6):392–394.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA and Kratom.Kadam M, Sinha A, Nimkar S, Matcheswalla Y, De Sousa A.A comparative study of factors associated with relapse in alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.Indian J Psychol Med. 2017;39(5):627–633. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_356_17Sofuoglu M, DeVito EE, Carroll KM.Pharmacological and behavioral treatment of opioid use disorder.Psychiatr Res Clin Pract. 2019;1(1):4-15. doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20180006Jarvis BP, Holtyn AF, Subramaniam S, et al.Extended-release injectable naltrexone for opioid use disorder: a systematic review.Addiction. 2018;113(7):1188–1209. doi:10.1111/add.14180McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW.Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):511–525. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012
13 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Hydrocodone.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Pergolizzi JV Jr, Raffa RB, Rosenblatt MH.Opioid withdrawal symptoms, a consequence of chronic opioid use and opioid use disorder: Current understanding and approaches to management.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020;10.1111/jcpt.13114. doi:10.1111/jcpt.13114Wesson DR, Ling W.The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).J Psychoactive Drugs. 2003;35(2):253–259. doi:10.1080/02791072.2003.10400007Zhou K, Jia P, Bhargava S, et al.Opioid tapering in patients with prescription opioid use disorder: A retrospective study.Scand J Pain. 2017;17:167–173. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.005Sigmon SC, Bisaga A, Nunes EV, O’Connor PG, Kosten T, Woody G.Opioid detoxification and naltrexone induction strategies: recommendations for clinical practice.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012;38(3):187–199. doi:10.3109/00952990.2011.653426Gowing L, Ali R, White JM, Mbewe D.Buprenorphine for managing opioid withdrawal.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2(2):CD002025. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002025.pub5Bryce C.Lofexidine (Lucemyra) for treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(6):392–394.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA and Kratom.Kadam M, Sinha A, Nimkar S, Matcheswalla Y, De Sousa A.A comparative study of factors associated with relapse in alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.Indian J Psychol Med. 2017;39(5):627–633. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_356_17Sofuoglu M, DeVito EE, Carroll KM.Pharmacological and behavioral treatment of opioid use disorder.Psychiatr Res Clin Pract. 2019;1(1):4-15. doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20180006Jarvis BP, Holtyn AF, Subramaniam S, et al.Extended-release injectable naltrexone for opioid use disorder: a systematic review.Addiction. 2018;113(7):1188–1209. doi:10.1111/add.14180McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW.Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):511–525. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Hydrocodone.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.Pergolizzi JV Jr, Raffa RB, Rosenblatt MH.Opioid withdrawal symptoms, a consequence of chronic opioid use and opioid use disorder: Current understanding and approaches to management.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020;10.1111/jcpt.13114. doi:10.1111/jcpt.13114Wesson DR, Ling W.The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).J Psychoactive Drugs. 2003;35(2):253–259. doi:10.1080/02791072.2003.10400007Zhou K, Jia P, Bhargava S, et al.Opioid tapering in patients with prescription opioid use disorder: A retrospective study.Scand J Pain. 2017;17:167–173. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.005Sigmon SC, Bisaga A, Nunes EV, O’Connor PG, Kosten T, Woody G.Opioid detoxification and naltrexone induction strategies: recommendations for clinical practice.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012;38(3):187–199. doi:10.3109/00952990.2011.653426Gowing L, Ali R, White JM, Mbewe D.Buprenorphine for managing opioid withdrawal.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2(2):CD002025. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002025.pub5Bryce C.Lofexidine (Lucemyra) for treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(6):392–394.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA and Kratom.Kadam M, Sinha A, Nimkar S, Matcheswalla Y, De Sousa A.A comparative study of factors associated with relapse in alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.Indian J Psychol Med. 2017;39(5):627–633. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_356_17Sofuoglu M, DeVito EE, Carroll KM.Pharmacological and behavioral treatment of opioid use disorder.Psychiatr Res Clin Pract. 2019;1(1):4-15. doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20180006Jarvis BP, Holtyn AF, Subramaniam S, et al.Extended-release injectable naltrexone for opioid use disorder: a systematic review.Addiction. 2018;113(7):1188–1209. doi:10.1111/add.14180McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW.Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):511–525. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.Hydrocodone.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Pergolizzi JV Jr, Raffa RB, Rosenblatt MH.Opioid withdrawal symptoms, a consequence of chronic opioid use and opioid use disorder: Current understanding and approaches to management.J Clin Pharm Ther. 2020;10.1111/jcpt.13114. doi:10.1111/jcpt.13114
Wesson DR, Ling W.The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS).J Psychoactive Drugs. 2003;35(2):253–259. doi:10.1080/02791072.2003.10400007
Zhou K, Jia P, Bhargava S, et al.Opioid tapering in patients with prescription opioid use disorder: A retrospective study.Scand J Pain. 2017;17:167–173. doi:10.1016/j.sjpain.2017.09.005
Sigmon SC, Bisaga A, Nunes EV, O’Connor PG, Kosten T, Woody G.Opioid detoxification and naltrexone induction strategies: recommendations for clinical practice.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012;38(3):187–199. doi:10.3109/00952990.2011.653426
Gowing L, Ali R, White JM, Mbewe D.Buprenorphine for managing opioid withdrawal.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2(2):CD002025. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002025.pub5
Bryce C.Lofexidine (Lucemyra) for treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms.Am Fam Physician. 2019;99(6):392–394.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA and Kratom.
Kadam M, Sinha A, Nimkar S, Matcheswalla Y, De Sousa A.A comparative study of factors associated with relapse in alcohol dependence and opioid dependence.Indian J Psychol Med. 2017;39(5):627–633. doi:10.4103/IJPSYM.IJPSYM_356_17
Sofuoglu M, DeVito EE, Carroll KM.Pharmacological and behavioral treatment of opioid use disorder.Psychiatr Res Clin Pract. 2019;1(1):4-15. doi:10.1176/appi.prcp.20180006
Jarvis BP, Holtyn AF, Subramaniam S, et al.Extended-release injectable naltrexone for opioid use disorder: a systematic review.Addiction. 2018;113(7):1188–1209. doi:10.1111/add.14180
McHugh RK, Hearon BA, Otto MW.Cognitive behavioral therapy for substance use disorders.Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2010;33(3):511–525. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.012
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