Lortab Withdrawal & Detox

Lortab is the brand name of a prescription pain medication containing the opioid pain reliever hydrocodone and the non-opioid pain reliever acetaminophen. According to research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, medications containing hydrocodone, like Lortab, are among the top three most common drugs involved in opioid overdose deaths in the United States; the others were methadone and oxycodone (OxyContin). Seeking Lortab detox is the first step toward treatment for many people living with a Lortab addiction. People in the Washington region who are looking to detox from Lortab can turn to The Recovery Village Ridgefield where they can seek assistance for their Lortab addiction through detox and treatment.

If someone takes Lortab regularly, especially outside the supervision of a doctor or other health care professional, they are at high risk for developing a Lortab addiction. If addiction develops, seeking treatment at a detox facility can ease the symptoms of withdrawal.

Lortab Withdrawal

Lortab withdrawal occurs when a person who has been actively using the medication stops taking it. Taking Lortab daily can cause physical dependence to develop within days. While physical dependence is not the same as addiction, dependence can lead to addiction.

The severity and duration of Lortab withdrawal varies from person to person based on factors including their overall health, the length of time they have been taking Lortab and the amount of Lortab taken daily.

Another factor that can change how long Lortab withdrawal lasts and how uncomfortable it may be is the method in which the person has been taking Lortab. Crushing and then snorting Lortab makes the drug take effect quicker than just swallowing the pill. Lortab can also be smoked or crushed and injected to accomplish the same effect. If a person regularly used any of these methods to get Lortab into their system, their withdrawal process may be more difficult than if they only took Lortab orally.

Medically supervised withdrawal is the best course of action for anyone looking to stop taking Lortab. With medical supervision at a treatment facility like The Recovery Village Ridgefield, patients can detox from Lortab safely and set the groundwork for lasting recovery.

Lortab Withdrawal Symptoms

The symptoms that a person may experience during withdrawal from Lortab are similar to those that occur when other short-acting opioids are stopped abruptly. Examples of other short-acting opioids are heroin, medications containing immediate-release oxycodone as an active ingredient and medications containing hydrocodone as an active ingredient (like Lortab).

The symptoms of Lortab withdrawal can include:

• Aches/Pain
• Muscle spasms/twitching/tension
• Tremor
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
• Anxiety/restlessness
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Hot flashes/chills
• Heart pounding
• Lacrimation (tear production)
• Sweating
• Pupillary dilation
• Yawning
• Gooseflesh

Lortab Detox Timeline

The time it takes a person to detox from Lortab varies. Lortab withdrawal occurs in two main phases: early and late. After someone stops taking Lortab, withdrawal symptoms usually start within 12 hours. This time is regarded as the beginning of the early phase. For many people, the symptoms are the worst approximately 36 to 72 hours after they last took Lortab. The late phase begins after these initial 72 hours and continues until symptoms completely resolve, usually after 5 to 14 days. The symptoms begin to gradually improve on days four through seven, especially if the person seeks treatment from qualified healthcare personnel. Without treatment, many people are unable to stop taking Lortab because they consume the substance to relieve their withdrawal symptoms.

Lortab Detox Medications

There are medications and treatment options available to make the Lortab detox process as comfortable as possible. Some of these medications are used to lessen the symptoms of Lortab withdrawal and others are used to reduce the amount of opioids a person takes gradually.

Two of the medications used to help gradually reduce the amount of opioids a person takes are buprenorphine (Suboxone) and methadone. These are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration to help people recover from Lortab dependence and addiction. Some physicians and health care providers receive extra training to prescribe these medications and guide people through Lortab detox.

It is not recommended for people to stop taking medications like Lortab all of sudden (i.e., going “cold turkey”). It is important for people to engage with qualified specialists who can guide them through detox.

Find a Lortab Detox Center in Washington

The detox process is often uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally. Because of the challenges that detox presents, it is usually helpful to attend a professional treatment center like The Recovery Village Ridgefield.

Located near Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, The Recovery Village Ridgefield has medical detox programs, inpatient treatment programs, outpatient treatment programs and aftercare programs for hydrocodone addiction treatment. Contact The Recovery Village Ridgefield today, and get the help you deserve.