Vicodin Overdose Facts and Statistics

1. Symptoms and Signs of Vicodin Overdose
2. What Causes an Overdose?
3. When to Get Medical Help
4. How to Avoid Overdosing
5. Treatment for an Overdose
6. Recovering from Vicodin Overdose

Vicodin Overdose Symptoms and Dangers

A Vicodin overdose can be fatal. It is important to seek emergency medical services as quickly as possible if an overdose is suspected or any signs of overdose occur.

Since Vicodin is a compound of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, overdose of both ingredients can occur, with each leading to significant adverse health consequences.

Symptoms and Signs of Vicodin Overdose

Sedating Effects of Vicodin

The skin can be cold and clammy to touch and/or bluish at fingernails and lips. Pupils of the eye shrink to a point (pinpoint pupils). There can be GI distress along with abdominal spasms and vomiting.

Signs of Acetaminophen Overdose

Vicodin abusers also consume large doses of acetaminophen contained in the compound.

An acetaminophen overdose can cause liver damage and can be fatal.

What Causes an Overdose?

There are several causes of a Vicodin overdose. All Vicodin use—as prescribed or when abused—causes a physiological tolerance.

In time, greater amounts of the drug are needed to create a desired effect.

Abusers tend to ‘self-prescribe’ higher doses and to continue use over an extended period of time.

Extended use of Vicodin causes liver damage that eventually impedes normal hepatic drug metabolism, which can further increase the likelihood of overdose.

Large Doses

Apart from liver related issues, larger amounts of Vicodin also have damaging or potentially fatal effects even with short-term or first use.

Large amounts of Vicodin have damaging and potentially fatal effects.Large doses of the drug can result in overdose of both the hydrocodone and the acetaminophen contained in the compound.

Each drug has its own individual overdose risks in large amounts or over a prolonged period of use.

Methods of Ingestion

Some methods of ingestion have higher overdose potential. Intended for oral use at precise doses, overdose risk will increase as abusers ‘tamper’ with the pills.

This may include crushing the pills so they can be snorted or dissolving them in water, so they can be injected.

Any method other than oral ingestion leads to a rapid delivery of a high volume of Vicodin into the system.

Mixing Other Drugs

Polydrug Vicodin overdose also occurs when other substances are used in combination with Vicodin.

Drugs with an ‘additive’ effect increase Vicodin toxicity by enhancing its sedative and depressant effects on brain, lung and heart functioning, for example.

Such substances include:

• Alcohol.
• Other pain medications.
• Medications for:
  • Seizures.
  • Sleep.
  • Muscle relaxation.
  • Depression.
  • Anxiety.

Existing Health Conditions

Existing health conditions can result in poor absorption and processing of hydrocodone and/or acetaminophen that lead to overdose.

These include:

• Organ damage, disease or failure.
• History of head injury, seizure or coma.

When to Get Medical Help

You should seek immediate medical assistance through 911 if you suspect an overdose. Follow instructions given by 911 until help arrives.

How to Avoid Overdosing

• Refrain from using other substances while taking Vicodin.
  • Consult with your doctor or pharmacist about over-the-counter substances (e.g., pain relievers, cough/cold medications) before taking them with Vicodin.
• Don't take Vicodin with alcohol.
  • Irreversible liver injury can result.
• Discuss alternative pain management strategies with your physician if you've started misusing Vicodin.
• Take Vicodin by prescription only and only as prescribed.
• Avoid alternate methods of dosing, such as nasally or by injection.

Treatment for an Overdose

Since signs of overdose may not occur for some hours after taking large amounts of Vicodin, it is important to get emergency medical help immediately after large amounts have been taken.

Damage could occur without visible signs for some time. Quick intervention, for example, can lessen liver damage and prevent death. A call to Poison Control or 911 is warranted.

Resuscitation measures by paramedics can be intensive and prolonged on the scene and en route to the hospital if respiratory or cardiac functioning is failing. Assisted breathing is often necessary.

A narcotic antidote (naloxone, or Narcan) can rapidly reverse hydrocodone overdose symptoms, but can instantaneously reveal the troublesome effects of acute narcotic withdrawal.

If possible, other efforts are made to empty Vicodin from the stomach and intestines with activated charcoal, laxatives or gastric lavage (stomach pumping) to prevent further drug absorption.

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  An antidote to the acetaminophen toxicity can be given in the form of acetylcysteine (Mucomyst). Depending on the presumed amount of ingestion, acetylcysteine administration can be timed to counter the progressive liver injury that would otherwise be occurring.
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  Overdose victims are typically referred to psychiatric and/or addiction treatment. If the overdose was intentional, for example, psychiatric care for suicidality is warranted; if a result of Vicodin addiction, consultation regarding addiction treatment is usual.

Recovering from Vicodin Overdose

Recovery from a Vicodin overdose may involve medical follow-up for physical problems such as liver damage caused by the overdose.

Those who used Vicodin for pain should consult with a pain management specialist to find safer alternatives.

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  Inpatient Care

  Addiction recovery efforts are best started in an inpatient or residential setting where intensive support and therapeutic structure are available. For those who have intentionally overdosed, concurrent psychiatric care can address suicidal behavior and life stressors that led to self-harm.