Hydrocodone is a synthetic opioid drug prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain, often after dental work, injuries or surgical procedures. It is generally a white, oblong pill and is meant to be taken orally. As an opioid, hydrocodone attaches to receptors in the brain to produce pleasure, decrease pain and slow breathing. The calm, pleasant feeling that results leads some people to keep taking hydrocodone even when they no longer need it as a painkiller.
Prescription hydrocodone is commonly paired with acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer branded as Tylenol. The hydrocodone and acetaminophen combination is sold under many names, including Vicodin, Lortab and Norco. Since long-term use of acetaminophen can cause severe liver damage, these combination drugs carry an additional risk.
When taken orally, hydrocodone travels through the body before entering the bloodstream and affecting the brain. When someone snorts hydrocodone, blood vessels in their nose absorb it, producing a quicker and more intense high.
Though smoking and intravenous injection both take a substance to the brain faster than insufflation, these are not common methods of taking hydrocodone and have a reputation of being more dangerous. Snorting a drug is no safer than smoking or injection, but many people believe that it is. When someone takes hydrocodone for an extended period of time, they will likely develop a tolerance to it.
The body adapts to the substance and requires the person to take a higher dose for the same effect. This can lead to physical dependence, a state in which someone must take hydrocodone in order for their body to operate normally. Physical dependence is often accompanied by addiction, a mental craving for the drug that results in drug-seeking behaviors and compulsive use despite negative physical and social consequences.
Often, someone who becomes addicted to hydrocodone begins taking it as prescribed by their doctor. Over time, they take more and continue to take it longer than recommended. Because snorting hydrocodone takes it to the brain more quickly, they may begin to abuse it in this way, especially if they have built a tolerance to it. Many states monitor controlled substances, making it more difficult for people to go doctor shopping and obtain multiple prescriptions.
If you or your loved one is suffering from substance abuse, please seek help as soon as possible. Make a Payment Refund Policy. Table of Contents hide. Tolerance, Dependency, and Addiction. Snorting Vicodin and Overdose 2. Treatment for Vicodin Addiction. Getting More Information. Irritants that are normally stopped by mucus and nose hairs can cause lung inflammation. This condition is linked to respiratory failure, which has symptoms like fatigue, weight loss, and difficulty breathing.
When someone shares paraphernalia for snorting hydrocodone, they may also share blood found in mucus. Tools used to snort drugs—such as rolled paper—come in contact with nasal blood vessels.
Bloodborne diseases like Hepatitis C can spread this way. Prescription drugs like hydrocodone are formulated to be released into the body gradually. They pass through the digestive system before being distributed throughout the body. When someone snorts hydrocodone, the drug travels directly into their bloodstream. The result is an immediate, intense effect, which makes this method of abuse desirable.
However, taking hydrocodone in this way increases the risk that someone will become addicted to it. Some people think that snorting drugs like hydrocodone is less dangerous than smoking or injecting them.
While smoking and injection carry an even higher risk of addiction, snorting has many adverse consequences, too. Hydrocodone pills are made up of more than just hydrocodone. Fillers can be irritating to the nose, throat, and lungs and are meant to be ingested orally for the safest outcome. Reports of counterfeit hydrocodone have surfaced in recent years.
Of course, this makes eating, swallowing, and breathing exceptionally difficult. People experiencing nasal erosion may make a whistling sound when they breathe or struggle with dry mouth.
Additionally, inflamed nasal tissue can lead to damaged cilia — the nasal hairs that are responsible for capturing dirt and foreign particles from the outside. As a result, snorting hydrocodone can lead to a loss of smell. Even more shocking is the risk of necrosis, or dead and dying tissue in the nose. When snorted, some hydrocodone ends up traveling to the back of the nose. It then drips into the throat or windpipe and into the lungs or on the vocal cords.
If the drug drips on the vocal cords, people may begin having a hoarse voice. If the drug drips into the lungs, it can worsen asthma or cause lung inflammation. Normally, irritants are blocked by the mucus and hairs in the nose. If damaged from snorting drugs like hydrocodone, these irritants can get into the lungs and lead to respiratory failure and other conditions such as difficulty breathing, weight loss, and fatigue.
In order to snort hydrocodone, it must be crushed into a fine powder. Oftentimes, the surfaces and objects people use to crush pills are contaminated with microorganisms, irritants, and toxins that cause damage to the nasal tissue, throat, and respiratory system. Plus, paraphernalia such as rolled paper, razor blades, or contaminated surfaces may be shared from one person to the next. In the process, individuals could put themselves at a higher risk of disease due to the microorganisms involved.
This increases the risk of disease transmission, such as that of Hepatitis C. When used correctly, hydrocodone is considered a safe and effective pain-relieving medication. Still, nobody is immune to the potential side effects.
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