In this article, I’m going to provide you with a Master List of all the common and uncommon hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms that ensue from the abrupt cessation of hydrocodone.
Additionally, I’ll be helping you out a great deal, because along with listing off all of the hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms, I’m also going to provide you with the best remedies for minimizing or even eliminating each and every symptom.
After six years of studying and perfecting the “Art of Opiate Recovery,” I’ve come to realize that there are well over 70 hydrocodone withdrawal remedies that can assist you to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.
I’ll be providing the cream of the crop in this piece, so sit tight…because help is on the way!
Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms can be broken down into the following categories:
- Common Symptoms
- Uncommon Symptoms
- Physical Symptoms
- Mental Symptoms
- Emotional Symptoms
Now that you’ve been educated on the framework of this article, let us start the learning process and dive right in…beginning with an overview on hydrocodone, tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, symptoms of hydrocodone withdrawal, and the hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms timeline.
How Hydrocodone Works in the Body
Hydrocodone is an opiate painkiller prescription medicine. Opiates are drugs that are derived from the opium poppy plant. Opioids are synthetic or natural drugs that do not originate from the opium poppy plant, however, they still bind to the same opioid receptors in the brain and body that opiates bind to, resulting in the same types of effects.
Despite all of the associated negative aspects (addiction, overdose, crime, etc.), hydrocodone still has a positive intent. Hydrocodone is commonly prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
Hydrocodone attaches to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are located on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, GI tract, and other organs.
Once hydrocodone attaches to the opioid receptors, the hydrocodone effects come on, which include, but are not limited to:
- Pain Relief
- Euphoria
- Sedation
- Constipation
- Nausea
As human beings, we already have an endogenous painkilling system that is capable of producing pain relief, sedation, and euphoria.
This natural pain relief system is activated when we exercise, eat certain foods (e.g. dark chocolate and chili peppers), or perform other activities.
For example, imagine a man who has just run five miles along the beach.
As a result of this intense physical exertion, his body naturally produces its own opioid chemicals, known as endorphins and enkephalins, thus reducing pain, and promoting euphoria naturally (“runners high”).
Tolerance and Dependence
We already produce natural opioid chemicals (endorphins/enkephalins) in the precise amounts our bodies were designed to handle. The problem arises when an individual has been using hydrocodone or another opioid drug for a period of time.
After prolonged use of hydrocodone, the production of endogenous opioids is inhibited, which accounts in part for the withdrawal syndrome that results from the immediate cessation of the drug.
The continuous use of hydrocodone overrides our natural ability to produce endorphins and enkephalins.
The brain comes to rely on hydrocodone to create these neurotransmitters.
When a person stops using hydrocodone, the brain doesn’t start creating these endogenous opioids right away. It short-circuits, leading to withdrawal symptoms, and deteriorating psychological function.
Whether an individual is abusing hydrocodone or even taking hydrocodone as prescribed by a physician, the continued use quickly leads to tolerance. Tolerance is a state of adaptation in which exposure to a drug induces changes that result in a decrease of the drug’s effects over time.
If an individual continues using hydrocodone after a tolerance has been established, they will eventually develop a physiological dependence.
Dependence develops when the neurons adapt to the repeated drug exposure and only function normally in the presence of the drug.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Syndrome
When a dependent individual abruptly stops taking hydrocodone (leading opiate-blood concentration to fall below the required level), the now opiate-tolerant central nervous system (CNS) goes haywire. With no inhibitive stimulation to satisfy receptors, the pathways of the CNS fire signals strenuously, performing at a level much higher than pre-dependence levels.
Now the locus coeruleus responds by triggering the autonomic fight or flight response. What results is known as the hydrocodone withdrawal syndrome, and it’s one of the most horrific experiences an individual could even go through.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms
Now that you have a good overview of how the whole process starts, we can now review the physical, mental, and emotional hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms that result from the abrupt cessation of hydrocodone.
Please note that these hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms can also result from lowering your dosage too quickly on an opiate taper. Tapering is lowering your dosage systematically over a predetermined time frame, which significantly reduces the shock to your body that a cold-turkey detox creates.
Physical hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Achy Muscles and Limbs
- Gastrointestinal (GI) Distress
- Nausea
- Hot and Cold Sweats and Chills
- Goosebumps
- Vomiting
- Teary Eyes
- A Runny Nose
- Sneezing
- Fatigue
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Mental/Emotional hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include:
As you can see, there are plenty of unpleasant hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms that can afflict you while lowering your dosage too fast, or coming off hydrocodone cold-turkey. The really awful aspect of hydrocodone withdrawal is that you get hit with a ton of different physical and psychological hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms.
If it were just one or the other, it wouldn’t be near as horrific of an experience.
But alas this isn’t the case.
Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms are both physical and psychological, and most of the time these symptoms are very severe.
Now let’s move on to the next section, where you’ll learn about the hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms timeline.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline
How long do hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms last and when do they begin? Approximately 12 hours after your last dose of hydrocodone, the mild hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms will begin to arise.
Here is a brief overview of the hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms timeline after stopping the use of hydrocodone:
- Day 1 – Unpleasant hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms that make it difficult to get through the day.
- Day 2 – A significant increase in the severity of hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms.
- Days 3-4 – Hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms peak and are the most severe during these final two days.
- Day 5 – The acute withdrawal phase is technically over, and the hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms become much less severe, though you still feel them a lot.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline – PAWS Overview
Many hydrocodone users have successfully managed to get past the acute hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms phase, only to realize that the struggle was far from being over. Though the symptoms, duration, and severity vary, an estimated 90% of all opiate daily users experience Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) to some degree after the acute withdrawal is over.
To accurately and simply define PAWS, let’s break down the meaning of each individual word:
- Post – “After”
- Acute – “Very serious or dangerous; requiring serious attention or action”
- Withdrawal – “The discontinuance of administration or use of a drug”
- Syndrome – “A group of symptoms”
Simply put, PAWS is a group of symptoms that occur after an individual has gone through the serious withdrawal phase induced by the discontinuation of drugs.
In his popular book, Staying Sober: A Guide for Relapse Prevention
, Terence Gorski states the following:
Post-acute withdrawal is a group of symptoms of addictive disease that occur as a result of abstinence from addictive chemicals. In the alcoholic/addict these symptoms appear seven to fourteen days into abstinence, after stabilization from the acute withdrawal. Post-acute withdrawal is a bio/psycho/social syndrome. It results from a combination of damage to the nervous system caused by alcohol or drugs and the psychosocial stress of coping with life without drugs or alcohol.”
PAWS Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms Timeline
PAWS can last anywhere from a few weeks to several years. In fact, there is even a possibility that PAWS can continue for the rest of an individual’s life after quitting long-term daily hydrocodone. Unfortunately, there is really no way to determine how long it will last.
Luckily, things like supplementation, nutrition, and exercise can help you reduce the severity and timeline of PAWS hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms. Click here to check out my holistic PAWS treatment plan that will help you get better FAST.
PAWS Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms List
There is a wide range of symptoms an individual might experience from PAWS. Post-acute hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms will vary from person to person. Post-acute hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms will also vary in severity from person to person.
Some common post-acute hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms include:
- Inability to think clearly
- Memory problems
- Emotional overreactions or numbness
- Physical coordination problems
- Stress sensitivity
- Hostility
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Increased susceptibility to emotional and physical pain
- Gastrointestinal (GI) issues
- Intense cravings to use opiates
- Drug dreams
- Fatigue
- Inability to experience pleasure (“pleasure deafness”)
I strongly believe that the last two symptom (“pleasure deafness” and fatigue) is the #1 reason why most individuals going through PAWS relapse within the first 90 days of getting sober.
Going weeks to months without feeling any pleasure in life, and on top of that having no energy or motivation, is in my opinion more detrimental to recovery than any of the other post-acute hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms.
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms – Top 20 Things That Can Help
Since you’ve made it this far in the article, I know you’re serious about using the best remedies for reducing the severity of your hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms. I aim to deliver on my promise.
Thus, without further ado, here are the Top 20 things that can help, with clickable links so you can learn more by checking out articles entirely dedicated to each hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms remedy.
In order from the most helpful first, here are the Top 20 remedies for reducing hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Kratom
- Ibogaine
- Gabapentin
- Lyrica
- Mega-Dose Vitamin C
- Clonidine
- Klonopin
- Xanax
- Valium
- Ativan
- Librium
- Loperamide
- DXM
- Baclofen
- Tramadol
- Cannabis
- Exercise
- Phenibut
Along with these, no matter which remedies for hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms you end up using, make sure you also this Opiate Recovery Supplement.
You’ll need the nutrients in these supplements to help your brain begin restoring healthy levels of dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, and GABA, which are the most important neurotransmitters for mood and behavior.
This supplement can lead to the following benefits:
- Restores Healthy Neurotransmission
- Enhances Mood
- Eases Stomach Discomfort
- Increases Natural energy
- Calms Anxiety
- Reverses Depression
- Reverses Insomnia
- Reduces Opiate Cravings
Hydrocodone Withdrawal Symptoms – Conclusion
I hope you’ve gained tremendous insight and value from this blog post on hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms and the Top 20 Things That Can Help.
I didn’t provide overviews on the Top 20 remedies for hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms because this article is almost 2,000 words long (which is long enough!), and I’ve already written separate articles for each remedy, which have detailed information, including how to use each remedy for hydrocodone withdrawal.
Now you have everything you need to know about hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms, hydrocodone withdrawal timelines, and the most effective remedies that can help you reduce or even eliminate your hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms.
If you liked this article, then you’ll absolutely love The Ultimate Opiate Recovery System, which goes much deeper into hydrocodone withdrawal and recovery methods.
Click here now to check it out.
If you have any comments or questions on hydrocodone withdrawal symptoms, please post them in the comment box below.
99% of all hydrocodone is ONLY used in the USA, which is telling. I’m lifetime opioid addict (hydrocodone and heroin mostly, but most of the other common opioids too), and getting off methadone now after over 20 years on it. It began in childhood, when my pediatrician prescribed a cough syrup with hydrocodone instead of codeine. I often had chronic bronchitis when young, so he often prescribed cough syrups along with antibiotics. The codeine cough syrups never got me addicted, although I loved the way they made me feel. Ii had an esophageal atresia operation after being born, the most common birth defect, <10% chance of survival in 1955. That may have damaged my pituitary gland, when they gave me an opiate during the first week of my life in an incubator, for pain and shock, while I was recovering. Even the mother using an opiate as an epidural can damage the babies brain, and I was given it directly. I think my pituitary gland was damaged, inhibiting its ability to produce natural endorphins. ANYways, getting back to hydrocodone: when the doctor prescribed cough syrup with hydrocodone, I LOVED it, and looked forward to getting sick after that. Hycomine, Tussinex, and especially – Citra Forte, where the big three cough syrups addicts got attacked to back then, before they put stuff in them that made you sick if you took more than a small dose. Back then it was the best opiate high – heroin addicts preferred it, because it lasted longer if you drank a large amount. I started with a couple ounces, but within a few weeks was drinking an entire pint at once, which has 478mg. of hydrocodone, along with a huge dose of antihistamine, which actually improved the high, taking away the itchiness most opioids cause in higher doses. Hydrocodone turns to hydromorphone in the liver, which is very euphoric. I prefer hydrocodone to oxycodone, because oxycodone has a nasty edge to it, from the thebaine it's derived from, one of the three opiate alkaloids, along with morphine and codeine. Thebaine isn't used by itself, rather they derived other semi-synthetic opiates from it, especially hydrocodone and oxycodone. Hydrocodone can also be made from codeine. Opiate alkaloid chemistry is so interesting, and the first alkaloid isolated in chemistry was morphine. They were trying to convert morphine to codeine, and made heroin instead, although it had been discovered earlier too. Getting back to hydrocodone again. I took massive amounts, for many years, later having to switch to pain pills after the cough syrups were adulterated with a substance making you sick if you drank too much (around 1975 as I recall). Hydrocodone used to be prescribed like candy by doctors, for any little minor pain, and has addicted so many people. Now it's class II drug, like oxycodone, as it always should have been. I've been on 40mg. of methadone for 20 years, after about 30 years of being an opioid addict most of the time, including heroin for many years. I'm down to 20mg. now, and intend to be off methadone by the end of the year, so I can move to the mountains – get out of this city. I appreciate the information online, with ideas for detoxifying without pain or suffering, as I'm a wimp. I have hypothyroidism, which is common with opioid addicts, and what makes post-acute withdrawal last for years in some people. I take thyroxine now, but want to get off that, after I detox from methadone. Ascorbic acid is VERY IMPORTANT, and not just for opioid withdrawal and detox. I use pharmaceutical grade pure ascorbic acid, about a Tbsp. in a glass of water, with a teaspoon of acerola powder for co-factors, then 1/2 tsp. sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), which will fizz as it releases the carbon dioxide from the baking soda. Sometimes I also add a tsp. of liquid chlorophyll, and a teaspoon of chlorella and spirulina. You need to take it at least 2-3 times per day, preferably 3-4 times, to keep the vitamin C level in your system high. It's VERY effective for withdrawal from all drugs, and for your health in general. Try it and you'll feel much better……!
(thanks for all the useful info on this website………..!)