Lorcet is a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone used in the treatment of mild to severe pain and cough. Hydrocodone present in the drug is very similar to heroin, and long term use may result in Lorcet addiction. The drug is available in capsule, tablet, and liquid forms, and is marketed under several brand names such as Lortab, Vicodin, and Norco. Lorcet is a Schedule II drug in the US which should only be taken with doctor’s permission. Medications containing hydrocodone have the potential to cause dependence and addiction, and this explains the high risk for addiction even after a single prescription. If you are addicted, a good knowledge about its effects on your physical and psychological well being is necessary to achieve maximum treatment results.
How Lorcet Addiction Starts
Lorcet belongs to the family of opioids which acts on the pain receptors in the brain to block pain. Your brain already has numerous opioid receptors. When you take Lorcet, the chemicals attaches to the receptors and prevents the transmission of pain signals from and to your brain. It also stimulates the rewards center giving you the feeling of euphoria which will later lead to psychological dependence on the drug. Lorcet can also make you feel drowsy and sluggish. The common side effects are nausea, weakness, dry mouth, slow breathing, constipation, and lack of concentration.
You might start taking Lorcet as prescription medicine to get relief from pain after an injury or other illnesses. But, you can become physically and psychologically dependent on the drug within a short period of time. If you ‘need’ the drug beyond the physical symptoms and feels like it has taken over your life, you may be struggling with addiction to Lorcet. Worsening of the pain or appearance of withdrawal symptoms when you stop the medicine can also indicate addiction. Apart from that, many genetic and environmental factors will also influence drug addiction such as depression, stress, life problems including divorce, job loss, illness, and money loss, trauma, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and experiences of violence and crime.
Signs and Symptoms of Lorcert Addiction
Dependence on Lorcet can affect your body both physically and psychologically. Apart from chronic and escalating use of the drug, a person addicted to Lorcet may show certain specific signs including:
- Doctor shopping – consulting several doctors to get prescriptions
- Reports of loosing Lorcet prescription
- Indicating allergy to alternative medications in order to get Lorcet prescriptions
- Preferring loneliness to socialization
- Dishonest behaviors such as stealing and lying
- Unexplainable need of money
- Abandoning old friends and spending more time with addicts
- Mood swings and behavioral changes
One of the main signs of Lorcet addiction is the onset of withdrawal symptoms which include:
- Muscle and bone aches
- Sleeplessness
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Diarrhea
- Flue like symptoms
- Vomiting
- Involuntary leg movements
If you are not able to successfully manage the use of Lorcet, the risks for overdose will be very high. Acetaminophen overdose can result in:
- Sweating
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Yellow discoloration of eyes and skin
- Confusion
- Low blood sugar
- Dark urine
- Bleeding
- Liver failure
- Death
An overdose of hydrocodone, the main component of Lorcet can result in the following symptoms:
- Breathing difficulty
- Extreme drowsiness leading to coma
- Slow heart rate or bradycardia
- Low blood pressure or hypotension
- Cold and clammy skin
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
Helping a Loved One Recover from Lorcet Addiction
The fact is that you don’t have to be a person with previous addiction problems to start abusing Lorcet. Everyone is vulnerable to this addiction problem. However, if your loved one has problems with Lorcet abuse and addiction, you can always help them to recover from it and stay clean from the drug. The first thing you have to do is getting immediate professional help. Trying to withdraw from addiction at home is not a wise option. It can cause serious medical complications and put them in danger of relapse. Once you have found the right help, all you need to do is support them. Praise them for their each successful step, and guide them in the right direction to prevent a relapse. Also avoid any discussions about the possibility of relapse.
Treatment for Lorcet addiction includes detox to remove the traces of the drug from your body, and behavioral therapy. Treating the underlying causes of addiction is also a major part of Lorcet rehab program.
