Do you suspect that someone you really care about and love may be suffering from Lortab addiction? This is a brand name of the popular drug Hydrocodone and it is one of the most frequently prescribed addictive drugs widely available today. If you are worried about what this addiction could do to your loved one, consider the following advice on figuring out whether they really have a problem and how to confront the problem.
Some of the common signs of Lortab addiction include a sudden and unexplained change in behavior, excessive sleepiness or appearing overly tired much of the time, and missing medication from homes which the potential addict has access to. Since Lortab addiction is very popular among teenagers and pre-teens today, it is important for parents to keep an eye on any type of medication that could contain Hydrocodone in their home and homes of family members and friends.
Those who suffer from a Lortab addiction will often swallow entire bottles of cold and cough medication in attempt to get a higher dose of Hydrocodone when they cannot gain access to prescription medication, such as Lortab. Some people suffering from a less severe Lortab addiction will nurse one bottle of medication over a longer period of time.
The effects of such drug abuse often include stomach problems such as constipation and vomiting, lightheadedness and dizzy spells, and extreme states of drowsiness. The person suffering from Lortab addiction may also experience extreme euphoria where they feel light, free, and extremely happy. This is essentially the addictive sensation that keeps addicts wanting more and more of the drug.
The biggest danger is not so much with the Lortab addiction when the drugs are taken in the form of actual prescription medication, but with the use of Hydrocodone medications that also include Acetaminophen. This is most often a problem when someone suffering form a severe case of Lortab addiction or Hydrocodone addiction drinks entire bottles of cough and cold medication in attempt to get higher concentrations of the drug.
Unfortunately, the higher dose of Acetaminophen that may very well be included in most of those cough syrups can cause serious health risks or even death when taken in such high dosages.
If you think someone you love may have a Lortab addiction, it is extremely important to take action as quickly as possible. While many addicts are able to get off of the drug without going to a care facility or attending a rehab center long term, the longer they are on the drug the more serious their long term cognitive effects may be.
Of course, the first course of action must be to remove all forms of Hydrocodone that may be anywhere in your home or in homes in which the person with a potential Lortab addiction has access to. Figuring out where they are getting the Lortab from if they are taking a prescription medication can also help, especially if you are able to alert a doctor of an addiction. Just be aware that many serious addicts will simply go to a new doctor once one refuses to continue writing out the prescriptions.
