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Treatment for Lortab
Addiction

Drugs are an everyday fact of life in America because they are, in many ways, integral to our health. Without the strict, controlled use of certain drugs, people with diabetes couldn’t live normal lives. The migraines or other bodily aches and pains we accumulate during the day would trouble us for hours, and when we become very ill, drugs like antibiotics couldn’t save our lives.

Sometimes, the drugs that are honestly prescribed to us by doctors who are just trying to help can become a problem in and of themselves. Many drugs have side effects beyond what they are primarily designed to do, and some drugs can be addictive when used long enough. This particular combination can lead to a dependency on these prescription medications. Lortab is one such drug, which is why dependency treatment is becoming more common in America. Call today at 877-284-0353 to have your rehab questions answered confidentially by an addiction expert.

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What Is Lortab?

Lortab is a brand name for a specific combination of a medically available drug with two major components. The first is a lower-grade painkiller known as acetaminophen. It is best recognized as the main ingredient in the painkiller Tylenol, which can be purchased without the need for a prescription. The second component is hydrocodone, which is known as an opioid. This means that hydrocodone belongs to a class of drugs that has been synthesized in a lab to mimic the function of natural opiates, which are painkilling drugs naturally derived from the opium plant, from which we get morphine.

The combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone works like a magnifier. Acetaminophen “boosts” and strengthens the effects of hydrocodone. For this reason, Lortab is normally acquired only through a prescription from a doctor because it is a powerful, effective reliever of moderate to severe pain. Addiction is not one of the common side effects, but unfortunately, regular usage can lead to a dependency on the drug, which requires addiction treatment to overcome.

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Lortab Addiction

Because it’s composed of an opioid, the potential for physical addiction is present, just as it is with any other opioid or opiate substance. This means that as the body adjusts to regular intake, it depends on the drug’s presence for continued functioning. In other words, the body develops an actual physical need or craving for Lortab in the same way that it craves food or water.

Because Lortab is a legal but controlled substance, the typical method of addiction begins when someone undergoes a medical experience in which some level of pain is the result, such as an injury or a surgical or dental procedure that may not require hospitalization. To manage the pain after a procedure or medical examination, a doctor may prescribe it.

Is Lortab an opiate? Yes, it is. As with any opioid, there is a potential for addiction, but most people, only using it for a few days to a week and following the doctor’s prescribed amounts, will not develop an addiction. However, for people taking it longer than the prescribed duration and/or taking more than what a doctor recommends, this is when a real chance of addiction can occur.

It is also possible for the well-documented sense of euphoria to occur for users, but this will only occur when users go beyond prescribed limits and take much higher amounts. Unfortunately, as with many other drugs, there is also a “plateau effect” at work where the body adjusts to the amounts of Lortab in the system, and when that happens, higher amounts of the drug are needed to achieve the same intense effect that was experienced the very first time. By this point, of course, serious addiction has occurred, and rehab is required.

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Lortab Withdrawal & Detox

By being prudent and going to a professional treatment center can be very successful. However, due to the physically addictive effects of the drug, withdrawal can be quite uncomfortable, with diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and agitation all being part of the detox experience. Professional addiction therapists can closely monitor and help during this early detox phase to ensure a safe recovery.

A common question we get regarding detox is: “How long does Lortab stay in your system?” It will commonly stay in your system for 72 hours.

Once detox is over, rehab can begin with counseling, therapy, and intensive care to learn new coping strategies and develop better alternatives to dealing with life’s obstacles.

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Start Recovery Today

If you or someone you know feels like they’ve given up too much to Lortab addiction, get experienced, professional help. Addiction can be beaten, and it’s much more achievable with professional guidance. Contact Beachway Therapy Center today at 877-284-0353 to speak with one of our addiction experts.