Lortab Withdrawal Symptoms

Lortab is a drug which is used to treat a number of mild to moderate illnesses and injuries. Its active ingredients are acetaminophen and an opiate named hydrocone. This drug must be used with care, since the presence of the opiate makes it somewhat addictive. When patients are prescribed Lortab, they are cautioned to use it only aas directed but, inevitably, some ignore the warning and this can result in dependency. When a person stops taking the drug, therefore, he or she may well experience withdrawal symptoms.

Why is Lortab Addictive?

The opiate contained within Lortab provides a patient who takes it with a feeling of well-being euphoria and, in some cases, also an increase in energy. When it is taken for a lengthy period, the body gets so used to this feeling that it starts to rely on it as a matter of course. Since the body is increasingly tolerant of the drug as time goes on, people may take increasingly large doses of it. This can make ceasing to take Lortab hard and even risky without the assistance of medical intervention. After taking Lortab for prolonged periods, people tend to report multiple withdrawal symptoms.

The Facts About Ceasing to Take Lortab

Discontinuing the consumption of an opiate drug such as Lortab is dangerous without medical supervision, since the sudden withdrawal of the drug can cause a person severe illness. Anybody who intends to detoxify themselves from Lortab should consult a medical professional, for example at a hospital or detoxification center. This is particularly important if they have been on the drug for a long time.

The results of coming off opiates such as Lortab without proper professional guidance can be very serious, with complications including heart attacks and strokes. In some cases, people have even died. Therefore, anyone who is ceasing to take it must be carefully watched and provided with a suitable range of medication to calm any symptoms and make it that little bit less difficult to move away from taking the drug entirely.

Symptoms May Be Mild or Severe

It is possible that someone who has been receiving Lortab for only a short period of time, especially if they have also only been consuming it in limited quantities, may find it relatively straightforward to end their dependency on the drug. That said, it is not possible in advance to be sure how any particular person will react to the removal of Lortab, or what symptoms they will experience.

Although some people may get off relatively lightly, it is always important to avoid guesswork in such matters, since this is not an area where a person can accurately predict whether or not they will require medical attention. Everybody reacts differently to the detoxification process, with different withdrawal symptoms presenting themselves, so it is always advisable for people who are stopping Lortab use to get professional medical help.

Symptoms that Require Medical Attention

Lortab, like other opiate-containing drugs, can cause a range of withdrawal symptoms. In general, psychological effects are the first to make their presence felt: people who have recently stopped taking Lortab may feel empty and depressed, feelings that are often combined with an intense desire to return to the drug in order to make those symptoms go away. Quite often, these are the only symptoms to occur in the first couple of days after withdrawal.

The second stage is marked by the onset of physical symptoms. These commonly include such symptoms as nausea, fever, diarrhea, muscle cramps, general aches and pains, and vomiting. Other physical signs of a person detoxifying from Lortab include heavy sweating and dilation of the pupils. A person may also feel confused and disoriented, which can prevent them from thinking clearly about their condition. Therefore, these symptoms should always be taken seriously and medical attention should be sought.

Long-term Withdrawal Symptoms

Even after the initial physical symptoms are under control, a person should not believe that this is the end of the road and that no further action is necessary. In fact, there is always a chance of suffering a relapse, so they must continue to be on their guard against the possibility of renewed dependency on Lortab. As is the case with any long-term condition, therapy to treat it must also continue for an extended period, otherwise withdrawal symptoms may reappear in the future.