Is Methadone a Safe Treatment for Lortab Addiction?

Maybe you started off with a legal prescription of Lortab. Or maybe you started using it illegally. Regardless, now that you’re addicted, it might seem like you’re out of options. Luckily, there are many ways to treat your Lortab addiction.

One method you might have heard of is methadone treatment. In this treatment, you are given doses of methadone, which is an opioid replacement that tricks your body into thinking it is getting opioids. However, is this actually safe? Here’s a closer look at the facts so you can judge for yourself whether or not methadone is right for you.

If you need more help deciding on whether or not to choose methadone, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-994-1867Who Answers?. Our experts can discuss more treatment options and help you find the perfect solution.

What Is Lortab?

The side effects of methadone may be worse than quitting Lortab cold turkey.

Lortab is a medication intended to ease pain. It is very similar to other painkillers such as Vicodin and Norco. It is composed of two important ingredients: hydrocodone and acetaminophen.

Lortab works by affecting the central nervous system. Because hydrocodone is an opioid, it triggers the opiate receptors in the brain, causing a pleasurable high and emotional numbness. Meanwhile the acetaminophen promotes the production of prostaglandins, a hormone which helps to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow in your body.

Unfortunately, because of the pleasurable effects and highly addictive tendencies of Lortab, many have turned to it as a drug of choice. In 2000, there were over 19,200 emergency department visits due to hydrocodone abuse. What’s more, the DEA confiscated over 1.3 million illegal hydrocodone tablets in 1997.

What Is Methadone?

Methadone is a drug that helps patients who are addicted to opioid substances, such as codeine, oxycodone, morphine, or fentanyl.  It works by tricking the opioid receptors in the brain into believing they are receiving a full dosage of opioids. Because you aren’t actually taking opioids, though, you won’t feel high or receive any pleasurable feelings.

Additionally, methadone can stop withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. This is extremely important for people addicted to drugs, as this is the hardest part of getting clean.

Methadone is dispensed at a specialty treatment center, meaning you don’t have to go to a doctor for a prescription. It comes in a pill format and needs to be taken on a daily basis to achieve maximum effects.

Using Methadone to Treat Lortab Addiction

While methadone can be used to treat Lortab addiction, it isn’t advisable. Methadone is typically used to treat an addiction to more potent drugs, such as heroin. Lortab on its own simply doesn’t have enough hydrocodone to warrant the use of such a strong medication.

If you do decide to use methadone to treat your addiction, you may find that the side effects of the medication are worse than simply stopping Lortab cold turkey.

The Benefits of Lortab Addiction Treatment

Unfortunately, the United States has an epidemic: opiate addiction. One of the key opiates is Lortab, a powerful mixture of …

The Alternative to Methadone

In many cases, it is best to find an alternative course of Lortab addiction treatment. If you need helping deciding what the next step should be, please give our hotline a call at 800-994-1867Who Answers?.

We can explain more about why methadone isn’t a good option and recommend other options. Sometimes, just hearing the comforting voice of a supportive person can be enough to get on the right track.

Remember, that you aren’t alone in your Lortab addiction. We’re here to help you every step along the way.

References:

http://www.upstate.edu/pated/document/lortab_hydrocone_acetaminophen_quickmed.pdf

https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA09-4443/SMA09-4443.pdf

http://web.csulb.edu/~cwallis/483/opiates_on_the_brain.html

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=a909231f-b89d-401e-9b02-e5be28414459