How Long Does Hydrocodone Detox Take?

Hydrocodone detox can take up to a week or more for most individuals, although different variables can affect one’s recovery time.

What Is Hydrocodone Detox?

Unfortunately, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, hydrocodone is both the “most frequently prescribed opioid in the United States” and the opioid associated with the most diversion, including all licit and illicit drugs in this category. When a person becomes dependent on hydrocodone as a result of abuse, detox is often the first stage of treatment.

Detox manages one’s withdrawal symptoms with medication while helping the patient prepare for addiction treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Detoxification alone is rarely sufficient to help addicts achieve long-term abstinence” and should only be used as the initial step of addiction treatment. Still, it can be a particularly beneficial program for those who are experiencing serious withdrawal symptoms and need professional help to work through them.

How Long Does Hydrocodone Detox Take?

Flu-like symptoms are common during hydrocodone withdrawal.

In general, withdrawal from opioids, without medication management, usually lasts about a week. Those who are not managed on medications, though, will experience severe side effects, including

• Anxiety
• Muscle and bone pain
• Depression
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, runny nose, and body aches

This is why patients are often weaned off their dependencies with the help of medications like methadone, buprenorphine, and clonidine. It may take a little longer, but medically assisted detox is safer and less traumatizing for the patient. Depending on other factors, medically assisted detox from hydrocodone may take between a week and a month.

What About Rapid Detox?

Rapid detox is another option for hydrocodone addicts, but unfortunately, most individuals have not had much success with it. The program involves sedating the patient, and then, opioid antagonists are administered to trigger withdrawal. The idea is that the patient goes through detox much faster and does not experience the severe withdrawal effects associated with opioids.

According to a study from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, however, rapid detox has not been proven effective for most individuals. Many people who were included in the study complained that they still experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, and the method has several severe side effects that have negatively affected many patients. Also, most insurance programs do not cover rapid detox.

Will Methadone Treatment Get Me Off Hydrocodone?

Methadone has been a preferred choice in treating opioid use disorder since 1964.1 Methadone treatment for hydrocodone addiction is a …

What Can Affect the Timeline of Hydrocodone Detox?

Many different factors can also affect the amount of time it takes for one to go through hydrocodone detox, including the drug itself. According to Harvard Medical School, shorter-acting opioid drugs usually tend to cause more intense symptoms, but they will be over much more quickly. Hydrocodone can be found as both an extended-release and a regular medication, so one’s withdrawal syndrome may be shorter or longer depending on the type of drug being abused.

Other factors include

• The treatment medication used: Whether you use buprenorphine, methadone, or clonidine during your detox can affect the amount of time your recovery takes.
• The type of method used: Certain individuals decide to stay managed on a drug like methadone or buprenorphine instead of going through detox immediately. This could mean that you will eventually be weaned off the drug much later in your recovery or that you may decide to stay managed on the medication indefinitely.
• The severity of your dependency: Those with very severe withdrawal symptoms may need to take more time going through detox.
• Other types of drug use: Those who have abused other types of drugs in addition to hydrocodone may need more time in detox in order to overcome additional withdrawal syndromes.

How Do I Find Hydrocodone Addiction Help?

If you are suffering from hydrocodone addiction, you can seek help in a professional rehab program. These facilities offer a number of treatment options, including detox, that will help you get on the road to recovery as quickly and safely as possible.

Ready to begin your recovery journey? Call 800-994-1867Who Answers? to learn about available treatment programs for drug and alcohol addiction.