Vicodin addiction is a serious condition and for all purposes Vicodin addiction can be used terchangeably with narcotic dependency. Vicodin addiction results from the abuse of the drug which stems from its narcotic properties. Vicodin is a combination of Tylenol and the synthetic narcotic pain reliever
hydrocodone whose abuse leads to Vicodin addiction.

The increasing cases of Vicodin addiction are not such a surprise when shown that they are in the opioids family which also includes morphine, codeine and heroin. Vicodin addiction may have resulted from an abuse of a legal prescription but can be as deadly as a heroin addiction.

Medical doctors are becoming increasingly aware of the properties that lead to Vicodin addiction or abuse of a similar prescription drug Lortab. However, you probably aren't reading this page to find out why. Perhaps you or a loved one has found themselves in the grip of dependency on Vicodin and feel helpless about what to do about it.

Here are some warning signs that drug use has gone beyond the prescribed purpose and into Vicodin addiction:

You feel physically ill when you run out or stop taking Vicodin. You commit illegal acts like juggling several doctors or lie to keep up your supply.
Your tolerance has gone way up and you must take many more pills to feel the desired affect.
You feel guilty or shame about needing the pills.
Your Vicodin use has become an "issue" with a loved one.
You take Vicodin more, in quantity and/or frequency, than the doctor prescribed. If you recognize one or more of the above characteristics, you are not alone. Vicodin is the third most popular prescription,
tracked by drug information source RxList. Most often prescribed for pain, Vicodin addiction can begin to manifest through physical dependence is early as a few days and often after only several weeks of use.

A typical dose of Vicodin contains 5 to 7.5 mg of hydrocodone. Many patients exceed this prescribed amount within days or weeks. Unfortunately warning signs aren't caught until it is too late and often doctors seem out of touch with some of the consequences recurring prescriptions are having with patients.