Plugging Hydrocodone: Rectal Vicodin, Norco Use

Vicodin (hydrocodone + acetaminophen) is a synthetic prescription opioid that is most commonly used as an analgesic following dental procedures or medical surgery. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, Vicodin can cause respiratory depression, which can lead to death when it is taken to excess. Vicodin elevates levels of dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain, which creates feelings of euphoria. Many people seek out the drug for the feelings of calm and well-being it produces, which can be addictive.

Vicodin is taken in pill form for oral administration, but it is commonly abused through methods like snorting and plugging by people looking to get a more intense high. When drugs are abused to increase their bioavailability, it increases the likelihood of negative long-term and short-term effects.

Side Effects Of Plugging Hydrocodone

Vicodin is most commonly taken as a suppository by dissolving crushed pills with water and inserting the solution into the rectum. The effects of the drug are felt very quickly since it enters the body more directly through rectal blood vessels. However, this more direct intake method increases the risk of overdose because a person may take more of the drug to feel the same effects before the body has processed the initial dose.

Whether taken according to good medical advice as a painkiller or through illicit methods like plugging, Vicodin can have intense short-term side effects.

Plugging opiates like Vicodin can lead to:

• slowed or irregular breathing
• lightheadedness
• drowsiness
• itching and rash
• clouded thinking
• muscle stiffness
• constipation
• chest tightness
• nausea and vomiting
• dry throat
• difficulty urinating
• narrowed pupils
• anxiety and depression
• mood swings
• hallucinations and paranoia

Plugging drugs like Vicodin or Norco carry additional risks for people that have pre-existing medical conditions and may increase the likelihood of infections or sexually transmitted infections.

People with low blood platelets, impaired rectal blood circulation, chronic diarrhea, or anorectal diseases are at an especially high risk of lasting damage from plugging drugs.

Long-Term Effects Of Plugging Vicodin

When Vicodin or other opioids are abused, the long-term effects can be severe. The risk of heart, liver, and brain damage increases when Vicodin is used alongside other CNS depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines. A notable long-term effect of Vicodin abuse is the heightened risk of liver and kidney damage due to acetaminophen toxicity. When a person uses Vicodin with other drugs or alcohol, the liver can be permanently damaged.

The resulting long-term risks of hydrocodone and acetaminophen abuse include the risk of organ damage, overdose, and addiction — along with dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Risk Of Vicodin Overdose

Using Vicodin rectally, whether alone or mixed with other drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines, is extremely dangerous and can easily lead to overdose. When someone plugs Vicodin, the drug enters their bloodstream very quickly, which can lower their judgment and make them keep taking more without realizing how much they’ve used. Overdose can also happen when someone stops using opioids for a while and then starts again.

During that break, their body’s tolerance decreased, so if they plug the same amount they used to take, their body can’t handle it. Signs of Vicodin overdose include extreme drowsiness, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, shallow or irregular breathing, blue lips or fingernails, and cold, clammy skin.

Vicodin overdose is especially dangerous because it contains both hydrocodone (an opioid) and acetaminophen (the ingredient in Tylenol). When someone takes too much Vicodin, the acetaminophen becomes toxic to the liver and can cause extreme sweating, serious liver damage with abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea, and problems with blood clotting. Because Vicodin contains both substances, an overdose can damage multiple organs at once and requires immediate emergency medical attention. If you suspect someone has overdosed on Vicodin, call 911 right away, as quick treatment can save their life.

Norco Detox And Withdrawal

Whether taken as prescribed for chronic pain management from a healthcare professional or abused through plugging or snorting, people can develop tolerance, dependence, and addiction. Emotional addiction may occur, which can cause strong cravings or psychological instability when a person does not have access to the drug.

This is distinct from physical dependence, which causes strong withdrawal symptoms when hydrocodone is not present. Physical dependence means that a person’s body becomes reliant on the substance to feel “normal” in day-to-day activity. The physical and mental effects of withdrawal can be intense but can be managed through pharmaceutical and therapeutic treatments.

A person with a substance use disorder involving Vicodin may experience withdrawal symptoms, including:

• increased heart rate and blood pressure
• insomnia
• muscle spasms and twitches
• feelings of panic
• body pain
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

A supervised inpatient detox from Vicodin can help manage these withdrawal symptoms. Certain benzodiazepines can help manage panic and anxiety, while treatments like methadone can help people taper off prescription opioids. Partial opioid agonist treatments containing buprenorphine can activate opioid receptors without the high chance of overdose. This treatment, when combined with naloxone, prevents abuse. Other continuous treatments can include opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone, which prevent a person from feeling the effects of an opioid like Vicodin if they use it.

Oftentimes, during both inpatient and outpatient rehab programs, behavioral therapies accompany detox. These therapies help to give people cognitive tools to understand underlying factors, thought patterns, and behaviors that may trigger or perpetuate drug use.

Why Plugging Vicodin Is More Dangerous Than Taking It Orally

Many people who abuse Vicodin rectally assume it’s a safer alternative to injecting, but the reality is that plugging carries many of the same dangers while introducing other risks specific to this method.

When Vicodin is taken orally, the digestive system and liver slow down the absorption process, giving the body time to process the drug gradually. Plugging bypasses this entirely, flooding the bloodstream with hydrocodone and acetaminophen almost immediately.

Dangers include:

• Faster Overdose Risk: Because the drug hits the system so quickly, a person can take a second dose before realizing the first one has fully kicked in, pushing the body past a safe threshold before there’s any warning.
• Acetaminophen Toxicity: Vicodin contains acetaminophen, which becomes toxic to the liver in high doses. When plugged, the rapid absorption increases the likelihood of reaching toxic acetaminophen levels, putting the liver at serious risk even from a single episode of misuse.
• Reduced Ability to Gauge Effects: The speed of rectal absorption makes it much harder to judge how much of the drug the body has actually processed, removing a natural safeguard against accidental overdose.
• Tissue Damage: Unlike oral use, plugging directly exposes delicate rectal tissue to the drug and any adulterants it may contain, causing damage that gets worse with repeated use.

Simply put, plugging Vicodin removes most of the body’s buffers against overdose while adding a new set of physical risks.

Find Substance Use Treatment Today

If you or someone you care about is battling opioid addiction, help is available right now. There are many different types of opioid abuse treatment programs that can help you overcome addiction to drugs like Vicodin, heroin, or other opioids. These include medical detox programs that safely remove drugs from your body, inpatient rehab where you live at a treatment facility, outpatient programs where you attend counseling while living at home, and medication-assisted treatment that uses medicines to reduce cravings.

You can find addiction treatment by browsing our directory of rehab centers or by contacting the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). SAMHSA offers a free, confidential helpline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Their trained specialists can provide information about treatment options in your area, answer questions about insurance and payment assistance, and connect you with local resources.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff