Hysingla Addiction: Symptoms, Treatment & Recovery

If you or a loved one take Hysingla, you may wonder about the risks of the medication. As a long-acting opioid, Hysingla can be useful for severe pain. However, the drug is also a controlled substance that carries the risk of abuse, addiction and dependence. As such, it is important to be mindful of Hysingla before taking it.

What Is Hysingla?

Hysingla ER is a long-acting form of the opioid hydrocodone. The drug is prescribed for severe pain that requires a round-the-clock opioid. It comes as a tablet taken by mouth once daily. Because of its high potency, the drug should be reserved for those whose bodies are already used to taking other opioids, especially if they are prescribed high Hysingla ER doses.

Hysingla Addiction Symptoms

When Hysingla binds to opioid receptors throughout the body and the central nervous system, it can cause many symptoms, including: 

• Euphoria: feelings of intense happiness or well-being
• Relaxation: calmness and decreased anxiety
• Drowsiness: sleepiness and fatigue
• Dizziness: feeling of lightheadedness or imbalance
• Confusion: difficulty thinking clearly or understanding what is happening around you 
• Nodding off: sleepiness or unconsciousness
• Low energy levels: tiredness and fatigue

In some cases, misuse of Hysingla can also lead to more serious consequences, such as overdose, addiction and death.

Consequences of Hysingla Misuse

Two of the most concerning side effects of Hysingla misuse are addiction and dependence. Hysingla misuse isn’t the same as addiction and dependence. Addiction is a diagnosable disease with specific symptoms. Dependence means that if someone stops using Hysingla, they will go through withdrawal. While misuse, addiction and dependence are all different concepts, they often occur in conjunction. Other side effects of Hysingla misuse can include:

• Constipation
• Lethargy
• Numbness
• Excessive sleepiness
• Dysphoria
• Headache
• Muscle weakness
• Sleep disturbances

Long-Term Effects of Hysingla Misuse

In addition to the short-term side effects of Hysingla addiction, long-term effects can be associated with its use. These effects can be serious and significantly impact a person’s health.

One of the most common long-term effects of Hysingla is constipation. This is because opioids like hydrocodone slow down the movement of the intestines. Over time, this can lead to more serious complications, such as bowel obstruction.

Other long-term effects of Hysingla can include:

• Damage to the brain, respiratory and cardiac systems
• Increased pain sensitivity
• Chronic constipation
• Reproductive and hormonal problems
• Psychiatric symptoms and disorders, such as depression and anxiety
• Breathing problems

Mixing Hysingla and Alcohol

Mixing alcohol and Hysingla, or any opioid, can be dangerous — or even deadly. Even mild side effects can include extreme drowsiness and severely impaired judgment. This can increase the risk of putting oneself or others at risk. Short-term memory loss, also known as a blackout, may occur.

Alcohol and Hysingla have a synergistic effect, meaning the effects of each substance increase when they are used together. This can lead to a dangerous amount of the opioid in the body. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, as is Hysingla. Both substances slow down the central nervous system, which controls vital functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. When two CNS depressants are used together, the person may suffer from respiratory depression, which can lead to coma, brain damage or death.

Regularly using alcohol and Hysingla together can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and liver.

Hysingla Overdose

Hysingla ER is manufactured to protect against misuse. However, ingesting Hysingla in ways not directed — like crushing and snorting or dissolving and injecting — can lead to an overdose quickly. When the full potency of the drug is released into the system, disastrous effects can ensue. Hysingla overdose signs and symptoms include:

• Low blood pressure
• Problems breathing
• Slowed, labored breathing
• Shallow breathing
• No breathing
• A bluish tint to lips and fingernails
• Nodding off
• Gurgling or snoring sounds
• Nonresponsive
• Loss of consciousness
• Clammy skin
• Muscle weakness or limpness
• Faint heartbeat
• Paleness of the skin

If you think you or someone around you has overdosed on Hysinga, do not hesitate to call 911. An administration of naloxone may be necessary and can save a life.

Hysingla Addiction Withdrawal & Detox

If someone stops using Hysingla suddenly, they will likely experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be unpleasant and even dangerous, so it’s important to seek help if you or someone you know is experiencing Hysingla withdrawal.

Common symptoms of Hysingla withdrawal include:

• Joint pain
• Muscle aches and pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Insomnia and sleep disturbances
• Shaking
• Chills

In addition to these physical symptoms, people withdrawing from Hysingla may also experience psychological symptoms, such as:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Cravings for Hysingla

Hysingla Withdrawal Timeline

The withdrawal timeline for Hysingla can vary depending on the individual and their scope of use. In general, withdrawal symptoms start to appear within 48 hours of stopping use. However, it may take longer for some.

The initial symptoms of Hysingla withdrawal include nausea, cramping and sweating. Muscle and joint pain may also begin during this time. Symptoms typically peak within a few days after they first appear.

Within the first three to five days of withdrawal, vomiting, diarrhea and sweating may occur. Physical symptoms may start to subside within a week, but psychological symptoms can begin to appear. These symptoms can include depression, anxiety and cravings. Some people may experience psychological symptoms of Hysingla withdrawal for a month or more.

Hysingla Medical Detox

When people are addicted to opioids like Hysingla, they’re also often dependent on them. Opioid-dependent individuals will experience withdrawal symptoms if they don’t properly wean off the medicine. Certain opioid detox treatments can also be provided to patients to ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. For example, an opioid detox program might include buprenorphine or clonidine. There may also be instances where other medications are needed to treat specific symptoms of opioid withdrawal, such as insomnia or anxiety. These are all reasons a Hysingla medical detox may be helpful. During a Hysingla medical detox, a person can be safe and comfortable while receiving around-the-clock medical care. Following a Hysingla medical detox, the person can start the addiction treatment program.

Treatment for Hysingla Addiction 

Hysingla ER is an extended-release single-drug version of the opioid pain medicine hydrocodone. This medication is designed to be used once every 24 hours in specific patients. Namely, patients should have severe, ongoing pain and should already be opioid-tolerant to take the higher doses of the drug. Hysingla HR delivers effects continuously for around 24 hours and has built-in misuse-deterrent properties that make it hard to crush, chew or dissolve. Despite these properties, Hysingla ER can still be misused. Prescription opioids and heroin can cause a euphoric high or a sense of deep relaxation, which is why they are often misused. Misuse of a powerful prescription narcotic like Hysingla can lead to addiction. When someone is addicted to an opioid drug such as Hysingla, often professional treatment is required. Treatment options for Hysingla ER can happen in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Someone may also need to go through a medical detox from Hysingla and any other substances before beginning addiction treatment.

Hysingla Rehabilitation Programs

There can be many differences between individual Hysingla rehabs. They can last different lengths of time and occur in various settings. Other types of therapy may also be used. Regardless of the specifics of Hysingla rehabilitation programs, they should have certain core elements considered evidence-based addiction treatments. For example, a rehab program needs to consider the complexity of addiction. Addiction is considered a treatable disease, but it affects the brain and behavior of the patient. It’s also important that a Hysingla rehabilitation program is long enough for the treatment to be effective. Typically, the longer someone participates in treatment, the lower their risk of recurrence of use will be.

Inpatient Hysingla Rehab

An inpatient Hysingla rehab takes place in a residential setting. Patients live in a facility for a period of time, receiving mental and physical health care treatment. It’s an intensive, focused environment, and most inpatient Hysingla rehabs require patients to travel away from their homes and often out of state. Features and benefits of an inpatient Hysingla rehab include:

• There is a high level of structure involved in participants’ daily lives.
• Therapies can be a combination of approaches and formats — for example, group, individual and family therapy may be part of the program.
• There is supervision and support around the clock.
• During an inpatient Hysingla rehab, co-occurring mental health conditions can be treated.
• Inpatient rehab can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year.
• The environment is very controlled, supervised and supportive.
• Inpatient Hysingla rehab requires leaving one’s job and school during treatment.

Outpatient Hysingla Rehab

Another option that may be available to people misusing or addicted to Hysingla is an outpatient program. An outpatient program allows participants to continue living their daily lives, and they typically don’t leave their regular home environment. What happens during outpatient rehab depends on the program but usually involves several weekly therapy sessions. Outpatient Hysingla rehab can include psychotherapy, informational peer discussions, counseling, group therapy programs, vocational therapy, cognitive therapy or a combination. Outpatient Hysingla rehab can also take place in the form of a 12-step program. While it’s possible to only go to outpatient Hysingla rehab, the more likely scenario involves people participating in an outpatient program after completing inpatient rehab.

Choosing a Hysingla Rehab Center

Finding a Hysingla rehab center is about finding the right personal fit. Things to consider include:

• What is the cost, and what programs can be covered by insurance or financial aid?
• Has the person previously tried other treatment programs? If so, they might need a more intensive or residential program.
• Is the person willing to leave their home environment for treatment?
• Would the individual benefit from a very structured, controlled environment?
• What’s the severity of the addiction?
• Are there co-occurring mental health disorders? When someone suffers from something along with addiction, such as anxiety or depression, they almost always benefit more from an inpatient rehab, at least initially.
• Can the person leave their job for some time for treatment?

If you’re unsure where to start your journey toward addiction treatment or want to help a loved one, contact The Recovery Village, and we can provide answers and information.

Editor – Theresa Valenzky

Theresa Valenzky graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Arts in News/Mass Media Communication and a certificate in psychology. She is passionate about providing genuine information to encourage and guide healing in all aspects of life. Read more

Medically Reviewed By – Dr. Jessica Pyhtila, PharmD

Dr. Jessica Pyhtila is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist based in Baltimore, Maryland with practice sites in inpatient palliative care and outpatient primary care at the Department of Veteran Affairs. Read more