What happens when you snort hydrocodone?

When you snort hydrocodone, you deliver a concentrated dose of the opioid almost immediately to the brain. You can get high and you risk developing hydrocodone dependence, experiencing overdose, and adverse side effects. More on snorting hydrocodone here.

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When you snort hydrocodone

Snorting hydrocodone is risky and dangerous. One of the biggest risks you run is overdosing on hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is usually mixed with other substances one of which is acetaminophen. Acetaminophen, though used in a lot of over-the-counter medications, can be poisonous if used in high quantities.

What else do you risk when you snort hydrocodone? What does snorting hydrocodone do in the body? And is it safe? We review side effects of snorting hydrocodone and its potential dangers here. Then, we invite your questions about hydrocodone use and treating hydrocodone addiction at the end.

What does snorting hydrocodone do?

Snorting hydrocodone allows the psychoactive agent to enter the bloodstream more quickly than oral administration. In general, this method of administration is faster and more intense…but the drug’s action will usually wear off quicker. By comparison, it can take thirty minutes for hydrocodone to work orally, because it has to be digested and pass through the intestinal wall to enter the bloodstream.

When you snort hydrocodone, the concentrated opioid travels through the nasal cavities and passes through the mucus membrane into the bloodstream.  When it enters the bloodstream, it passes the blood-brain barrier almost immediately, providing analgesic and euphoric effect on the body. While inhaling hydrocodone powder seems more effective, you risk negative side effects and damage to your body, including the need to seek hydrocodone addiction help after regular snorting.

Is snorting hydrocodone bad for you?

Yes, snorting is bad for you. Plus, it’s illegal.

Hydrocodone is not designed to be taken nasally. After regular abuse, you can damage your nasal passages. Continual snorting of hydrocodone can also damage sinus cavities. You can eventually lose your ability to smell and process mucus that help your body defend against bacteria. You can’t repair this. Once the damage has been done, there is no treatment to fix it.

Not only can you cause permanent damage to your body, you also risk of hydrocodone addiction, hydrocodone overdose, and potential fatalities when you snort hydrocodone. In fact, overdose is one of the biggest dangers you face when snorting hydrocodone.

Is snorting hydrocodone dangerous?

YES. Snorting hydrocodone is risky and dangerous. One of the biggest risks you run is overdose. Hydrocodone is concentrated when snorted. This concentrated form floods the opiate receptors in the brain. The more you snort, the more you increase risk of overdose due to increased tolerance. In other words, when you need higher and higher doses of hydrocodone to achieve the same initial effect, you can overdose. Signs of overdose include:

  • bluish skin
  • clammy skin
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • loss of consciousness
  • seizures
  • shallow labored breathing
  • stopped breathing
  • vomiting

Many people ignore the risks of overdose because snorting hydrocodone is effective in speeding up not only the analgesic effect of hydrocodone, but also induces a euphoric high. Snorting hydrocodone allows the drug to get into the body faster. This is one reason painkillers are abused and continue to grow in abuse and addiction. However, keep in mind that continued snorting can increase the risk of hydrocodone addiction because it works well for self-medication: not only of your pain, but for environmental triggers as well. Snorting hydrocodone contributes to hydrocodone dependency and tolerance, as well, speeding up the processes and making it difficult to stop and withdrawal from hydrocodone.

Is snorting hydrocodone effective?

Yes. Snorting hydrocodone is effective because it is a direct route of administration which affects the central nervous system. In effect, snorting hydrocodone is a direct route to the brain. Because the GI tract hasn’t filtered through some of the ingredients you are fully exposed to the effects of hydrocodone. That is why you get high when you snort hydrocodone; feelings of euphoria and calm, and relaxation dominate your senses. But just because when you snort hydrocodone the effect is quicker doesn’t mean you should start snorting hydrocodone. Reasons you shouldn’t snort hydrocodone include:

  1. analgesic action wears off faster
  2. damage to nasal and sinus cavities
  3. increased development of dependency
  4. increased risk of addiction
  5. risk of overdose

Can you snort hydrocodone?

While it may be tempting to snort hydrocodone, there is no added medical benefit to snorting hydrocodone. In fact, the only difference snorting hydrocodone provides is in getting high. Snorting hydrocodone is quite a radical length to go to in order to achieve euphoria and quick onset. And for a rational user, there are just too many risks and dangers associated when you snort hydrocodone that can affect your wellbeing and health. If you are going to snort hydrocodone, know that you run risks that can be potentially deadly. And at the least, snort less than you would take orally to prevent overdose, increased tolerance and possible dependence.

When you snort hydrocodone questions

To learn more about the dangers of Norco (hydrocodone) use as well as available rehab options, see what it’s like to seek help from Norco Addiction Treatment Programs and be better prepared for what you can expect. Help is available NOW.

If you still have questions concerning snorting hydrocodone feel free to post them at the comment section. We will get back to you personally and promptly.

Reference Sources: FDA: A Guide to Safe Use of Pain Medicine
OASAS: Tampering with prescription opioids 
SAMHSA: Challenges in Using Opioids to Treat Pain in Persons With Substance Use Disorders
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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