Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone (Lorcet®, Lortab,  Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Norco ®, Zydone) is in the same class as an opioid drugs for relieving of moderate to severe pain.  It is a combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg and Hydrocodone Bitartrate 10 mg.  Long-term used can be habit-forming.

Active ingredient: Hydrocodone Bitartrate, Acetaminophen

Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, stearic acid, and croscamellose sodium povidone.

Side effects:

1. Impairment of mental and physical performance, drowsiness, anxiety, mood changes
2. Lightheadedness
3. Stomach, leg, back pains
4. Bleeding gums
5. Blood in stools or urine
6. Cough
7. Constipation
8. Breathing difficulty
9. Rapid heartbeats
10. fever
11. Swelling
12. Loss of appetite
13. Nausea or vomiting
14. Ulcers on the lips or in the mouth
15. Weakness and tiredness
16. Urinary retention, ureteral spasm
17. Respiratory depression
18. Hearing impairment or permanent loss of hearing in some cases
19. Skin rash
20. May cause respiratory depression in high dose
21. Liver failure
22. Death

Drug interactions:
Do not use Hydrocodone with patients who are taking:

• Narcotics
• Antihistamines
• Antianxiety drugs
• Alcohol

Caution:
Hydrocodone should be used with great caution in:

• Elderly
• Pregnant woman
• Patients with hypothyroidism, Addison's disease, Prostatic hypertrophy, impairment function of kidneys/liver and pulmonary disease

Maximum dose for Hydrocodone: not to exceed 40 mg on a single dose or not to exceed 80 mg on a daily dose

Hydrocodone is supplied in tablet form:
5 mg/325 mg, 7.5 mg/325 mg, 10 mg/325 mg
The first number represents the amount of Hydrocodone, and the second number represents the amount of acetaminophen.

Caution:

Before taking this pharmaceutical, consider the potential benefits and risks to other alternative options.