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Consumer Information on Hydrocodone
By Michael Patrick Sullivan
This article is part of a series of articles designed to provide you, the consumer, with some general information regarding popular prescription drugs. This article is not intended as medical advice. As in the case of any medication, if you have questions, you should speak to a physician, and/or pharmacist.
Hydrocodone bitartrate is what is referred to as an opioid (a synthetic, non-opium derived narcotic) with analgesic and antitussive (pain-killing and cough-suppressing) properties. The drug occurs as fine, white crystals or as a crystalline powder.
Hydrocodone is usually combined with Acetaminophen in a tablet form, for oral administration. Each tablet may or may not also contain the following inactive ingredients (depending on dosage): anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, starch and stearic acid. FD&C Yellow #6 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red #40 Aluminum Lake, D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #1 Aluminum Lake and D&C Yellow #10 Aluminum Lake.
Hydrocodone is said to have an analgesic potency similar to or even greater than that of oral morphine. Both the sales and production of this drug have increased dramatically in recent years, as has illicit use. Trade names include: Anexsia, Anolor DH5, Bancap HC, Dolacet, Lorcet 10/650, Lorcet HD, Lorcet Plus, Lortab, Lortab 10, Lortab 5/500, Lortab 7.5/500, Lortab Elixir, Norco, T-Gesic, Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Vicodin HP, and Zydone. There are actually over 200 products containing Hydrocodone in the United States. In its most common forms, Hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen (as in Vicodin and Lortab), but it is also combined with aspirin (as in Lortab ASA), ibuprofen (as in Vicoprofen), and antihistamines (as in Hycomine). Both tablet and liquid forms of Hydrocodone are available (Tussionex, for example).
Hydrocodone can be habit forming. It may be possible to become both physically and/or psychologically dependent on this medication. Never take more than the amount of medication prescribed to you, or take it for longer than is directed by your physician. Withdrawal effects can occur if you abruptly stop taking Hydrocodone after several weeks of continuous use. Your doctor may recommend a gradual reduction.
Abuse
Hydrocodone has the potential for abuse due to its opiate-like effects. It is very similar to morphine in that it is very effective when used in tests to relieve the effects of morphine withdrawal. As with most opiates, these kinds of effects can lead to the development of a tolerance, and of dependence. Co-formulation with acetaminophen also increases the likelihood of acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis (with higher or more acute dosing). Doctors protect the patients' livers by escalating their dose slowly over time when a high dose chronic exposure is indicated.
You should avoid alcohol while taking hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Alcohol can increase the drowsiness and dizziness caused by the medication, and can even lead to unconsciousness and/or death. Also, alcohol may increase acetaminophen's damaging effects to the liver.
Side Effects
Hydrocodone may cause these minor side effects: Dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, flushing, light-headedness, loss of appetite, nausea, painful or difficult urination, or sweating. As your system adjusts to the medication, these effects should reduce or disappear.
To reduce dry mouth, try chewing sugarless gum or, suck on hard candy.
If the acetaminophen/hydrocodone combination makes you dizzy or drowsy, cease any activity that requires you to remain alert, such as driving an automobile, or operating potentially dangerous equipment. Sit or lie down at the first sign of dizziness.
If you experience constipation, try increasing the amount of fiber in your diet. Also, exercise, and drink more water.
Hydrocodone can also produce some major side effects. These can include breathing difficulties, anxiety, fatigue, palpitations, restlessness, sore throat and fever, tremors, unusual feelings of weakness, yellowing of the eyes or the skin, rashes, or unusual bleeding or bruising.
Interactions
The Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone combination interacts with several other types of drugs:
Concurrent use of acetaminophen and Hydrocodone combination with other central nervous system depressants (such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with tricyclic antidepressants can cause extreme drowsiness.
A monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor taken within 14 days of this drug can lead to severe side effects.
Long-term use and high doses of the acetaminophen portion of this medication can increase the effects of oral anticoagulants (blood thinners, such as warfarin); this combination may lead to bleeding complications.
Anticonvulsants (antiseizure medications), barbiturates, and alcohol can increase the liver toxicity caused by large doses of the acetaminophen portion of this medication.
TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently taking, especially any of those listed above.
Warnings
Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to any medications, especially to acetaminophen, Hydrocodone, or other narcotic analgesics (such as codeine, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and propoxyphene).
Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have ever had acute abdominal conditions, asthma, blood disorders, brain disease, colitis, epilepsy, gallstones or gallbladder disease, a head injury, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, mental illness, prostate disease, thyroid disease, or urethral strictures.
Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
Hydrocodone should not be taken on a regular schedule for longer than ten days at a time. Tolerance develops quickly; do not increase the dosage or stop taking the drug abruptly unless you first consult your doctor. If you have been taking large amounts of this medication for long periods, you may experience a withdrawal reaction (with symptoms including diarrhea, excessive yawning, gooseflesh, irritability, muscle aches, nausea, runny nose, shivering, sleep disorders, stomach cramps, sweating, trembling, vomiting, or weakness). Your doctor may, therefore, want to reduce the dosage of this medication gradually.
Because this product contains acetaminophen, additional medications that contain acetaminophen should not be taken without your doctor's approval. Check the labels on over-the-counter (nonprescription) pain, sinus, allergy, asthma, diet, cough, and cold products to see if they contain acetaminophen
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. The effects of this medication during pregnancy have not been thoroughly studied in humans. Regular use of hydrocodone in large doses during pregnancy can result in addiction of the fetus, leading to withdrawal symptoms (diarrhea, excessive crying, excessive yawning, fever, irritability, sneezing, tremors, or vomiting) at birth. Also be sure that you tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. Small amounts of this medication may pass into breast milk and cause excessive drowsiness in the nursing infant.
About the Author
Michael Sullivan has been a freelance writer for over a decade. After experiencing several recent family health emergencies, he decided that he would share health and medicine information with as many people as possible, all over the world.
You can visit him at: http://www.pharmboy001.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/37870.html
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