Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen

Generic name: Acetaminophen And Hydrocodone
Drug class: Narcotic analgesic combinations

Usage of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen

Hydrocodone and acetaminophen is a combination medicine used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever and cough suppressant that belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics, that work on the central nervous system. Acetaminophen is a non-opioid analgesic used for pain relief and to reduce fever. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone and acetaminophen tablets have been marketed under the brand names Norco (discontinued), Vicodin (discontinued), Lortab (discontinued), Hycet (discontinued), Lorcet (discontinued), Verdrocet (discontinued), Xodol (discontinued), Zamicet (discontinued) and now generic hydrocodone and acetaminophen products are available.

Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen side effects

Common side effects of hydrocodone acetaminophen include:

dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;

nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

constipation; or headache.

Serious side effects of hydrocodone acetaminophen include:

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to acetaminophen and hydrocodone: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

low cortisol levels - nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or

high levels of serotonin in the body - agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and in those who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to acetaminophen or hydrocodone, or if you have:

severe asthma or breathing problems; or

a blockage in your stomach or intestines.

To make sure acetaminophen and hydrocodone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

breathing problems, sleep apnea;

liver disease;

a drug or alcohol addiction;

kidney disease;

a head injury or seizures;

urination problems; or

problems with your thyroid, pancreas, or gallbladder.

Pregnancy

If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Breastfeeding

Do not breastfeed. Acetaminophen and hydrocodone can pass into breast milk and cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.

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How to use Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen

Use: For the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate.

Usual Adult Dose for Pain:

Hydrocodone 2.5 mg-acetaminophen 325 mg per tablet, Hydrocodone 5 mg-acetaminophen 325 mg per tablet

Initial dose: 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain

Maximum dose: 8 tablets/24 hours

Hydrocodone 7.5 mg-acetaminophen 325 mg, Hydrocodone 10 mg-acetaminophen 325 mg per tablet:

Initial dose: 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain

Maximum dose: 6 tablets/24 hours

Hydrocodone 7.5 mg-acetaminophen 325 mg per 15 mL oral solution:

Initial dose: 15 mL every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain

Maximum dose: 90 mL/24 hours

Hydrocodone 10 mg-acetaminophen 300 mg per 15 mL oral solution:

Initial dose: 11.25 mL every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain

Maximum dose: 67.5 mL/24 hours

Comments:

Doses should be individually titrated to provide adequate analgesia while minimizing adverse reactions.

Because of the risks of addiction, abuse and misuse, the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals should be used.

Monitor patients closely for respiratory depression within the first 24 to 72 hours of initiating therapy and following any increase in dose.

For more information on hydocodone/acetminophen doses for adults or children, or dosage adjustments required for medical conditions click on the link below.

Warnings

MISUSE OF HYDROCODONE AND ACETAMINOPHEN CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in secure a place where others cannot get to it.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Acetaminophen and hydrocodone can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Taking opioid medicine during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.

Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing. See interactions section below for more information on drug interactions.

Tell your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take medication that contains acetaminophen.

Stop taking acetaminophen and hydrocodone and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

What other drugs will affect Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen

You may have breathing problems or withdrawal symptoms if you start or stop taking certain other medicines. Tell your doctor if you also use an antibiotic, antifungal medication, heart or blood pressure medication, seizure medication, or medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C.

Opioid medication can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death. Be sure your doctor knows if you also use:

cold or allergy medicines, bronchodilator asthma/COPD medication, or a diuretic ("water pill");

medicines for motion sickness, irritable bowel syndrome, or overactive bladder;

other opioids - opioid pain medicine or prescription cough medicine;

a sedative like Valium - Diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Xanax, Klonopin, Versed, and others;

drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing - a sleeping pill, muscle relaxer, medicine to treat mood disorders or mental illness;

drugs that affect serotonin levels in your body - a stimulant, or medicine for depression, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or nausea and vomiting.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with acetaminophen and hydrocodone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. To check for interactions with hydrocodone and acetaminophen, click the link below.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.