Norco

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

Usage of Norco

Norco contains a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain medication. An opioid is sometimes called a narcotic. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone.

Norco is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain.

Norco may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Norco side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Norco: 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 give naloxone and/or 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. If you have this type of reaction, you should never again take any medicine that contains acetaminophen.

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;

confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;

seizure (convulsions);

easy bruising or bleeding;

infertility, missed menstrual periods;

impotence, sexual problems, loss of interest in sex;

liver problems - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, 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.

Common Norco side effects include:

drowsiness, headache;

upset stomach, constipation;

blurred vision; or

dry mouth.

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 Norco

You should not use Norco if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or hydrocodone, or if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other narcotic medications.

Do not use Norco if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Some medicines can interact with hydrocodone and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Be sure your doctor knows if you also take medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.

You should not use this medicine if you have:

severe asthma or breathing problems; or

a blockage in your stomach or intestines.

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

breathing problems, sleep apnea (breathing stops during sleep);

liver disease;

a drug or alcohol addiction;

kidney disease;

a head injury or seizures;

urination problems; or

problems with your thyroid, pancreas, or gallbladder.

Norco is more likely to cause breathing problems in older adults and people who are severely ill, malnourished, or otherwise debilitated.

If you use narcotic 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 habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Ask a doctor before using opioid medicine if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.

Relate drugs

How to use Norco

Usual Adult Dose of Norco for Pain:

Tablets: Recommended dose: Acetaminophen-hydrocodone 300 mg-5 mg: 1 to 2 tablets orally every 4 to 6 hours as needed Maximum dose: Acetaminophen-hydrocodone 300 mg-5 mg: 8 tablets daily Comments: Dosage should be adjusted according to severity of the pain and the response of the patient. Tolerance to hydrocodone can develop with continued use and the incidence of side effects is dose related. Approved indication: For the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain

Warnings

Hydrocodone can slow or stop your breathing. Never use Norco in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Opioid pain medicine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share Norco with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.

MISUSE OF NARCOTIC MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.

Do not use Norco if you have used a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Stop taking Norco 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 Norco

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.

Norco 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 narcotic medications - 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; or

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.

Disclaimer

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