Author: James Anderson

Vicodin Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen: Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

Hydrocodonebitartrate and acetaminophen tablets expose patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death. Assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing hydrocodonebitartrate and acetaminophen tablets , and monitor all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions see WARNINGS. Infants exposed to hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets through breast milk should bemonitored for excess sedation and respiratory depression. Withdrawal symptoms can occur in breastfedinfants when maternal administration of an opioid analgesic is stopped, or when breast-feeding isstopped. There is inter-patient variability in the potency of opioid drugs and opioid formulations.

Do not assume that the absence of such information means the medication is safe for your personal use. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any medication. There is a relationship between increasing hydrocodone plasma concentration and increasing frequencyof dose-related opioid adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, CNS effects, and respiratorydepression.

Drug Interactions

The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems. Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant.

  1. Follow the patient for signs and symptoms ofopioid withdrawal.
  2. Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur.
  3. Life-threatening respiratory depression is more likely tooccur in elderly, cachectic, or debilitated patients because they may have altered pharmacokinetics oraltered clearance compared to younger, healthier patients see WARNINGS; Life-ThreateningRespiratory Depression.
  4. Some of these side effects may decrease after you have been using this medication for a while.

International Patients

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. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Narcotic pain medicine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses.

Generic Name: hydrocodone-acetaminophen

There is increased risk in patients whose ability tomaintain blood pressure has already been compromised by a reduced blood volume or concurrentadministration of certain CNS depressant drugs (e.g., phenothiazines or general anesthetics) see DRUG INTERACTIONS. Follow these patients for signs of hypotension after initiatingor titrating the dosage of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets. In patients with circulatoryshock hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets may cause vasodilatation that can further reducecardiac output and blood pressure. Avoid the use of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tabletswith circulatory shock. If the patient develops these signs or symptoms, raise the dose to theprevious level and taper more slowly, either by increasing the interval between decreases, decreasingthe amount of change in dose, or both. Do not abruptly discontinue hydrocodone bitartrate andacetaminophen tablets in a physically-dependent patient see WARNINGS, Drug Abuse And Dependence.

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. This monograph only includes information about the use of hydrocodone alone. If you are taking a hydrocodone combination product, be sure to read information about all the ingredients in the hydrocodone-combination monograph and ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Therefore, aconservative approach is advised when determining the total daily dosage of hydrocodone bitartrate andacetaminophen tablets. It is safer to underestimate a patient’s 24-hour hydrocodone bitartrate andacetaminophen tablets dosage than to overestimate the 24-hour hydrocodone bitartrate andacetaminophen tablets dosage and manage an adverse reaction due to overdose. Opioids are sought by drug abusers and people with addiction disorders and are subject to criminaldiversion. Consider these risks when prescribing or dispensing hydrocodone bitartrate andacetaminophen tablets. Strategies to reduce these risks include prescribing the drug in the smallestappropriate quantity and advising the patient on the proper disposal of unused drug see PATIENT INFORMATION. Contact local state professional licensingboard or state controlled substances authority for information on how to prevent and detect abuse ordiversion of this product.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about other uses of this medication. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. 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 Vicodin and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Hydrocodone belongs to the group of medicines called opioid analgesics (pain medicines). Hydrocodone is used to relieve pain in opioid-tolerant patients severe enough to require around-the-clock pain relief for a long period of time. It should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as when recovering from surgery. This medicine should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while or “as needed”.

This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.