Frequent communication is important among the prescriber, other members of thehealthcare team, the patient, and the caregiver/family during periods of changing analgesicrequirements, including initial titration. Advise patients howto recognize respiratory depression and to seek medical attention if breathing difficulties develop. Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant. Some prescription opioids are made from the plant directly, and others are made by scientists in labs using the same chemical structure.
Mild side effects
Vigorous supportive therapy is required in severe intoxication. Procedures to limit the continuingabsorption of the vicodin addiction drug must be readily performed since the hepatic injury is dose dependent and occursearly in the course of intoxication. In case of overdose, priorities are the re-establishment of a patent and protected airway and institutionof assisted or controlled ventilation, if needed. Employ other supportive measures (including oxygenand vasopressors) in the management of circulatory shock and pulmonary edema as indicated. Cardiacarrest or arrhythmias will require advanced life-support techniques.
- Drugs that depress the central nervous system (brain) like Vicodin may result in side effects, such as slow or shallow breathing, low blood pressure, tiredness, coma, or death.
- But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
- If you abruptly stop Vicodin after taking it regularly for a prolonged period, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
- It contains an opioid pain reliever (hydrocodone) and a non-opioid pain reliever (acetaminophen).
Medical Professionals
The pain relief effect of hydrocodone will wear off within four to six hours. But the drug may still be detected in the saliva for up to 36 hours, in urine for four days, and in the hair for 90 days after the last dose. If you do experience withdrawal symptoms, they can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Hydrocodone has an average half-life of roughly 3.8 hours in healthy adult males. In other words, it takes 3.8 hours for the average healthy male to eliminate half of the dose of hydrocodone.
Hydrocodone side effects
Because ofsimilar pharmacological properties, it is reasonable to expect similar risk with the concomitant use ofother CNS depressant drugs with opioid analgesics see DRUG INTERACTIONS. Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets, like other opioids, can be diverted for non-medicaluse into illicit channels of distribution. Careful record-keeping of prescribing information, includingquantity, frequency, and renewal requests, as required by state and federal law, is strongly advised. The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of hydrocodone andacetaminophen tablets. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertainsize, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship todrug exposure. Concomitant use of opioids with benzodiazepines or other central nervous systems (CNS) depressants, including alcohol, may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death see WARNINGS, DRUG INTERACTIONS.
Hydrocodone And Acetaminophen (Oral Route)
The dosage your doctor prescribes depends on various factors. These include the form of hydrocodone you take, how severe your pain is, and whether you’re switching to hydrocodone from another opioid. You can find the expiration date on the label on the bottle. If you have hydrocodone that’s gone past this date, talk with your pharmacist about whether it may still be safe to take.
