Hydrocodone: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Medicine Hydrocodone?

What is Hydrocodone for?

Hydrocodone is a drug used to relieve severe pain. Hydrocodone is in the classification of a narcotic analgesic. This medication works to change how your body responds and feels to pain.

Do not use any other form of hydrocodone for pain relief that is mild or that will go away within a few days. This drug is not used repeatedly.

How do I use Hydrocodone?

Take this medication regularly as directed by your doctor, not use it for pain that comes on suddenly. Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually every 12 hours. You can take this medication before or after meals. If you experience nausea, food can help deal with it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to reduce nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).

Swallow the capsule completely. Do not crush, chew, or separate the contents. Doing so can deprive the drug of its properties at once, increasing the risk of side effects.

The dosage is determined according to your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or use this medication more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve, and the risk of side effects will increase.

These drugs work best if they are used from the onset of symptoms. If you wait until the pain gets worse, the medicine may not work very well.

Before you start taking this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you should stop or change the dose of your other narcotic medicine. To relieve pain, your doctor may direct you to take an emergency response type of narcotic or non-narcotic for pain (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about using hydrocodone safely with other medicines.

This medicine may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms aka withdrawal (such as restlessness, watery eyes, runny nose, nausea, sweating, muscle aches) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medicine. To prevent this reaction, your doctor may reduce the dose gradually. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any rejection reactions immediately.

When used for a long time, it may not work well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.

Along with its properties, this drug may (although rarely) cause addictive behavior. This risk may increase if you have used alcohol or drugs in the past. Take this medication exactly as prescribed to reduce your risk of addiction.

Tell your doctor if your pain persists or gets worse.

How to store Hydrocodone?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Hydrocodone dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Hydrocodone for adults?

Hydrocodone ER can only be prescribed by a healthcare professional who has knowledge of the use of potent opioids for chronic pain management.

Initial dose: 10 mg orally every 12 hours.

What is the dosage of Hydrocodone for children?

The safety and effectiveness of this medicine for children younger than 18 years have not been tested.

In what dosage is Hydrocodone available?

Capsule. Oral: 10mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg.

Hydrocodone side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Hydrocodone?

Side effects include constipation, nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and pain.

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you are concerned about the side effects please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Hydrocodone Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Hydrocodone?

Before taking hydrocodone,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you have an allergy to hydrocodone, another drug, or any of the ingredients in hydrocodone tablets Ask the pharmacist or see the Medication Guide for a list of ingredients
• tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements that you are currently taking and will be taking. Be sure to mention the medicine listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and one of the following medicines: antihistamines (found in cough and cold medicines); butorphanol; medications for irritable bowel, Parkinson's disease, ulcers, and urinary problems; nalbuphine; pentazocine (Talwin); Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or recently stopped taking any of the following medicines in the past two weeks: isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects
• tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section: intestinal blockage or narrowing, or paralytic ileus (a condition in which digested food doesn't move through the intestines). Your doctor can ask you not to take hydrocodone
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had low blood pressure; difficulty urinating; seizures; or thyroid, gallbladder, pancreas, liver, or kidney disease
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist if you are taking hydrocodone
• You should know that hydrocodone might make you sleepy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you
• You should know that hydrocodone can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting when you get up too quickly from a lying position. It is more common when you first start taking hydrocodone. To avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up
• You should know that hydrocodone can cause constipation. Talk with your doctor about changing your diet and using other medications to treat or prevent constipation.

Is Hydrocodone safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = No risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

There are not sufficient studies in women to find out the risk to the baby when the mother takes this drug during breastfeeding. Consider the potential benefits and potential risks before taking this medication during breastfeeding.

Hydrocodone Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Hydrocodone?

Interactions with other drugs can affect how the drug works and increase the risk of dangerous side effects. This article does not list all possible drug interactions. Record all medicinal products you use (including prescription, non-prescription and herbal medicines) and share them with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's permission.

Some of the products that may interact with this medication include: pain medications (a mixture of narcotic agonist-antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), narcotic antagonists (such as naltrexone), products containing alcohol (such as cough and cold syrups).

The risk of more serious side effects (respiratory distress, drowsiness / dizziness) may be increased if this medicine is taken together with other products that may also affect breathing or cause drowsiness. Therefore, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products such as alcohol, drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and other narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine, hydromorphone).

Check the labels on all medicines (such as allergies or cold coughs) because they contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using these products.

This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including amylase / lipase levels), and may cause false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Can food or alcohol interact with Hydrocodone?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Hydrocodone?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• alcohol abuse
• respiratory problems (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cor pulmonale, hypoxia)
• congestive heart failure
• depression
• drug dependence, especially with narcotics
• electrolyte imbalance
• gallbladder problems
• heart rhythm problems (eg congenital long QT syndrome, slow heart rate)
• mental illness
• pancreatitis (inflammation or swelling of the pancreas)
• stomach or bowel problems (for example, blockage)
• swallowing problems
• weakened immune system - use with caution. May increase the risk of more serious side effects
• asthma
• severe breathing problems (for example, hypercarbia)
• Paralytic ileus (bowel stops working and may be blocked), known or suspected
• respiratory depression (breathing very slowly). Should not be used in patients with this condition.
• brain tumor
• head injury
• increased pressure in the head - hydrocodone can cause serious problems in people who have this medical problem
• hypotension (low blood pressure)
• seizures - use with caution. It might make things worse
• Kidney illness
• liver disease - use with caution. Effects may increase due to slower removal of the drug from the body

Hydrocodone overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of an overdose include:

• breath slows down
• drowsiness
• weakened muscles
• blue skin
• the pupils are dilated and narrowed
• heart rate slows down
• coma
• Dead

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.