Vicodin Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term

The risk of acute liver failure is higher in individuals with underlying liver disease and in individuals who ingest alcohol while taking acetaminophen. Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets are indicated for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain. The analgesic action of acetaminophen involves peripheral influences, but the specific mechanism is as yet undetermined.

Respiratory Depression

The precise mechanism of action of hydrocodone and other opiates is not known, although it is believed to relate to the existence of opiate receptors in the central nervous system. In addition to analgesia, narcotics may produce drowsiness, changes in mood and mental clouding. Carmel police were vicodin addiction dispatched to the residence to assist with “a male that was unresponsive, breathing, but turning blue,” per the police reports. One police officer wrote in his report that Irsay was “cool to the touch and had agonal breathing,” so he used naloxone (more commonly known as Narcan) on Irsay.

Oxycodone overdose deaths drop 25 percent after launch of Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Even at standard doses, this drug can cause a potentially deadly overdose if not consumed as instructed. Treatment for Vicodin addiction often begins with a detox program that uses medications to ease withdrawal symptoms. Detox programs at https://ecosoberhouse.com/ inpatient hospitals give you access to medical doctors and nurses around the clock. Once you withdraw from Vicodin, it’s important to enter a substance abuse treatment program. Opioids affect the part of the brain that regulates breathing.

Who is at risk of an opioid overdose?

Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush the unused medicine down the toilet. Do not stop using this medicine suddenly after long-term use, or you could have serious withdrawal symptoms. Never crush or break a hydrocodone pill to inhale the powder or mix it into a liquid to inject the drug into your vein. Ask a doctor before using hydrocodone if you are breastfeeding.

• There are several reasons why a person may intentionally take too much of this medicine.
• Hydrocodone may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother has taken this medicine during pregnancy.
• WHO recommends that naloxone be made available to people likely to witness an opioid overdose, as well as training in the management of opioid overdose.
• Data sources include Micromedex (updated 6 May 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 6 May 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Apr 2024) and others.

Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications. Do not use this medicine if you have taken a MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. You should not use Vicodin if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or hydrocodone, or if you have recently used alcohol, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other narcotic medications. An overdose of acetaminophen can damage your liver or cause death.

• Fentanyl is an opioid that’s 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
• Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications.
• It may be done to try to hurt oneself or to get high or intoxicated.
• A large overdose can cause a person to stop breathing and die if not treated right away.

Hydrocodone ER tablets are generally safe and well tolerated at 15–90 milligrams (mg) doses administered every 12 hours. Your healthcare provider may prescribe a specific dose depending on your needs. Boxed warnings are safety-related warnings related to a medication causing severe adverse effects or even death. Hydrocodone ER capsules or ER tablets should not be used to treat pain that other medications can control. Hydrocodone comes with a boxed warning as designated by the FDA that describes the potential risk of tolerance, dependence, and addiction.

The Vicodin brand has been discontinued in the United States. A large overdose can cause a person to stop breathing and die if not treated right away. The person may need to be admitted to the hospital to continue treatment. Depending on the drug or drugs taken, multiple organs may be affected. This may affect the person’s outcome and chances of survival. In a hospital setting, healthcare providers order several tests to check for any complications.

• Opioids are dangerous during overdoses because they can slow down important functions of your nervous system that control your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.
• Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.
• Recognizing the signs of opioid overdose is essential to saving lives.
• Following a 10 mg oral dose of hydrocodone administered to five adult male subjects, the mean peak concentration was 23.6 ± 5.2 ng/mL.
• Opioid overdose is life-threatening and requires immediate emergency attention.

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What should I do if I forget a dose?

As a result, people may require higher doses to get the desired effect, and the drug may stay in their system longer. Hydrocodone is a Schedule II drug that must be taken as prescribed and has the potential for habit forming with prolonged use. Sometimes, it can be difficult to differentiate between a strong high and an overdose. If you’re not sure whether you should call emergency services or not, the best course of action is to treat the situation like an emergency.