Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen – Uses, Side Effects, and More

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Uses

The use of this combination drug is intended to alleviate the pain that is moderate to severe. It consists of a non-opioid pain reliever in addition to an opioid pain reliever, which is hydrocodone (acetaminophen). The way your body perceives and reacts to pain is altered as a result of hydrocodone’s action in the brain. Fever can also be brought down with acetaminophen.

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Instructions for Taking Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen

Please also see the section labelled Warning.

Before beginning treatment with this medication and whenever you get a refill, you should first read the Medication Guide and, if it is available, the Patient Information Leaflet that was supplied to you by your pharmacist. If you have any questions, you should consult with either your physician or your pharmacist.

Consume this drug by mouth and follow your physician’s instructions. You are free to take this medication either with or without food. If you are experiencing nausea, taking this medication with food may be of assistance. Inquire with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about alternative methods to reduce feelings of sickness (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible).

If you are taking this medication in liquid form, you should make use of a medication measurement instrument in order to precisely measure the dose that has been given to you. You should not use a regular spoon since you run the risk of not getting the right amount.

Your current health status and how well you respond to treatment will determine the appropriate dosage. When it comes to children, the dosage is determined by weight as well. Do not take the medication in a larger quantity than prescribed, take it more frequently, or take it for a longer period of time than directed. When instructed to do so, withdraw from the drug in the correct manner.

When pain drugs are taken as soon as the first signals of pain appear, they provide the best level of relief. It is possible that the medication will not be as effective if you wait until the pain has become more severe before taking it.

If you suffer from persistent pain (for example, as a result of cancer treatment), your physician may recommend that you additionally take long-acting opioid drugs. In that situation, it is possible that this medicine should only be taken as necessary to treat abrupt or breakthrough pain. It is possible that your doctor will also prescribe other painkillers, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Inquire with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the safe use of this product in combination with other medications.

It is possible to experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using this medicine, particularly if you have been taking it for a long period or in large quantities. Your doctor may carefully reduce your dosage in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Notify your healthcare provider or pharmacist as soon as possible if you experience any withdrawal symptoms, including restlessness, mental or mood changes (including anxiety, trouble sleeping, or suicidal thoughts), eyes that water, a runny nose, nausea, diarrhoea, sweating, aching muscles, or sudden changes in behaviour.

It is possible that the effectiveness of this drug will diminish after prolonged use. Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice that this drug is no longer functioning well.

This prescription, despite the fact that it helps a large number of people, can sometimes lead to addiction. If you have a substance use disorder, such as excessive drug or alcohol use or addiction, your risk may be significantly increased for this condition. To reduce the likelihood of becoming addicted to this drug, it should be taken precisely as directed. Inquire with your primary care physician or your pharmacist for further information.

If your pain does not start to improve or if it starts to become worse, you should talk to your doctor.

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Side Effects

It is possible that this medicine will cause you to experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, or sleepiness. After you have used this drug for a while, you may experience a reduction in the severity of some of these adverse effects. Notify your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if any of these side effects continue or become worse.

Eat foods high in dietary fibre, get plenty of exercises, and drink plenty of water to avoid getting constipated. In addition to that, you might need to take a laxative. Inquire with your local pharmacist about the kind of laxative that might work best for you.

When rising from a seated or lying position, it is important to do so carefully in order to limit the likelihood of experiencing dizziness and lightheadedness.

Keep in mind that the reason your doctor has recommended that you take this medication is that he or she believes that the potential benefits to you outweigh the potential risks of doing so. The majority of persons who take this medicine do not report experiencing any severe adverse effects.

Notify your physician as soon as possible if you experience any serious side effects, such as trouble breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea), changes in your mental state or mood (such as agitation, confusion, or hallucinations), stomach or abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, or signs that your adrenal glands are not functioning as effectively as they should be (such as loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss).

If you have any very serious adverse effects, such as passing out, having a seizure, breathing too slowly or too shallowly, severe sleepiness or difficulties waking up, get immediate medical attention.

It is quite unusual for this medicine to cause an extremely severe allergic reaction. However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you detect any symptoms of a significant allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), extreme dizziness, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms may indicate anaphylaxis.

This list of potential adverse effects is not exhaustive in any way. Please consult your physician or pharmacist if you have any side effects that are not listed above.

In the United States, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit their website at www.fda.gov/medwatch to report any adverse effects.

In Canada, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345 to report any adverse effects you experience.

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Precautions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this drug, or to any other opioids (such as benzhydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, or codeine), or if you have any other allergies before you use this medication. There is a possibility that this product contains inactive substances, which, if present, could result in allergic responses or other complications. Discuss the matter further with your pharmacist for further information.

Before beginning treatment with this medication, it is important to discuss your medical history with your doctor or pharmacist, particularly any of the following: conditions affecting the brain (such as a head injury, a tumour, or seizures); breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD); kidney disease; liver disease; mental or mood disorders (such as confusion, depression, or suicidal thoughts); a personal or family history of a substance use disorder ( (pancreatitis).

This medication could cause you to feel lightheaded or sleepy. Drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana (also known as cannabis) can make you feel more lightheaded and sleepy. Do not get behind the wheel of a vehicle, operate any machinery, or engage in any activity that requires attentiveness until you are able to do it safely. Steer clear of beverages containing alcohol. If you are a marijuana user, you should consult your primary care physician (cannabis).

Sugar and alcohol are two ingredients that can be found in liquid products. If you have diabetes, a reliance on alcohol, liver illness, or any other condition that requires you to limit or avoid these substances in your diet, you should exercise caution when consuming this product. Talk to your primary care physician or your local pharmacist about the proper use of this medicine.

Before undergoing surgery, it is important to discuss all of the products you use with your dentist or doctor (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

It’s possible that children are more sensitive to the negative effects of this medication, particularly the shallow or shallower breathing it causes.

Confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, and slow or shallow breathing are some of the potential adverse effects that could be exacerbated in elderly patients by the use of this medication.

During pregnancy, it is important to only use this drug when it is absolutely necessary. It may harm an unborn foetus. Talk to your healthcare provider about the potential drawbacks and advantages.

This medicine is excreted into breast milk and may have unintended consequences for an infant who is being breastfed. Notify your baby’s doctor as soon as possible if it develops an unusual amount of sleepiness, difficulty eating, or difficulty breathing. Before starting to breastfeed, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Interactions

Drug interactions can alter the way in which your prescriptions work or raise the likelihood that you will have major adverse effects. This document does not contain all possible medication interactions. Maintain a list of all the goods you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as herbal remedies, and give it to both your primary care physician and your pharmacist. Without first consulting your physician, you should never alter the dosage of any medication, stop taking any medication, or start taking any new medication.

Certain pain drugs (mixed opioid agonist/antagonists such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine), naltrexone, and samidorphan are examples of products that have the potential to have an adverse interaction with this medication.

If this drug is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing issues, the chance of serious side effects (such as slow or shallow breathing, and severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased. These adverse effects include slow or shallow breathing, and severe drowsiness/dizziness. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including but not limited to alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines. Other opioid pain relievers or cough relievers include codeine and oxycodone (such as cetirizine, and diphenhydramine).

You should read the labels on all of your medications (such as those meant to treat allergies or coughs and colds) since some of them may contain substances that make you feel sleepy. Talk to your local pharmacist about the proper way to use those products.

The elimination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen from your body might be influenced by other medications, which can in turn alter the way hydrocodone and acetaminophen function in your body. Antifungals known as azoles, such as ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics, such as erythromycin, levoketoconazole, mifepristone, HIV medications known as ritonavir, rifamycins known as rifabutin, rifampin, and certain drugs used to treat seizures, such as carbamazepine and phenytoin, are a few examples of the types of drugs that fall into this

This medicine has the potential to interfere with a variety of laboratory tests, including those measuring amylase and lipase levels, potentially leading to inaccurate test findings. Ensure that the staff at the lab and all of your physicians are aware that you are using this medication.

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Overdose

If you suspect that someone has overdosed and they are exhibiting serious symptoms such as losing consciousness or having difficulties breathing, give them naloxone if you have it and then phone 911. Call an emergency poison control centre as soon as possible, even if the person is conscious and shows no symptoms. To reach the poison control centre for your area in the United States, dial 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents can call a provincial poison control centre. Overdose can cause a variety of symptoms, including shallow or laboured breathing, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive perspiration, stomach or abdominal discomfort, extreme weariness, sluggish heartbeat, and yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark urine, and coma.

Warnings

This drug should not be given to anyone else. It is against the law to give it away.

This drug has been given to you specifically for the treatment of your current condition. Do not use it in the future for the treatment of another condition unless your physician specifically instructs you to do so. In such a circumstance, it’s possible that you’ll need a different drug.

Inquire with your physician or pharmacist about whether or not you should keep naloxone on hand in case of an opioid overdose. Teach members of your household or family the warning signs of an opioid overdose as well as how to treat one if it occurs.

Neglected Dose

If you are using this medicine on a consistent basis and you forget to take a dose, you should take it as soon as you remember it because it could have serious consequences. If it is getting close to the time of the next dose, you should forgo the dose that you missed. Your next dose should be taken at the typical time. It is not necessary to double the dose in order to catch up.

Storage

Keep at room temperature and away from light and moisture. Store at room temperature. The storage requirements for each brand of this drug are slightly different. You can either check the product’s packaging for advice on how to properly store your brand, or you can ask your local pharmacist for the information. Always make sure that children and animals are kept well away from any medications.

Unless you have been specifically told to do so, you should not flush drugs down the toilet or pour them down a drain. When it is no longer needed or has passed its expiration date, dispose of this product in the appropriate manner. Read the Medication Guide for further information, or speak with your local garbage disposal business or pharmacist for further clarification.