It acts on the central nervous system CNS to relieve pain, and stops or prevents cough. When hydrocodone is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence.
However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence addiction is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly.
However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.
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Like oxycodone, it should only be taken as prescribed by your doctor. This is important because of the risk of addiction. In many European countries, hydrocodone has been highly restricted for many years. Until the fall of , hydrocodone and oxycodone were in two different drug schedules.
A drug schedule is a number that is assigned to a medicine, chemical, or substance. Today, both hydrocodone and oxycodone are schedule II drugs. Schedule II drugs have a high potential for being misused. Frequently, both oxycodone and hydrocodone are combined with other painkillers or chemicals. Pure oxycodone is available in a brand name drug called Oxycontin. You take Oxycontin tablets orally usually every 12 hours. The tablets come in several different doses.
The dose you use depends on the severity of your pain. Pure hydrocodone is available in an extended-release form, which is designed to release into your body slowly, not all at once. This allows the medication to work over a long period of time. The brand name for this drug is Zohydro ER.
You can take a capsule orally every 12 hours. This medication can be used to treat long-term pain problems. In the event of an emergency situation, researchers have found the two medications treat pain equally.
In a study with both drugs, researchers found that both oxycodone and hydrocodone were equally effective at treating pain caused by fractures.
Participants experienced equal pain relief 30 and 60 minutes after the medication was taken. However, those who were given hydrocodone experienced constipation more frequently than participants who used oxycodone.
Another study found that the combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen was 1. Both oxycodone and hydrocodone are sold as brand-name drugs and as generic alternatives. Generic medications are cheaper than their brand-name counterparts. For that reason, you may wish to try the generic versions.
Before you do that, consult your doctor. Some generic versions of medications have different ratios of active and inactive ingredients. To be classified as generic by the U. Food and Drug Administration, the drug must include the same strength of active ingredients, but may not have the same amount of inactive ingredients. If you need to use the brand name but find that the price tag is too high, prescription drug insurance and prescription coupons may help reduce your total cost. The most common side effects of oxycodone and hydrocodone are similar.
These side effects include:. Oxycodone is more likely to cause side effects of dizziness and drowsiness, as well as fatigue, headaches, and feelings of euphoria. Hydrocodone is more likely to cause constipation and stomach pain. Furthermore, they will compulsively use Opioids to avoid withdrawal. Learn More. Opioid withdrawal can be a painful experience. Hydrocodone withdrawal occurs when someone who is accustomed to using Lortab or another Hydrocodone-based medication suddenly stops taking it or reduces their dose.
Withdrawal often prevents people from recovering from Opioid addiction. The symptoms of Hydrocodone withdrawal include:. Although the symptoms of withdrawal are painful and distressing, they usually begin to improve within 72 hours. The symptoms of Hydrocodone withdrawal typically subside within a week. In most cases, the side effects of Lortab are not serious and subside within a few days.
The most common Lortab side effects are:. Since Lortab contains Acetaminophen, the drug can cause liver damage if someone misuses it by taking it too often.
A person who abuses Hydrocodone-based medications or takes them together with Central Nervous System CNS Depressants such as alcohol or Benzodiazepines can also suffer an overdose , a life-threatening emergency.
An overdose on Hydrocodone may cause respiratory depression, a partial or total cessation of breathing. This is a form of suffocation that requires immediate medical attention. A Lortab overdose can be fatal. Fortunately, the medication Naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose if quickly administered. If you recognize that you or someone else is suffering an overdose on Hydrocodone, get help immediately.
The most common symptoms of a Hydrocodone overdose are:. In life-threatening cases, a Hydrocodone overdose may provoke coma in addition to respiratory depression. Additionally, it is also possible for the Acetaminophen in Lortab to cause or aggravate an overdose. The most obvious symptom of an Acetaminophen overdose is jaundice yellowing of the skin and eyes as a result of liver failure. Make a Call Lortab can be helpful for managing pain, but the drug may also be a gateway to Opioid addiction if it is abused.
If you or someone you know is dependent on Lortab or struggling to overcome addiction to Opioids, please get help. Contact a treatment provider today to learn about options for treatment. It is possible to recover from Opioid addiction with support from medical professionals and recovery experts. If Lortab has affected your life, today could be the day to make a change for the better.
Nathan Yerby is a writer and researcher. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.
Theresa is also a Certified Professional Life Coach and volunteers at a local mental health facility helping individuals who struggle with homelessness and addiction. Theresa is a well-rounded clinician with experience working as a Primary Addiction Counselor, Case Manager and Director of Utilization Review in various treatment centers for addiction and mental health in Florida, Minnesota, and Colorado.
She also has experience with admissions, marketing, and outreach. As a proud recovering addict herself, Theresa understands first-hand the struggles of addiction. There is no limit to what Theresa is willing to do to make a difference in the field of Addiction! Mallorca, Spain.
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