Hydrocodone Side Effects | Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone Addiction

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As with any narcotic medication, it is possible to become addicted to hydrocodone. Abuse and addiction are common with this particular drug because hydrocodone products are readily available (they are commonly prescribed) and fairly inexpensive. An addiction can be very dangerous, even life-threatening, so be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you are having problems with this medication.

Is an Addiction to Hydrocodone Possible?

Hydrocodone is an active ingredient in many different prescription pain medications and cough syrups. As a narcotic, opioid (morphine-like) medication, hydrocodone has significant abuse and addiction potential. Many people find hydrocodone to be quite addicting.

Why Is Hydrocodone Addiction So Common?

Hydrocodone addiction is common for a few different reasons. Hydrocodone products are readily available -- this drug is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the United States. Additionally, hydrocodone products are usually fairly inexpensive (especially in generic form). Also, these products are categorized with less stringent rules, compared to many other opiates (such as morphine or oxycodone); this means that prescriptions for hydrocodone products can be phoned or faxed to a pharmacy and may have refills, unlike many other opiates. It also means that healthcare providers are more likely to prescribe the medication.

Hydrocodone addiction may also be common because people often believe that it is safer or perhaps less shameful or embarrassing to abuse prescription medications, compared to "street" drugs. It may also be easier for people to deny (to themselves and others) that they have a problem.

Hydrocodone Dosage

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There is no standard dosage for hydrocodone, as different products contain different amounts of this medicine. Most hydrocodone products are typically taken every four to six hours as needed for pain, although some long-acting products are taken less frequently (such as twice daily). Your healthcare provider will recommend a specific dose for you based on the strength of the product and how you respond to the medication.

Dosage of Hydrocodone: An Introduction
The dose of hydrocodone that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:

* The particular hydrocodone product
* How you respond to hydrocodone
* Other medications you are taking
* Other medical conditions you may have.

As is always the case, do not adjust your dosage unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.

Hydrocodone Dosing for Pain or Cough
Typically, most hydrocodone products are taken every four to six hours as needed for pain, although the specific dosage your healthcare provider recommends may vary, depending on the specific strength of the product, as well as other factors. Some long-acting products are taken less frequently (such as just twice a day). Your healthcare provider will recommend a specific dosage based on several factors. If your body is used to taking narcotic medications, you will be able to handle more hydrocodone than someone who does not regularly take narcotics.

Keep in mind that hydrocodone always comes in combination with one or more other active ingredients (such as acetaminophen). It is often the other active ingredients that determine and limit the dosage of hydrocodone that you can take. Be sure you know how much you should take per dose, how often you can take the medication, and your maximum dosage per day. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can provide you with this information (which is specific to the particular product and your particular situation).

Hydrocodone and Constipation

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When hydrocodone was looked at in clinical studies, constipation was noted as a common side effect. Constipation is so predictable that many healthcare providers recommend that people who take hydrocodone also take a laxative before any problems occur. If you develop severe constipation while taking hydrocodone, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Hydrocodone and Constipation: An Overview
Hydrocodone is a prescription narcotic that is used in various different pain and cough medications. Constipation is a common, predictable side effect of hydrocodone. Most people who take the drug will develop some degree of constipation, although you may be lucky enough to avoid this side effect if you take hydrocodone for just a few days (or if you only take it occasionally).

Will It Improve?
Constipation due to hydrocodone will not go away on its own, as long as you continue to take the medication. Someone who has been taking hydrocodone for years is just as likely to have constipation due to the drug as someone who just started taking it. The body never adjusts or adapts to the effects of hydrocodone that cause constipation. Therefore, measures to treat and prevent constipation due to hydrocodone are usually necessary.

Treatment and Prevention
Although non-drug treatments for constipation such as exercise and increased fiber and water intake) may help a little, most healthcare providers agree that a laxative is necessary to prevent and treat constipation due to hydrocodone. Although stool softeners, such as docusate , may provide some relief, stimulant laxatives are often necessary. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to recommend a laxative that is best for your situation (don't forget to mention that you are taking hydrocodone). Many people find that a combination stool softener plus stimulant laxative works well for constipation due to narcotics.

The use of laxatives to prevent and treat constipation due to hydrocodone is extremely important in some situations, such as after a heart attack or after delivering a baby. In these situations, constipation can be extremely painful (after having a baby) and even life-threatening (after having a heart attack -- when straining should be avoided).

Hydrocodone Side Effects

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Constipation, dizziness, and nausea are some of the most common side effects that have been reported with hydrocodone. Typically, the medication's side effects are minor and do not require medical attention, but some problems are potentially serious and should be reported to your healthcare provider. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience serious side effects of hydrocodone, such as severe drowsiness, difficulty passing urine, or slow or irregular breathing.

Introduction to Hydrocodone Side Effects
As with any medicine, hydrocodone can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.

Possible Side Effects of Hydrocodone
For many medications, the prescribing information carefully explains the exact percentage of side effects that were seen in clinical trials. However, the prescribing information for almost all older medications (including most hydrocodone medications) include only vague side effect information, with no percentages provided. Therefore, it can be difficult to know exactly how common (or how rare) the side effects of such medications may be.

Serious Side Effects
Some side effects with hydrocodone are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

* The urge to take more hydrocodone than prescribed or for a non-medical purpose (see Hydrocodone Addiction)
* Confusion
* Anxiety or fear
* Severe constipation
* Slow or irregular breathing
* A slow heart rate (bradycardia)
* Difficulty passing urine
* Low blood pressure (hypotension)
* Severe drowsiness
* Loss of balance or falling
* Signs of an allergic reaction, such as:

o An unexplained rash
o Hives
o Itching
o Swelling of the mouth or throat
o Wheezing
o Difficulty breathing.

Final Thoughts
You may experience some or none of the hydrocodone side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking the drug or if something "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.