Hydrocodone |
16) Information on
Hydrocodone
 Drug Facts: Hydrocodone or dihydrocodeinone
(marketed as Vicodin, Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab,
Norco, Tussionex, Vicoprofen) is an opioid derived from either of the naturally
occurring opiates codeine or thebaine. Hydrocodone is also an antitussive
(cough suppressant) and analgesic agent for the treatment
 of moderate to moderately severe pain. Studies indicate that
hydrocodone is as effective, or more effective, than codeine for cough
suppression and nearly equipotent to morphine for pain relief.
Hydrocodone is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the
United States with nearly 130 million prescriptions for hydrocodone-containing
products dispensed in 2006. There are several hundred brand name and generic
hydrocodone products marketed.
Hydrocodone
diversion and abuse has been escalating in recent years. In 2006, hydrocodone
was the most frequently encountered opioid pharmaceutical in drug evidence
submitted to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) with
25,136 exhibits; the System to Retrieve Investigational Drug Evidence (STRIDE)
analyzed 654 exhibits in 2006. In the 2005 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN)
combination products were associated with more emergency room visits than any
other pharmaceutical opioid with an estimated 51,225 emergency room visits.
Poison control data, medical examiners' reports, and treatment center data all
indicate that the abuse of hydrocodone is associated with significant public
health risks, including a substantial number of deaths.
As a narcotic, hydrocodone relieves pain by binding
to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. It may be taken with or
without food, but should never be combined with alcohol. It may interact with
monoamine oxidase inhibitors, as well as other drugs that cause drowsiness. It
is in FDA pregnancy category C: its effect on an unborn embryo or fetus is not
clearly known and pregnant women should consult their physicians before taking
it. Common side effects include dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, drowsiness,
euphoria, vomiting, and constipation. Some less common side effects are
allergic reaction, blood disorders, changes in mood, mental fogginess, anxiety,
lethargy, difficulty urinating, spasm of the ureter, irregular or depressed
respiration and rash.
The
presence of acetaminophen in hydrocodone-containing products deters many drug
users from taking excessive amounts. However, some users will get around this
by extracting a portion of the acetaminophen using hot/cold water, taking
advantage of the water-soluble element of the drug. It is not uncommon for
addicts to have liver problems from taking excessive amounts of acetaminophen
over a long period of time--taking 10-15 grams of acetaminophen in a period of
24 hours typically results in severe hepatotoxicity (toxic damage to the
liver). It is this factor that leads many addicts to use only single entity
opiates such as OxyContin.
Effects: Hydrocodone in an analgesic and antitussive
agent structurally similar to codeine but with effects more similar to
morphine.
Hydrocodone is
abused for its opioid effects. Widespread diversion via bogus call-in
prescriptions, altered prescriptions, theft and illicit purchases from Internet
sources are made easier by the present controls placed on hydrocodone products.
Hydrocodone pills are the most frequently encountered dosage form in illicit
traffic. Hydrocodone is generally abused orally, often in combination with
alcohol.
As with most opiates, abuse of hydrocodone is
associated with tolerance, dependence, and addiction. The co-formulation with
acetaminophen carries an additional risk of liver toxicity when high, acute
doses are consumed. Data suggests that some individuals who abuse very high
doses of acetaminophen-containing hydrocodone products may be spared this liver
toxicity if they have been chronically taking these products and have escalated
their dose slowly over a long period of time.
Street Names:
Vikes, Hydro, Norco, Watson-387
Mode of Use:
The combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone comes as a tablet,
capsule, and liquid to take by mouth.
Symptoms of
hydrocodone overdose include:
- respiratory depression
- extreme somnolence (sleepiness,drowsiness)
- stupor
- cold and/or clammy skin
- sometimes bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
- hypotension
- coma
A severe overdose
may involve circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest and/or death.
Rehabilitation: Successful rehabilitation includes a
calm, stress free environment, plenty of liquids, and replenishing of vitamins
that have been burned out of the body. Use of a mild sedative to help sleep is
often helpful, as the lack of sleep is what can cause the hallucinations. After
feeling physically better, proper rehabilitation therapy can commence that
deals with relapse prevention, dealing with the reasons the addict turned to
drugs in the first place, and any personal failings that need strengthening. It
is highly recommended that a daily routine of proper exercise, nutrition, and
rest be followed as effective relapse and craving prevention. Ideally a
cleansing program would be also administered to help rid the body of the
residual toxins that can impair health in the future and cause
cravings.
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