What is hydrocodone?
hydrocodone vs oxycodone is a potent opioid used to manage severe and persistent pain that requires an extended treatment period with a daily opioid pain medicine, when other non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough, or you cannot tolerate them.
It is available as long-acting, extended-release (ER) tablets (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER [discontinued], generics) or in combination with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Other combination hydrocodone medications that contain phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine have been discontinued. Hydrocodone is not available nor recommended for pediatric use.
Long-acting opioid pain medicines, such as hydrocodone bitartrate ER tablets, can put you at risk for overdose and death. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed, you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death
Important Information About Hydrocodone
Get emergency help or call 911 right away if you take too much hydrocodone (overdose). When you first start taking hydrocodone, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur. Ask your healthcare provider about medicines like naloxone or nalmefene that can be used in an emergency to reverse an opioid overdose.
Taking hydrocodone with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
Never give anyone else your hydrocodone. They could die from taking it. Selling or giving away hydrocodone is against the law.
Store hydrocodone securely, out of sight and reach of children, and in a location not accessible by others, including visitors to the home.
How do I Take Hydrocodone?hydrocodone vs oxycodone
Hydrocodone ER tablets should be taken 1 tablet at a time, once a day. Do not pre-soak, lick, or wet the tablet before placing it in your mouth to avoid choking on the tablet.
- Swallow hydrocodone ER tablets whole. Do not cut, break, chew, crush, dissolve, snort, or inject hydrocodone because this may cause you to overdose and die.
When taking hydrocodone:
- Do not change your dose. Take hydrocodone exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Use the lowest dose possible for the shortest time needed.
- Take your prescribed dose of hydrocodone ER every 24 hours, at the same time every day. Do not take more than your prescribed dose in 24 hours. If you miss a dose, take your next dose at your usual time the next day.
- Call your healthcare provider if the dose you are taking does not control your pain.
- Do not stop taking hydrocodone ER tablets without talking to your healthcare provider.
