April 8th, 2009
Hydrocodone is often prescribed as a pain medication and it is also used to suppress coughs. This medication is often prescribed as a tablet, capsule and syrups (for coughs). Hydrocodone is usually combined together with acetaminophen. It is usually traded under the names Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan, Hydromet, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Symtan and Vicodin. This drug is an opioid and is highly addictive.
Hydrocodone should not be a problem if it is followed as directed, however many people choose to abuse the drug. Addiction is serious and medical treatment is needed as it can be destructive not only to the addict, but also to the ones close to the individual.
What Cause Hydrocodone Addiction?
Because hydrocodone is opioid based, it is very easy for people to get addicted to the drug. Some people experience a state of pleasure when they take the medication. If using hydrocodone becomes regular, then the brain and body become dependent on the euphoric feeling that the drug creates. It is at that time that the body will have a craving for the drug as your brain will stop naturally producing the chemicals that make you happy. The individual becomes dependent on the drug as a result of this.
What Are the Signs of Hydrocodone Addiction
Noticing the signs associated with hydrocodone addiction may be difficult for the individual who is under the control of the drug. There are certain tell-tale signs that can be used to determine if a person is addicted to hydrocodone or not. These are listed below.
- The constant need of the drug to make them feel normal or in a state of euphoria.
- Use of the drug even though they know that it is harmful to them
- Failure to perform tasks or meet goals in life.
- Partaking in risky behavior, disregarding safety for themselves and others.
- Multiple failed attempts to stop using hydrocodone.
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April 2nd, 2009
Veterinarians often use hydrocodone when it comes to the treatment of dogs. The drug is very effective when it comes to treating certain problems with dogs. Even though hydrocodone is not as effective as morphine, it is still effective.
Veterinarians often give dogs’ hydrocodone as a medication to treat kennel cough. The hydrocodone that they use is different from the ones that humans take. There is no acetaminophen in their medication as it is toxic to dogs. Even though the hydrocdone is given to dogs as a cough suppressant, the liquid itself doest not contain acetaminophen (APAP).
If you have hydrocodone pills that were prescribed for humans you should not give it to your dog for pain management. You could end up killing your pet, especially if there is a dosage that may prove to be too much for the animal.
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April 2nd, 2009
Hydrocodone with acetaminophen is a very effective drug when it comes to pain management and treatment. Before taking the drug, there are certain precautions that need to be adhered to.
If you are an individual who is allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol), then you should refrain from taking this medication. If you have any allergies to drugs or have certain medical conditions then you should inform your doctor and not take the medication. Medical conditions such as:
- Kidney or liver disease
- Low blood pressure
- Brain tumor
- A head injury
- Sleep Apnea
- Asthma
- Breathing disorder
- Underactive thyroid
- Intestinal or stomach problem
- Mental illness
- History of drug abuse
Hydrocodone is a highly addictive drug and it should only be used by the person who the drug was prescribed to. If a person has a history of being a drug abuser, they should never be given hydrocodone and acetaminophen. This drug should be well secured, as people will abuse it if given a chance.
In regards to pregnancy, hydrocodone should not be taken. It is regarded by the FDA as a pregnancy category C drug. This drug can be harmful to an unborn child. If taken while pregnant, the baby may experience addiction or withdrawal symptoms. It should also not be taken by women who are breastfeeding as hydrocodone and acetaminophen can be passed from the milk tot the baby.
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April 2nd, 2009
When taking hydrocodone it is very important to learn about how it interacts with other drugs. It is important to discuss the doctor beforehand about the different drugs you are taking before they consider prescribing hydrocodone.
The reason for this is that drug interactions can be fatal or cause serious injury to the person taking these medications. It is very important to know what drugs you are currently taking or have taken a few months before.
The list of drugs includes:
- Antidepressant medication such as clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), and more.
- Urinary or blader medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), solifenacin (Vesicare), flavoxate (Urispas), darifenacin (Enablex) or tolterodine (Detrol)
- MAO inhibitors such as rasagiline (Azilect), isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam) or phenelzine (Nardil),
- atropine (Donnatal, and others), scopolamine (Transderm-Scop), mepenzolate (Cantil), glycopyrrolate (Robinul), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or benztropine (Cogentin)
- Bronchodilator such as tiotropium (Spiriva) or ipratropium (Atrovent)
- Medications for irritable bowel such as propantheline (Pro-Banthine), dicyclomine (Bentyl), or hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others)
This is not a complete list as there might be other medication that can interact negatively with hydrocodone and acetaminophen. The doctor should be aware of all the medication that you are taking whether it be prescription or over-the-counter. Supplements, vitamins and other types products should be also told to the doctor.
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April 2nd, 2009
Hydrocodone is one of those drugs that can effectively help with pain management. Despite it being very beneficial for pain, there are some people who take it and become nauseous.
Nausea a Hydrocodone Side Effect
Generally when hydrocodone is prescribed it is often with anti-nausea medication. When taking hydrocodone it is highly recommended that it be taken with food, as you can experience the nauseous feeling.
The nausea associated with hydrocodone is a common side effect and it can be a horrible feeling for the person experiencing it. Hydrocodone is an opiate and everyone reacts differently to it. Vomiting and nausea can happen with people who take the drug. If the dosage is too high then people can often find themselves experiencing some of the symptoms.
If you experience nausea or vomiting after taking hydrocodone then it is recommended that you go back and visit the doctor. The doctor should be able to determine if the dosage of hydrocodone is causing the problem or your just not reacting particularly well to this specific drug. The doctor can prescribe another drug that can help greatly with the pain management. The doctor can also give you some medication that should be able to ease the symptoms that you are experiencing.
Hydrocodone & Nausea Experience
Some people who have taken the drug have stated that the nausea that they felt was one of the worst feelings in the world. Everything they tried to settle their stomach did not work and the feeling really got to them. Some have stated that it lasted as long as 5 hours, if it lasts longer than that or the symptoms are extreme then it is best to visit a doctor.
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March 14th, 2009
Hydrocodone & Pregnancy
Many women who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant and also take hydrocodone for pain want to know if it will affect the baby? There is no evidence or studies that are available that will directly state that hydrocodone should not be taken during pregnancy. The best advice for women who are currently taking hydrocodone is to speak with their doctor or OB-GYN. They will know what is safe and what is not.
Hydrocodone is a Category C drug. This means that studies conducted on animals have shown undesirable effects on the fetus. It also relates to having no controlled studies being performed on either women or animals. The recommendation for this level drug is that it should be given if the benefits outweigh the possible risk to the fetus.
The one possible concern many women have in regards to hydrocodone is the fact that the baby might become addicted if taken regularly close to the end of the pregnancy. As stated earlier there is no direct evidence that shows that this is possible. The doctor will be able to determine if taking hydrocodone in the last trimester of the pregnancy is dangerous.
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March 14th, 2009
Hydrocodone is a highly addictive prescription painkiller and many people often want to know if there is a hydrocodone lethal dose.
There is no specific amount of hydrocodone that can be considered a lethal dose as it usually depends on a host of factors. A lethal dose is usually determined by a person’s metabolism, weight and tolerance to the drug.
People who have a very high metabolism have a very high risk for toxicity and overdose. Dosages that are considered to be normal to some people, may be fatal someone with a high metabolism.
Another factor that could cause hydrocodone to become lethal is that usually some people are allergic to opiates. This in itself can be very lethal to the taker of the drug. What might be a low dose to someone, may be a lethal dose to others.
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March 14th, 2009
Pain is something that people can’t stand or tolerate. People who break limbs, been in accidents or have pain after surgery often want something to reduce the feeling. In today’s modern world, there are plethora of drugs that are available to help combat pain that people feel. Some of these drugs are highly addictive and it can interfere with individual’s whole way of life.
The scenario mentioned above is very common for countless young people in America. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are addicted to prescription medications that are opiate based. A very popular prescription medication that is being abused is hydrocodone, a drug that is used to treat pain.
People who are prescribed hydrocodone, should follow instructions very carefully as the drug is highly addictive. People can find themselves dependent on the drug, if they take more than what is recommended.
Many doctors have described the addiction to the hydrocodone drug as an epidemic. There are many young adults and teenagers who use the drugs recreationally and their addiction is so strong, they have a hard time breaking it.
The reasons why people abuse hydrocodone is based on the fact that the drug is an opiate. These types of drugs are known to give people euphoric and happy feelings after using it. It is very effective at treating pain, however it is highly addictive. People who are given the drug are often weaned off it very slowly. This is done to ensure that the individual does not suffer any withdrawal symptoms, based on addiction.
Many doctors are concerned about the abuse of this drug. It is very easy to get and it can be found in many different households in the country. Many teenagers who want to experiment will often steal from their parents’ medicine cabinets. Many people state that the problem needs to tackled as it is blowing into a full scale epidemic.
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March 13th, 2009
Some people can have an allergic reaction to hydrocodone and the symptoms are often the same as any other medication allergy.
If an individual is allergic to codeine then there is a good chance that they may experience some allergic reactions to hydrocodone. The reason for this is that hydrocodone is a synthetic opiate and its chemical structure is similar to that of codeine. This should be taken into consideration by people who are going to begin taking the medication.
The typical symptoms of a hydrocodone allergic reactionare hives, rashes, swelling and itching. If you experience any of those symptoms then you should visit a doctor immediately.
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March 13th, 2009
any people Mwho take the prescription drug hydrocodone want to know what will happen if they take it with alcohol. It is well known that medication should not be mixed with alcohol, as the results can be fatal. In the case of Hydrocodone, it depresses the central nervous system. Alcohol has the same effect and when depression of the central nervous system occurs then side effects like reduced breathing, unconsciousness and a slow heart rate will all occur. Death is highly possible and it is for that reason that hydrocodone should not be mixed with alcohol.
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