Overview
Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen is available in tablet form for oral administration. Hydrocodone bitartrate is an opioid analgesic and occurs as fine, white crystals or as a crystalline powder. It is affected by light. The chemical name is 4,5α-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one tartrate (1:1) hydrate (2:5).
Mechanism of Action
Mechanism of Action Hydrocodone is full opioid agonist with relative selectivity for the mu-opioid (μ) receptor, although it can interact with other opioid receptors at higher doses. The principal therapeutic action of hydrocodone is analgesia. Like all full opioid agonists, there is no ceiling effect for analgesia with hydrocodone. Clinically, dosage is titrated to provide adequate analgesia and may be limited by adverse reactions, including respiratory and CNS depression. The precise mechanism of the analgesic action is unknown. However, specific CNS opioid receptors for endogenous compounds with opioid-like activity have been identified throughout the brain and spinal cord and are thought to play a role in the analgesic effects of this drug.
Indications
- Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablet is indicated for the management of pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. Limitations of Use Because of the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, with opioids, which can occur at dosage or duration [see WARNINGS], reserve Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets for use in patients for whom alternative treatment options [e.g.
Common Doses
- 5 mg
- 325 mg
- 7.5 mg
- 10 mg
Dosage
Important Dosage and Administration Instructions Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets should be prescribed only by healthcare professionals who are knowledgeable about the use of opiods and how to mitigate the associated risks. Use the lowest effective dosage for the shortest duration consistent with individual patient treatment goals [see WARNINGS]. Because the risk of overdose increases as opiod doses increase, reserve titration to higher doses of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets for patients in who, lower doses are insufficiently effective and in who, the...
Black Box Warning
WARNING: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF HYDRCODONE BITARTRATE AND ACETAMINOPHEN TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets exposes patients and other users to the risks of opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death, assess each patient’s risk prior to prescribing and reassess all patients regularly for the development of these behaviors and conditions [see WARNINGS].
Contraindications
- Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablet is contraindicated in patients with: • Significant respiratory depression [see WARNINGS] • Acute or severe bronchial asthma in an unmonitored setting or in the absence of resuscitative equipment [see WARNINGS] • Known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus [see WARNINGS] • Hypersensitivity to hydrocodone or acetaminophen (e.g., anaphylaxis) [see WARNINGS, ADVERSE REACTIONS]
Side Effects
- The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablet. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting.
Interactions
- No major interactions listed on the FDA label. Always consult a healthcare professional.