Description

Hydrocodone is a strong pain-relieving product that reduces pain by means of binding to the opioid receptors. The drug is derived from codeine and thebaine.As to the intensity of the pain-relieving action it is slightly inferior to codeine but Hydrocodone is better tolerated.

In many countries, sales of Hydrocodone are controlled by the government. This is a narcotic analgesic that may cause severe side effects during the overdose. But unlike other analgesics, Hydrocodone may reduce any pain regardless of its origin. This medicine is used in the treatment of the painful syndrome in oncology patients, patients with degenerative diseases of the locomotor system, during erosions of the bone tissue, severe traumas, and after surgeries. A pain-relieving effect of Hydrocodone occurs in 20 minutes after the use.

Besides a pain-relieving action, Hydrocodone inhibits a severe cough. As any opioid, it inhibits a breathing center and relaxes the muscle fibers in the walls of the respiratory tracts. Due to this, spasms and cough go away.

In what dose is Hydrocodone used?

Even a minimal dose of Hydrocodone is able to effectively inhibit an acute pain. But if a dose is low, the drug action will last for less than 4 hours. Therefore, you should select a onetime therapeutic dose so that the drug action lasts for 4 to 6 hours.

The treatment should be started from the minimal dose of Hydrocodone 2,5 mg. The pills are used 4-5 times per day depending on a state of a patient. If this dose is not enough and the frequent use of the drug is required, the dose is increased.

Not more than 40 mg of Hydrocodone is allowed taking within a day. The maxima dose is divided into 4 times (10 mg of Hydrocodone every 6 hours). But taking the maximal daily dose increases a risk of the opioid addiction. Therefore, Hydrocodone may be used this way for several days only.

A general length of the application of Hydrocodone should not exceed 4 weeks. More than 60% of people taking Hydrocodone for more than a month have had a medical addiction.

Precautions

• Hydrocodone provides a rather strong sedative action, and therefore avoid dangerous activities during the treatment
• If you have bronchial asthma or COPD, the use of Hydrocodone may enhance the symptoms of these disorders. The action of the drug is stronger on the respiratory center than in other narcotic analgesics (due to Codeine ingredients)
• Do not take Hydrocodone during pregnancy, lactation and if you are under 18 years old
• Do not consume alcohol, do not take sedative drugs, narcotic analgesics, and MAO inhibitors during the treatment

Side effects

A side effect of Hydrocodone may be caused by an overdose. In this case, patients have:

• Severe fatigue
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Dyspepsia
• Vomiting/nausea
• Allergic reaction

Allergy is the first sign of the intolerance of Hydrocodone. It means that it is necessary to stop taking the pills, have a gastric lavage and go to a doctor if the first symptoms of allergy appeared.