What is Vicodin?

Vicodin contains acetaminophen and hydrocodone that belongs to the opioid pain medication class making it an effective treatment for moderate to severe pain when other treatments are not working well. It binds the opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system to reduce pain signals across the body. 

Important Information

• Take Vicodin tablets under the supervision of your doctor, especially the initial dosages.
• Please don't rely only on Vicodin to treat your pain; you should also follow your doctor's advice to let the treatment work more effectively.   
• You are required to have frequent health checkups while taking Vicodin. 
• We advise you to keep track of your medicine. Keep it under your custody, away from children and anyone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. 
• Sudden withdrawal of Vicodin can be fatal. Please consult your doctor before leaving it; your doctor will gradually decrease your medicine dose to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
• You can either buy the medicine online or offline, provided that you hold an appropriate prescription from a doctor. It is because buying or selling without a proper prescription is strictly prohibited under the law, and authorities may hold you liable for punishment if you do so. 

What to know before taking Vicodin?

Being an opioid pain reliever, Vicodin is highly addictive and habit-forming even at regular doses. To avoid adverse effects of Vicodin, please take care of all necessary precautions while taking Vicodin.  In addition to the above all, you need to consider the following things before starting your treatment with Vicodin:

• Using Vicodin is not advisable if you are allergic to it or any of its components or similar drugs. 
• Please consult your doctor before taking Vicodin if you have or ever had the following health disorders:
  • Breathing problem
  • Sleep apnea 
  • Liver disease 
  • Addiction to drugs or alcohol
  • Kidney disease
  • Head injuries
  • Seizures
  • Urination problem 
  • Thyroid
  • Problem in pancreas 
  • Problem with gallbladder 
  • Symptoms of serotonin syndrome
  • Blockage in the stomach or intestine 
• Avoid taking Vicodin if you have consumed any MAO inhibitors in the last 14 days. 
• You should not take Vicodin if you are an alcoholic or drug addict. 
• It is advisable to avoid taking Vicodin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; Vicodin is not safe for your child's health and may cause them congenital disabilities.
• Ask your physician about all the risks and benefits associated with the medicine. 

How to take Vicodin?

• Vicodin is a highly addictive medicine that binds the opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system and can become dangerous for your health if taken inappropriately. 
• Therefore, you should take medicine as directed by your doctor. You are also required to follow all the instructions and directions given on the medication and prescription label. 
• Moreover, it is also advisable to follow the guidelines issued by the health authorities under the Opioid Analgesic REMS program.
• You can also talk to your doctor if you don't feel any improvement in your health condition.

Vicodin dosage

Vicodin is a medicinal combination of two different drugs such as acetaminophen and hydrocodone, that works as an opioid pain medication help to treat moderate to severe pain.  However, it is a dangerous medication; therefore, we advise you to consult your doctor for the correct and suitable Vicodin dosage.   Your doctor will examine you thoroughly before prescribing you suitable Vicodin dosages. Doctors generally take care of the following factors before prescribing you appropriate medicine dosages:

• Age of the patient 
• Weight of the patient 
• The medical condition of the patient 

The following are the usual Vicodin dosage that your doctor can prescribe you:

Dosage for treating pain (moderate to severe)

In the form of VICODIN 5 mg/300 mg

• For adults 

One to two Vicodin tablets after every four to six hours or as and when required

• For children 

Using Vicodin tablets for treating patients younger than 18 years is risky; therefore, you should talk to your pediatrist before giving Vicodin to your child.   In the form of VICODIN ES 7.5 mg/300 mg

• For adults 

One to two Vicodin ES tablets after every four to six hours or as and when required

• For children 

Using Vicodin tablets for treating patients younger than 18 years is risky; therefore, you should talk to your pediatrist before giving Vicodin to your child.   In the form of VICODIN HP 10 mg/300 mg

• For adults 

One to two Vicodin HP tablets after every four to six hours or as and when required

• For children 

Using Vicodin tablets for treating patients younger than 18 years is risky; therefore, you should talk to your pediatrist before giving Vicodin to your child.  

Overdose

You may experience the following life-threatening overdose symptoms if you have taken medicine in excess or used it without consulting your doctor. 

• Loss of appetite 
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Sweating 
• Pain in upper stomach
• Dark urine
• Yellowness in the eyes and skin
• Extreme drowsiness
• Pinpoint pupil 
• Cold and clammy skin
• Fainting 
• Weak pulse
• Shallow breathing
• Blue lips 
• Slow heart rate 

Ignoring these fatal overdose symptoms is not advisable at any cost. You should consult your doctor ASAP if you need any medical assistance. You can also seek emergency medical help by calling the poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222. 

What to avoid while using Vicodin?

• Consuming herbal products, vitamins, and other nutritional supplements while using Vicodin is unsafe; They can dangerously interact with the medicine.
• Please ask your doctor before taking any cold or allergy medicine simultaneously with Vicodin. 
• The interaction of Vicodin with alcohol is life-threatening; please avoid taking them together. 
• Taking Vicodin tablets may cause dizziness or drowsiness as your thought process might be impaired; therefore, you should avoid driving and performing activities that can lead to severe injuries or accidents. 

Vicodin side effects

Vicodin primarily affects your brain and nervous system to relieve pain and may cause you the following side effects:

• Drowsiness or dizziness 
• Headache 
• Upset stomach 
• Constipation 
• Blurred vision 
• Dry mouth

It is obvious to experience these mild side effects after using Vicodin, and you should not worry too much about them unless they are bothering you too much. However, it is necessary to consult your doctor if these mild side effects are unbearable or making your life too complicated.  Please stop taking Vicodin and seek emergency medical assistance ASAP if you experience the following health issues while taking Vicodin:

• Noisy breathing 
• Sighing 
• Slow or shallow breathing 
• Sleep apnea (breathing that stops while sleeping)
• Lightheadedness 
• Confusion 
• Mood swings or behavior disorder 
• Seizures or convulsions 
• Easy bruising or bleeding 
• Infertility (both in men and women) 
• Irregular menstruation cycle 
• Impotence or any other sexual disorder 
• Damaged liver resulting in nausea or vomiting, pain in the upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, jaundice, clay-colored urine 
• Low cortisol level in the body resulting in loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, tiredness, weakness, dizziness 
• High serotonin levels in the body causing agitation, fever, hallucination, shivering, sweating, fast heart rate, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, twitching in the muscles, loss of coordination. 
• Any other severe allergic reaction to the medicine

What drugs can interact with Vicodin?

The medicines that can interact with Vicodin include the following:

• Cold or allergy medications 
• Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder medications 
• Medicine for motion sickness 
• Medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome
• Medicines for the overreactive syndrome
• Narcotic drugs 
• Opioid pain medications 
• Sedative Sleeping pills 
• MAO inhibitor 
• Medicines to treat mental illness 
• Anti-anxiety
• Anti-depressants
• Medicines to treat migraine 
• Stimulants 
• Medicines for nausea and vomiting 

The interaction of these medicines with Vicodin can be detrimental to your health; therefore, we advise you to tell your doctor about all the medications or therapies you are taking before starting your Vicodin dosage.  Moreover; it is also advisable to tell your doctor if you are taking the following medicines simultaneously with Vicodin:

• Antibiotics
• Antifungal medicine 
• Medications used for maintaining blood pressure level 
• Heart medications 
• Antiseizure medications
• Drugs used to treat HIV ADIS and hepatitis C 
• Other over-the-counter medicines