Effects of Hydrocodone Apap
Hydrocodone Apap is a narcotic opioid prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain. It has also been used as a cough suppressant. A usual dose is 7.5 milligrams of Hydrocodone and 500 milligrams of acetaminophen (which is also a fever reducer), called 7.5/500, by pill every 4-6 hours. It is a white, odorless pill with a slight saline taste.
-
Physical effects
-
Hydrocodone Apap may affect users differently depending on dose and tolerance levels. It may cause nausea and stomach upset (especially if taken on an empty stomach), light-headedness, shallow breathing, loss of appetite, headache, dry mouth, and blurred vision. Hydrocodone use may also result in jaundice and problems urinating. Taking Hydrocodone Apap without food provides the fastest absorption, but can result in stomach irritation, so most patients take it with food or milk.
Mental effects
-
Hydrocodone may cause a feeling of dizziness or nervousness/anxiety. More serious effects may include a change in mood, irritable behavior and seizure. Hydrocodone may cause unusual thoughts and possibly even convulsions. Feelings of sedation are also common so users are advised not to drive or operate machinery.
-
Addiction
-
Hydrocodone Apap may be habit forming, especially in patients who have prior drug addiction history. Known by its common name of Lortab or Vicodin, it is more potent than codeine. It is a Schedule III controlled substance. Physical dependence on the drug may begin after only a few weeks of continued use, after which larger doses are required to maintain the euphoric feeling the drug may provide. Some drug users crush and snort Hydrocodone Apap, others inject it directly into their veins.
Pregnancy
-
Taking Hydrocodone Apap while pregnant or during delivery is not advised. Babies may be born physically dependent on the drug and have to go through a painful withdrawal process (including vomiting, tremors, excessive crying and irritability, and fever). Mothers taking Hydrocodone directly before delivery may cause respiratory distress in their newborns. The drug may also be passed along through breast milk.
Interactions
-
The following drugs may interact with Hydrodocone Apap and should be discussed with your doctor: antidepressants, irritable bowel syndrome medications, MAO inhibitors, and bronchodilators. Inform your doctor of any other over-the-counter drugs, birth control, or supplements/vitamins as well to prevent any possible interactions. Patients with liver damage or who consume more than three units of alcohol per day may not be able to take Hydrocodone Apap due to the acetaminophen's effect on liver. Patients who have the following conditions should also let their doctor know when discussing Hydrocodone use: under active thyroid, head injury or brain tumor, mental illness, adrenal gland disorder, and low blood pressure.
-
