Vicodin
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| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| Hydrocodone | Opioid analgesic |
| Paracetamol | Anilide analgesic |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Hycet, Lorcet, Lorcet Plus, Lortab, Maxidone, Norco, Vicodin, Vicodin ES, Vicodin HP, Zamicet, Zydone, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | hydrocodone/paracetamol |
| Pregnancy category |
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| Routes of administration |
Oral |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | >80% |
| Metabolism | for hydrocodone: extensively hepatic, primarily CYP3A4; for acetaminophen: hepatic, CYP2E1 |
| Biological half-life | for hydrocodone: 228-294 mins (3.8-4.9 hrs); for paracetamol: 120-240 mins (2-4 hrs) |
| Excretion | for hydrocodone: urinary; for paracetamol: urinary (10-15% unchanged) |
| Identifiers | |
| PubChem CID | |
| ChemSpider | |
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Hydrocodone/paracetamol, also known as hydrocodone/acetaminophen or hydrocodone/APAP and marketed under the trade name Vicodin among others, is the combination of an opioid pain medication, hydrocodone, with paracetamol (acetaminophen). It is used as a prescription drug to relieve moderate to severe pain. It exists in tablet, elixir and solution in various strengths for oral administration.
It can be addictive and is easy to overdose on.
Hydrocodone/acetaminophen is a two-ingredient combination formula consisting of the opioid hydrocodone and the non-opioid analgesic acetaminophen. It is indicated for relief of moderate to severe pain of acute, chronic or postoperative types. Hydrocodone/acetaminophen comes in oral solution and tablet formulations; however strength of each component may vary. In October 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration rescheduled hydrocodone combination drugs from schedule III to schedule II due to its risk for misuse, abuse, and diversions.
Hydrocodone diversion and recreational use has escalated in recent years due to its opioid effects. In 2009 and 2010, hydrocodone was the second-most frequently encountered opioid pharmaceutical in drug evidence submitted to U.S. federal, state, and local forensic laboratories as reported by DEA’s National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) and System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence (STRIDE).
Pregnancy category C: Risk in pregnancy cannot be ruled out. Animal controlled studies have not been conducted with this medication.
Low concentrations of acetaminophen is excreted through breast milk, however, hydrocodone's excretion is unknown.
Use with caution due to possible risk of toxicity.
* Exact prevalence (%) is unknown
"Acetaminophen has been associated with cases of acute liver failure, at times resulting in liver transplant and death. Most of the cases of liver injury are associated with the use of acetaminophen at doses that exceed 4000 milligrams per day, and often involve more than one acetaminophen-containing product."
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Wikipedia