$Unique_ID{BRK01810}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{ACETAMINOPHEN AND HYDROCODONE COMBINATION}
$Subject{Amacodone (Trimen)
Bancap HC (Forest)
Co-Gesic (Central)
Damacet-P (Mason)
Dolacet (Hauck)
Duradyne DHC (Forest)
Hydrogesic (Edwards)
Hy-Phen (Ascher)
Lortab 5 (Russ)
Norcet (Abana)
T-Gesic (T.E. Williams)
Vicodin (Knoll)
Zydone (DuPont)}
$Volume{}
$Log{
Vicodin*0181001.scf}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


ACETAMINOPHEN AND HYDROCODONE COMBINATION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     Amacodone (Trimen)
     Bancap HC (Forest)
     Co-Gesic (Central)
     Damacet-P (Mason)
     Dolacet (Hauck)
     Duradyne DHC (Forest)
     Hydrogesic (Edwards)
     Hy-Phen (Ascher)
     Lortab 5 (Russ) [*]
     Norcet (Abana) [*]
     T-Gesic (T.E. Williams)
     Vicodin (Knoll)
     Zydone (DuPont)
  *  Available in different strengths
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Analgesic combination
INGREDIENTS:
     acetaminophen and hydrocodone
DOSAGE FORMS:
     Tablets (500 mg acetaminophen with 2.5 mg, 5 mg, or 7.5 mg hydrocodone;
       650 mg acetaminophen with 7.5 mg hydrocodone; 750 mg acetaminophen with
       7.5 mg hydrocodone)
     Capsules (500 mg acetaminophen with 5 mg hydrocodone)
     Liquid (120 mg acetaminophen with 2.5 mg hydrocodone per 5-ml spoonful,
       with 7% alcohol)

STORAGE:
     Acetaminophen and hydrocodone combination tablets, capsules, and liquid
       should be stored at room temperature in tightly closed, light-resistant
       containers.

USES

     This medication is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.  Hydrocodone
is a narcotic analgesic that acts on the central nervous system (brain and
spinal cord) to relieve pain.

TREATMENT

     To avoid stomach upset, take this drug with food or milk.
     Each dose of the oral liquid form of this medication should be measured
carefully with a specially designed 5-ml measuring spoon.  An ordinary kitchen
teaspoon is not accurate enough.
     This medication works most effectively if you take it at the onset of
pain, rather than waiting until the pain becomes intense.
     If you are taking this medication on a regular schedule and you miss a
dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible, unless it is almost time for
your next dose.  In that case, don't take the missed dose at all; just return
to your regular dosing schedule.  Do not double the next dose.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, false sense of wellbeing, flushing,
light-headedness, loss of appetite, nausea, painful or difficult urination, or
sweating.  These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the
medication.
     If you are constipated, increase the amount of fiber in your diet (fresh
fruits and vegetables, salads, bran, and whole-grain breads), exercise, and
drink more water (unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise).
     To reduce mouth dryness, chew sugarless gum or suck on ice chips or hard
candy.
     If you feel dizzy or light-headed, sit or lie down for a while; get up
from a sitting or reclining position slowly, and be careful on stairs.

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
anxiety, difficulty in breathing, excitation, fatigue, palpitations, rash,
restlessness, sore throat and fever, tremors, unusual bleeding or bruising,
weakness, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

INTERACTIONS

This medication interacts with several other types of drugs:
     1. Concurrent use of this medication with other central nervous system
depressants (such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepine
tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, and phenothiazine tranquilizers) or with
tricyclic antidepressants can cause extreme drowsiness.
     2. A monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor taken within 14 days of this drug
can lead to unpredictable and severe side effects.
     3. Long-term use and high doses of the acetaminophen portion of this
medication can increase the effects of oral anticoagulants (blood thinners,
such as warfarin); this combination may lead to bleeding complications.
     4. Anticonvulsants (antiseizure medications), barbiturates, and alcohol
can increase the liver toxicity caused by large doses of the acetaminophen
portion of this medication.
     BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
taking, especially any of those listed above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any medications, especially to acetaminophen, hydrocodone, or other narcotic
analgesics (such as codeine, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine,
oxycodone, and propoxyphene).  Tell your doctor if you now have or if you have
ever had acute abdominal conditions, asthma, blood disorders, brain disease,
colitis, epilepsy, gallstones or gallbladder disease, a head injury, heart
disease, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, mental illness, prostate
disease, thyroid disease, or urethral strictures.
     * If this drug makes you dizzy or drowsy, do not take part in any
activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
potentially dangerous equipment.
     * Before having surgery or any other medical or dental treatment, be sure
to tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.
     * Because this product contains hydrocodone, it has the potential for
abuse and must be used with caution.  Usually, it should not be taken on a
regular schedule for longer than ten days at a time.  Tolerance develops
quickly; do not increase the dosage or stop taking the drug abruptly unless
you first consult your doctor.  If you have been taking large amounts of this
medication for long periods, you may experience a withdrawal reaction
(diarrhea, excessive yawning, gooseflesh, irritability, muscle aches, nausea,
runny nose, shivering, sleep disorders, stomach cramps, sweating, trembling,
vomiting, or weakness).  Your doctor may, therefore, want to reduce the dosage
gradually.
     * Because this product contains acetaminophen, additional medications
that contain acetaminophen should not be taken without your doctor's approval.
Check the labels on over-the-counter (nonprescription) pain, sinus, allergy,
asthma, diet, cough, and cold products to see if they contain acetaminophen.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  The effects of this
medication during pregnancy have not been thoroughly studied in humans.
Regular use of hydrocodone in large doses during pregnancy can result in
addiction of the fetus, leading to withdrawal symptoms (diarrhea, excessive
crying, excessive yawning, fever, irritability, sneezing, tremors, or
vomiting) at birth.  Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an
infant.  Small amounts of this medication may pass into breast milk and cause
excessive drowsiness in the nursing infant.

----------------

The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
