Hydrocodone is a generic medication sold under the brand name Hysingla and others. It is an opioid analgesic to treat severe long-term pain when other treatment options are not sufficient.
People also buy hydrocodone online for cough suppression in adults. It is an oral medication usually available in combination with acetaminophen and ibuprofen. As a single-ingredient product, hydrocodone comes only as a long-acting formulation medicine.
Hydrocodone got patented in 1923, and its long-acting formulation got approval for medical use in the year 2013 in the United States. The wholesale cost of a long-acting hydrocodone is about $10 to $30 per dose as of 2019.
It is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, which consumes about 80-90% of the worldwide supply of hydrocodone.
Manufacturers derive hydrocodone from opium poppy after converting it to codeine. It is almost similar to morphine in terms of efficacy and effectiveness; hydrocodone 10 mg is equivalent to morphine oral 10 mg.
Hydrocodone also causes side effects along with its needed effects. Most frequently occurring adverse effects of hydrocodone include:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Dry throat
- Difficult urination
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Contraction of pupils
Hydrocodone misuse may cause progressive bilateral hearing loss that does not respond to steroid therapy. This adverse reaction is rare and occurs due to the ototoxicity of hydrocodone.
The medication is in the C pregnancy category of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A baby born of a mother regularly taking hydrocodone will be physically dependent on the medication. The infant might exhibit respiratory depression if hydrocodone doses were high.
Hydrocodone may be habit-forming, even at recommended dosages. It can cause physical or psychological dependence and has a high potential for abuse and addiction.
