Hydrocodone
Pronunciation:high-droh-KOH-done
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:125-29-1. (Bitartrate form 34195-
34-1)
Formal Names:Anexsia, Dicodid, Dihydrocodeinone, Duratuss HD Elixir, His-
tussin D, Hycodan, Hycomine, Hycotuss, Hydrocet, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Tus-
send, Tussionex, Tylox, Vicodin (tablets, ES tablets, HP tablets, and Tuss
expectorant), Vicoprofen, Zydone
Informal Names:Tuss
Type:Depressant (opiate class).Seepage 22
Federal Schedule Listing:Schedule II if dispensed by itself (DEA no. 9193); Sched-
ule III if dispensed as part of a combination product
USA Availability:Prescription
Pregnancy Category:C
Uses.Physicians use this drug to suppress coughs and relieve pain. Com-
mercial formulations of the substance routinely combine it with other drugs
so a patient obtains multiple therapeutic effects. The combinations can also
worsen effects from overdose. Hydrocodone is derived fromthebaine, and
body chemistry apparently converts some of a hydrocodone dose intohydro-
morphone. Hydrocodone’s effects are likened to those ofcodeine, but de-
pending on circumstances of dosage, hydrocodone is two to eight times
stronger. Taking into account the differences in potency, hydrocodone pro-
duces more sedation than codeine.
Drawbacks.Unwanted effects can include hiccups, muscle spasms, dizzi-
ness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and impairment of breathing. The drug
can dull mental and physical alertness, so users should avoid operating dan-
gerous machinery. Some pharmaceutical formats of hydrocodone combine
that drug with the pain reliever acetaminophen, and excessive usage of that
combination can cause deafness.
Abuse factors.Hydrocodone can produce euphoria, and the compound’s
potential for abuse is rated similar to codeine’s. A medical experiment testing
both those drugs found that 18 doses were not enough to produce tolerance.
Urine from a person using codeine can test positive for hydrocodone. Drug
abuse treatment programs seeking to switchheroinaddicts to some other
opiate have successfully used hydrocodone instead ofmethadone.