Get Informed: Hydrocodone
Active Ingredient(s)
Hydrocodone
What does it do?
This product is used in combination with acetaminophen or other NSAIDs in the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain. It is a narcotic analgesic that also has cough suppressant properties.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:04 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-18 6:14 PM
Other Names
- Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone Bitartrate
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 03 May 1982
- Est US Patients*
- 2,294,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Hydrocodone or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Hydrocodone
There have been no alerts regarding Hydrocodone during the past year.
Hydrocodone Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Hydrocodone used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 13,400 patients that use Hydrocodone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | 30% | 
|
| Osteoarthritis | 17% |
|
| Back / Neck Pain | 14% | 
|
| Migraine / Headache | 11% |
|
| Pain-Musculoskeletal | 7% | 
|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 6% | 
|
| Fibromyalgia | 4% |
|
| Other | 21% |
|
How well does Hydrocodone work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 13,400 users taking Hydrocodone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 76%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Hydrocodone outweigh the bad things.
- 19%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Hydrocodone.
Common Side Effects of Hydrocodone
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 13,400 users taking Hydrocodone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
44% of patients experience side-effects on Hydrocodone
7% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Hydrocodone
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Constipation
-
Drowsiness
-
Nausea/Vomiting
-
Dizziness
-
Itch/Rash
-
Insomnia
-
Fatigue
-
Anxiety
-
Abdominal Pain
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Bladder/Urinary Problems, Blurred Vision, Chest Pain/Tightness, Dry Mouth, Grogginess/Confusion, Hair Loss, Loss of Appetite, Rebound Headache, Swelling/Edema, Weight Gain
Global Patient Feedback for Hydrocodone ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I'm a 50 year old male and about a year and a half ago i developed degenerative joint disease in my hips with my right hip being way worse. I started taking 5/1000 of hydrocodone and now take 10/500. It seems now that it doesn't seem to be as affective. I take 5 or 6 a day. About one every 3 to 4 hours. Tried taking Oxycontin but doesn't seem to work or if I take to much I don't like the way I feel. Does anyone have anything similar going on?
50 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-19 09:50:59
Question/Comment:
Has anyone developed ear ringing or ear noises with this- and has it lowered your hearing- please let me know and if so - what combination of meds do you take with it- ?
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-25 13:54:52
Question/Comment:
I have been using Hydrocodone 5/500 for several years as prescribed by my neurologist and found that over all it does relieve about 70% of the pain. I do not believe that I will ever have full pain relief as I have multiple areas of back and pelvic pain that have been on going daily for the past 20+ years. The side effects, I do not like, are nausea, dizziness and drowsiness but you have to take the good with the bad. Thank godness it does not last all that long and I feel that any pain relief is better than nothing since I have tried other medications that gave me little or no relief.
63 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-15 01:46:50
Answer/Reply:
I too have been taking Hydrocodone but I take the 10/325 for pain from having my knee replaced 2x's and the other one with bone spurs. Hydrocodone is the only thing that will take the pain away. The side effects that I have noticed are that it makes me a little agitated or increases my fear in some situations, and makes me a little hyper. I have been taking it off and on for over 10yrs and make sure I get a liver test done yearly. I have stopped taking them for months at a time with out issue, and then when my knee starts hurting again, I start back on them. I am a 56yr old female and I too have tried many different kinds of meds for the pain and that is the only one that makes a significant difference. I have now found that they are going to stop selling them in Tx and I just hope they can find some thing for pain that works as well.
56 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-21 09:53:52
Answer/Reply:
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64 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-23 22:01:09
Answer/Reply:
I was taking 7.5/200 hydrocodone for about 4 years, and then went to pain management and now they have me on 10/350 hydrocodone. I agree with you that it helps very much with the pain, and I do not have any side effects, in fact it gives me energy and gets me going, it allows me to function during my day. I have scoliosis with a steel rod attached to my spine and arthritis and fibromyalgia throughout my whole body. I tried oxycodone and it was way too strong for me and the side effects were unbearable.
52 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-28 16:53:58
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Hydrocodone for a several years now and I have never had a problem. It has worked great for my pain. The only thing that bothers me is that if I don't take them I do get a little moody so I do beleive that they are addicting. Be careful when taking this drug. God bless.
30 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-28 21:01:15
Question/Comment:
I am in pain constantly. I started getting severe migraine headaches when I was 10 years old, and over the years the pain has become more frequent and unbearable- I've gone to one of the best headache neurologists in the country for over a decade and NOTHING has worked except pain medications. During high school I took lethal amounts of aleve- as all the "migraine" medicines: Imitrex,zomig etc- i'm allergic to- after high school my doctor started me on pain meds- as i was his "Dr. House" case- couldn't figure me out. Theyve run every medical test imaginable at least twice- can't find a thing. I was up to six mephergan pills a day (demerol) and i had to make a conscious choice to down grade to lortab. I since moved on to a pain doctor because i lost my insurance I take 6 10/325 lortabs a day and 3 10-325 pills of oxycodone- and demerol for excruciating pain. I'm 23 YEARS OLD. I also have alot of pain in my back and neck that radiates up to my head and intensifies my headaches from stress. I'm too young to be on this much stuff and they are talking about increasing it. I just hate that I have two horrible options live in moderate to excruciating pain every second of every day or be a drug addict. I don't know what to do. I would much rather take pills and function then be in pain ALWAYS.
24 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-03 14:09:39
Answer/Reply:
I have the same symptoms you have. I am 38 years old and have been suffering from neck pain and migranes since age 22. I feel like giving up sometimes. It's hard to keep a full time job when your in pain all the time. I hope everything works out for you and know that your not the only one suffering with this problem. It's not just in your mind that your sick, you do have a problem and don't let doctors make you feel that way. I know they do you that way because they treat me that way.
Sincerely,
Melissa
39 year old Female
Posted: 2009-06-11 09:20:29
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56
Patient Comments about
Hydrocodone