What is hydrocodone?

History of Use

Hydrocodone was first synthesized in Germany in 1920 by Carl Mannich and Helene Löwenheim. The first report of euphoria and habituation was published in 1923, and the first report of dependence and addiction was published in 1961. Hydrocodone was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1943 for sale in the United States.

Hydrocodone relieves pain by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain, that is, by binding to the opioid receptor sites in the brain and spinal cord.

Hydrocodone is not usually produced illegally; diverted pharmaceuticals are the primary source for misuse. Misuse comes in the form of fraudulent call-in prescriptions, altered prescriptions, theft, and illicit purchases online. Diversion and abuse have been increasing. In 2008, hydrocodone was the most frequently encountered opioid in drug evidence submitted to state and local forensics laboratories, as reported by the National Forensic Laboratory Information System.

Effects and Potential Risks

Short-term effects are improvement of mood, reduction of pain, euphoria, sedation, light-headedness, and changes in focus and attention. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, anxiety, dry throat, rash, difficulty urinating, irregular breathing, and chest tightness. When inhaled, burning in nose and sinuses usually occurs. A newborn of a woman who was taking the medication during pregnancy may exhibit breathing problems or withdrawal symptoms.

Symptoms of overdose include cold and clammy skin, circulatory collapse, stupor, coma, depression, respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, and death. Mixing hydrocodone with other substances, including alcohol, can cause severe physical problems or death.

Abuse of hydrocodone is associated with tolerance, dependence, and addiction. There is no ceiling dose for hydrocodone in users tolerant to its effects. Acetaminophen carries the risk of liver toxicity with high, acute doses (of around 4,000 mg per day).

Bibliography

Amer. Soc. of Health-System Pharmacists. "Hydrocodone." MedlinePlus. US Natl. Lib. of Medicine, 15 May 2015. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

Girion, Lisa. "DEA Tightens Controls on Hydrocodone Painkiller Drugs." Los Angeles Times. LA Times, 21 Aug. 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

Parker, Phillip M., and James N. Parker. Hydrocodone: A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References. San Diego: Icon Health, 2003. Print.

McCoy, Krisha. "Opioid Addiction." Ed. Michael Woods. Health Library. EBSCO, Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

Seppala, Marvin. Prescription Painkillers: History, Pharmacology, and Treatment. Center City: Hazelden, 2010. Print.