Hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose

Hydrocodone is a painkiller in the opioid family (related to morphine). Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medicine used to treat pain and inflammation. They may be combined in one prescription medicine to treat pain. An overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine. This can be by accident or on purpose.

This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual overdose . DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Both acetaminophen and hydrocodone can be harmful in large amounts.

Where Found

Acetaminophen with hydrocodone is the main ingredient in many prescription painkillers, including:

• Anexsia
• Anolor DH
• Lortab
• Lorcet
• Norco
• Vicodin
• Zydone

Medicines with other names may also contain hydrocodone and acetaminophen.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose include:

• Bluish-colored fingernails and lips
• Breathing problems, including slow and labored breathing , shallow breathing, or no breathing

  Slow and labored breathing

  Most people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...

   

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• Cold, clammy skin
• Coma
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness

  Drowsiness

  Drowsiness refers to feeling abnormally sleepy during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep in inappropriate situations or at inappropriate...

   

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• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Liver failure (from acetaminophen overdose)
• Loss of consciousness
• Low blood pressure

  Low blood pressure

  Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough ...

   

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• Muscle twitches
• Tiny pupils
• Seizures

  Seizures

  A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term "seizure...

   

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• Spasms of the stomach and intestines

  Spasms

  Muscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...

   

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• Weakness
• Weak pulse

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. Do NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

• Person's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the product (and ingredients and strength, if known)
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed
• If the medicine was prescribed for the person

Poison Control

Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible.

The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated.

The person may receive:

• Activated charcoal
• Blood and urine tests
• Breathing support, including tube through the mouth and breathing machine (ventilator)
• Chest x-ray
• EKG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing)
• Fluids through a vein (by IV)
• Laxative
• Medicine to lower acetaminophen level in the blood
• Medicine to reverse the effect of the hydrocodone
• Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage )

  Gastric lavage

  Gastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.

   

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Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on how much hydrocodone and acetaminophen they swallowed and how quickly they receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

A hospital stay may be needed for more doses of the medicine that reverses the effects of the drug. Complications may cause permanent disability. These possible complications are pneumonia, muscle damage from lying on a hard surface for a prolonged period of time, brain damage from lack of oxygen, and liver damage or liver failure. If there are no complications, long-term effects and death are rare.

If the person receives medicines to reverse the effects of the overdose, they may recover within 1 to 4 days.