What You Should Know About Lortab RX
Lortab is an opioid-based medication that binds to Opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system. It helps relieve pain and produces a sense of euphoria. However, it has serious side effects and is abused by some people.
It can cause dependence and addiction if taken in high doses. Overdose can also lead to respiratory depression, which may be life-threatening.
Dosage
Lortab rx is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain in adults. It is a strong medication and should only be taken as directed by your doctor. It can be abused and cause addiction if not used properly. It can also cause liver damage if the wrong dose is taken.
Take this medicine by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine. It may increase your risk of dizziness or fainting. Use a special measuring device to get the correct dose. If you are using the liquid form of this medication, measure your dose with a special drug-measuring spoon or cup. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose.
If you have nausea, try taking it with food or after a meal. If it does not help, ask your doctor for other ways to decrease it. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use this medication. It can harm a newborn baby. Babies born to mothers who have used narcotic medications regularly during pregnancy can become dependent on the drugs and have withdrawal symptoms after birth. This medication can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.
Keep out of the reach of children. Do not share this medication with others. It is important to avoid alcohol and other narcotics while taking this medication. This can increase your risk of a fatal overdose. If you are taking this medication for a long time, talk to your doctor about how to stop it.
This medicine is a Schedule II controlled substance and has a potential for abuse. It can be habit-forming and lead to overdose and death. It can also cause liver damage if you take high doses or take it with other drugs that affect the liver.
This drug has box warnings. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It increases your risk of addiction, misuse, and overdose if you take high doses or combine it with other drugs that affect the central nervous system or the heart. It can also cause other serious side effects such as breathing problems, a skin reaction, and mental/mood changes.
Overdose
A drug overdose on Lortab rx can be dangerous or even life-threatening. Overdose on this medication occurs when someone takes more than their doctor prescribed amount. This can be due to a number of reasons, including abuse of the medication in unapproved ways. People who crush the pills and snort them or mix them with alcohol or other drugs like benzodiazepines are at a high risk for overdose. This is because the crushed pill is absorbed into the bloodstream more quickly.
Overdose on this medication can also occur if someone mixes it with MAO inhibitors, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine. The combination of these two drugs can cause a deadly liver reaction called methemoglobinemia, which is when too much methemoglobin is found in the bloodstream. This can also lead to respiratory depression, which is a partial or complete cessation of breathing. This is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately.
People who use Lortab rx for extended periods of time can develop physical dependence on it, which makes it difficult to stop using the drug. This is because the hydrocodone in Lortab binds to opioid receptors in the brain and body, blocking pain signals and producing feelings of relaxation and euphoria. It can also trigger addiction, which is when the body becomes dependent on the drug and craves it in the absence of any pain.
Long-term Lortab use can also lead to gastrointestinal damage, such as abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. This can also trigger chronic heartburn, which is when the lining of the stomach ulcerates over time. Long-term use of opioids can also cause respiratory problems, such as pulmonary edema (lung fluid buildup) and apnea.
This drug has a wide range of side effects, and some are more serious than others. The most severe is a rare but life-threatening condition called respiratory depression, which is when a person stops breathing completely. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment, which can include administering the antidote naloxone. Other side effects of this medication can include heart attack, stroke, encephalopathy, and renal failure.
Precautions
Lortab is a combination of the opioid drug hydrocodone and the over-the-counter pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol). It is prescribed for moderate to severe pain in tablet form. It may be prescribed with other long-acting opioid medications or taken as needed for breakthrough pain only. This medication can cause addiction in some people, so it should only be used as directed by your doctor. The risk is higher if you have a history of addiction or a problem with drugs or alcohol. If you have a liver or kidney disease, or if you are debilitated or elderly, the risks are greater as well. This medication can also cause drowsiness. It is not recommended to drive or operate machinery while taking it.
This medication can interact with certain other drugs, including sedatives, antidepressants, and alcohol. You should not take it with MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine). It is important to tell your doctor about all of the drugs you are taking before taking this one.
Overdose of this medication can be fatal, especially if taken with other substances such as alcohol or other opioids. It can also be toxic to the liver, even in small amounts. Call your doctor if you have nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, itching, or clay-colored stools. If you have ever had a liver disease, you should not take this medication. The acetaminophen in this medication can also harm infants and young children. Do not breastfeed while taking it.
If you are having surgery or medical tests, tell your doctor ahead of time that you are using this medicine. It can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in newborns if it is used for a long time during pregnancy. It can also pass into breast milk and can hurt a baby.
If you have a problem with drug addiction or overdose, it is best to seek treatment. Specialized treatment programs can help you manage cravings and withdrawal, as well as provide support for your recovery. These may include inpatient, residential, or outpatient treatments, depending on your needs. The most effective treatments typically involve dual diagnosis models, in which mental health issues are treated as well.
Addiction
A commonly prescribed combination medication, Lortab combines hydrocodone and acetaminophen to amplify the pain-relieving effects of each drug. Like other opioids, Lortab can be habit-forming when used inappropriately. It is often abused by taking higher doses than prescribed or over prolonged time periods. Abusing Lortab can lead to opioid use disorder (OUD), a medical condition that affects the brain and body.
When taken in large enough quantities, Lortab binds to opioid receptors in the brain and slows the central nervous system. This can cause feelings of euphoria and calmness. In addition, it may reduce feelings of pain and can cause sleepiness. The onset of these effects can be rapid, but they may fade over time. If you are experiencing a strong desire to take Lortab and are having difficulty resisting the urge, your doctor can diagnose you with OUD.
People abuse Lortab in order to feel these euphoric and calm effects. It is also used in an effort to relieve stress and anxiety. When abused, Lortab can produce withdrawal symptoms when the drug is stopped suddenly. These symptoms can be severe and are a criterion for addiction. People who are addicted to Lortab can experience intense cravings for the drug and may try to stop using it by themselves. This can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
The long-term abuse of Lortab can damage your endocrine system. This can result in decreased levels of hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Low hormones can increase the risk of chronic fatigue, irritability and depression, and can also result in osteoporosis and menstrual problems. Long-term opioid abuse can also change the way your body responds to pain. You may develop hyperalgesia, a condition that makes you more sensitive to pain and results in lessening of your tolerance for it.
Abuse of any opioid can lead to death. If you are experiencing a life-threatening situation, call emergency services immediately. A person who has been abused of Lortab or other opioids may show signs of an overdose, such as extreme vomiting, difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate and coma. Overdoses of acetaminophen can lead to liver failure, which is characterized by yellowing of the skin and eyes.
