Description

Vicodin ES 7.5mg – Uses, Safety, Side Effects & Important Information

Vicodin ES 7.5mg is a prescription medication used to treat pain. It contains a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever and paracetamol is a non-opioid pain reliever. Together these medicines can provide better pain relief than either ingredient by itself. But, as an opioid, this drug should be used under close medical supervision.

### What is Vicodin ES 7.5mg?

The original Vicodin ES 7.5mg tablet was labelled to contain 7.5 mg of hydrocodone bitartrate and 750 mg of acetaminophen. The “ES” designation was for the extra-strength formulation. Importantly, newer formulations of hydrocodone/acetaminophen with different doses of acetaminophen, ie, 300 mg or 325 mg per tablet, can be dangerous. Therefore, patients should check the product label of the specific product, rather than assuming that all 7.5 mg hydrocodone tablets are of the same formulation.

### What Is Vicodin ES Used For?

Doctors may prescribe hydrocodone and paracetamol for pain severe enough to require an opioid when other pain treatments are insufficient. Hydrocodone is an opioid that acts on the nervous system’s opioid receptors to decrease the sensation of pain. Acetaminophen has other pain-relieving effects, too.

Therefore, this combination can be considered in the short-term management of some moderate to severe painful conditions. What treatment you receive depends on your medical history, the type of pain you have, what other medicines you take, and personal risk factors.

How Does Vicodin ES Work?

Hydrocodone affects the way the brain and nervous system react to pain signals. Acetaminophen works through another pain-relieving mechanism as well. The combination can therefore perform two complementary functions to reduce pain.

Hydrocodone can cause sleepiness, slowed breathing, constipation and other opioid-related effects. Patients should take the medicine as directed by the doctor and not change the dosage without consulting the doctor. Current prescribing information includes serious warnings about misuse, addiction, overdose, and respiratory depression.

Side effects Common

Taking hydrocodone/acetaminophen may cause side effects in some people. Some typical effects are:

• Sleepiness or Drowsiness
• Vertigo
• Nausea or vomiting.
• 2. laxative
• Dizziness
• Xerostomia

Drowsiness may occur. Patients should exercise caution when performing tasks requiring alertness. Additionally, combining opioids with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants can heighten the risk of severe sedation and respiratory issues.

Important Safety Information

Vicodin ES 7.5mg should be taken only under proper medical supervision. Hydrocodone products carry a boxed warning for addiction, abuse, and misuse leading to overdose and death. Ingestion by accident also can result in overdose, sometimes fatally, especially in children.

Also, paracetamol deserves careful consideration. You could inadvertently increase the total amount taken each day and increase your risk of liver injury by taking more than one medicine that contains paracetamol. Some product labels state that paracetamol has caused liver damage, especially if the total amount taken is higher than recommended.

Patients also should tell their health care professional about all the prescription medicines, over-the-counter products and supplements they take. The concomitant use of benzodiazepines, alcohol and other CNS depressants may greatly add to the risk of sedation and respiratory depression.

Who needs to be extra careful?

Tell the doctor if you have breathing problems, liver disease, a history of substance-use problems, or certain other medical conditions. You may need special assessment before using hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Pregnancy also is an indication for medical discussion, as prolonged exposure to opioids during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Also, patients who have been taking an opioid regularly should not suddenly stop treatment without talking to their health care professional. A supervised plan can make it easier to manage withdrawal problems when treatment needs to stop.

Questions & Answers

0. Is Vicodin ES 7.5mg a strong pain medicine?

It contains hydrocodone , an opioid pain medication . This makes it a powerful prescription painkiller . And total strength also depends on how much acetaminophen is in that particular formulation.

Does Vicodin ES have paracetamol?

Yes. The original Vicodin ES formulation contained 7.5 mg hydrocodone and 750 mg acetaminophen. Current hydrocodone/acetaminophen products may have different strengths of acetaminophen. Always check your medicine label.

Can you get addicted to Vicodin ES?

Yes. Hydrocodone is an opioid and the label currently carries warnings about addiction, abuse, misuse, physical dependence, and overdose. So it should be taken only as prescribed by the patient.

Is it safe to mix Vicodin ES and alcohol?

Alcohol may increase the sedative and respiratory depressant effects of opioid medications. Patients, therefore, should discuss alcohol use with their healthcare professional, and should carefully follow instructions on the prescription.

Conclusion.

Vicodin ES 7.5mg is a historic extra-strength blend of hydrocodone and paracetamol for moderate to severe pain. This product has an opioid and paracetamol, so you need to consider dose, drug interactions, sedation, breathing problems, and total paracetamol exposure. Always read the prescription label carefully and follow the advice of a medical professional.