The Lortab brand name is believed to be no longer available within the U.S. Should genetic variations of the drug have been accepted by the FDA, similar generic versions may be available.
What is Lortab?
Lortab is a mixture of Acetaminophen as well as hydrocodone. Hydrocodone can be described as an opioid painkiller. It is often referred to as the term "narcotic. Acetaminophen, sometimes referred to as Tylenol, is a less potent pain reliever which enhances the effects of hydrocodone.
Lortab can be used to ease mild to extreme pain.
Lortab is also employed for other purposes that are not covered in this guideline.
Warnings
Hydrocodone can reduce or even stop breathing. Never use Lortab in large quantities or for a longer duration than what is prescribed. Narcotic pain medications can become habit-forming even at regular dosages. Never share this medication with anyone else or anyone with a history of substance abuse or addiction. Place the medicine in a location where other people can't access it.
The misuse of NARCOTIC MEDICINES CAN ENGAGE addiction, overdose, or the death of children or anyone else taking the medication without a prescription.
Don't use Lortab if you've used an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days, like isocarboxazid linezolid, methylene blue injection, or phenelzine rasagiline and selegiline. Tranylcypromine.
A high dose of Acetaminophen may damage your liver or lead to death. Call your doctor immediately if you experience nausea or pain in your stomach area, Itching, loss of appetite: black stools, dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of your eyes or skin).
Take Lortab off your list and contact your doctor as soon as you experience skin redness or a rash that grows and leads to blisters and peeling.
Similar Drugs
Before taking Lortab:
It is not recommended to take Lortab if you're sensitive to Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and hydrocodone or if you've recently had a drink, sedatives or alcohol tranquilisers, or any other opioids.
Don't take Lortab if taking an MAO inhibitor within the last 14 days. A risky drug interaction may occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid rasagiline, linezolid, phenelzine selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.
Certain medicines may react with hydrocodone and create serotonin syndrome. Make sure that your doctor is aware that you take medication for mental illness, depression such as Parkinson's disease, severe infections, migraines or for the prevention of nausea or vomiting. Consult your physician prior to making any changes to how or how often you take your medicines.
To ensure that Lortab is suitable for you, inform your doctor if you suffer from:
- Liver diseases, such as cirrhosis or if you consume more than three alcohol-based drinks daily;
- An alcohol-related history or addiction to drugs;
- Diarrhoea or inflammatory bowel disease, severe constipation, bowel obstruction;
- Kidney disease;
- Lower blood pressure is dehydration.
- An injury to the head or brain tumours stroke
- Asthma, COPD and sleep apnea, or any other breathing disorder or
- If you take any sedative, such as Valium (diazepam alprazolam, Ativan, lorazepam Klonopin, Restoril, Tranxene, Versed, Xanax, and many others).
Lortab can trigger breathing problems in elderly adults and those who are sick, malnourished or debilitated in any way.
If you take narcotic drugs when you are pregnant, your baby may develop a dependence on the medication. This can cause severe withdrawal symptoms for the infant after it is born. Children dependent on habit-forming drugs may require medical treatment for some time. Inform your doctor if you are expecting or planning to be pregnant.
Acetaminophen and hydrocodone may be absorbed into the breast milk and cause harm to the nursing infant. Do not breastfeed when taking Lortab.
How to Take Lortab?
It would help if you took Lortab precisely as it is prescribed. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Don't take this medicine in more significant quantities or for a longer duration than what is prescribed. An overdose can damage your liver or cause death. Consult your physician if the medication appears to be unable to work and relieve discomfort.
Hydrocodone can be addictive, even in regular doses. Do not share this medication with anyone else, especially one with an addiction history or addiction. Misuse of NARCOTIC MEDICINES can lead to addiction or death, particularly for children or anyone using the medication with no prescription. Selling or giving away Lortab is illegal.
Measure the liquid Lortab using the dosing needle available, or use an appropriate dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. You can ask your pharmacist for one if you need an instrument for measuring doses.
If you require surgery or medical tests, inform the doctor before you take Lortab. You might have to stop taking the medication for a brief duration.
Don't stop taking Lortab abruptly after long-term usage; you may experience painful withdrawal signs. Discuss with your physician how you can effectively stop taking Lortab.
Keep at room temperature, free of heat and moisture. Note down the quantity of medicine taken in each bottle. Hydrocodone is an abused substance, and you must be aware if someone is taking the medication in a way that is not legal or without a prescription.
Always examine your medicine bottle to ensure that you've received the proper dosage (same brand and kind) of the medicine recommended by your physician.
What Happens If I Miss a Dose?
Because Lortab is prescribed as necessary, you may not be following a dose schedule. If you take the medication regularly, you should take your missed dose whenever you remember. Don't miss your missed dosage if you are nearing the time for the next dose. Don't use any extra medication to make up for the missed dose.
What happens If I Overdose?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency treatment or contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A high dose of Acetaminophen or hydrocodone may be fatal.
The initial signs of an overdose of Acetaminophen include appetite loss, nausea and stomach pain, vomiting, sweating, weakness or confusion. The following symptoms may consist of discomfort in your abdomen, dark urine and a yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes.
Other overdose symptoms include severe drowsiness, apprehensive pupils, cold and clammy, skin weakening of muscles, fainting, a low pulse, heartbeat, blue lips, shallow breathing or even no breathing.
Avoid this
Lortab can affect your reactions or thinking. Avoid operating machinery or driving until you know what Lortab affects your body. Drowsiness or extreme dizziness can result in falls or other accidents.
Consult a physician or pharmacist before taking any other cold or allergy medication and pain or sleep medicine. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is found in various combination medications. Combining certain medications could result in too much Acetaminophen and cause an unfatal overdose. Check the label to determine if the medicine includes Acetaminophen or APAP.
Do not drink alcohol. It could increase your risk of liver damage when taking Acetaminophen.
Side Effects of Lortab:
Contact a medical professional immediately If you are experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction or reaction such as hives, breathing difficulties, or swelling of your lips, face and tongue.
In some rare instances, Acetaminophen can cause an extreme skin reaction, leading to death. This could occur regardless of whether you've previously used Acetaminophen before without experiencing any reaction. Take Lortab off your list and contact your doctor immediately when you notice a skin rash or redness that gets worse and leads to blisters and skin peeling. If you have the type of reaction described above, it is recommended that you never use any medication that contains Acetaminophen.
See your doctor right away If you suffer from the following:
- Low breathing, slow heartbeat;
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you're passing out;
- The mind, or unusual thoughts or behaviour
- Seizure (convulsions);
- Bleeding or bruises;
- Infertility missed menstrual periods;
- Sexual issues, impotence sexual problems, lack of interest in sexual activity;
- Liver disorders - nausea, discomfort in the upper abdomen, Itching, lack of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stool or jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin); or
- Low cortisol levels can cause nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, dizziness, increasing tiredness or weakness.
Get medical attention immediately If you are experiencing indications that suggest serotonin syndrome, for example, hallucinations, agitation, sweating or shivering, increased heart rate, muscle stiffness and twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Common side effects of Lortab are:
- Drowsiness, headache;
- Constipation, stomach upset;
- Blurred vision or
- Dry mouth.
This is a partial list of all side effects. Other side effects could occur. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on the impact. You can report any symptoms to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Narcotic (opioid) medication may be a drug that interacts with other medications and can cause serious adverse effects or even death. Check with your physician that you also take:
- Other narcotic medicines other narcotic medications - opioid pain medicine, prescribed cough medicines;
- Substances that cause you to sleep or cause breathing to slow, like a sleeping pill, muscle relaxant, sedative tranquillisers or antipsychotic medication, as well as
- The drugs you take affect the serotonin levels in your body. Medications for Parkinson's disease, depression, migraine headaches, serious infections, or for the prevention of vomiting and nausea.
This list needs to be more comprehensive. Other drugs can interact with hydrocodone or Acetaminophen, such as prescription and over-the-counter supplements, vitamins, and herbal products. The interactions of all potential types aren't included in this medication guideline.
