Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Patient Education
ABOUT YOUR MEDICATIONS
Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen
(Lortab®, Lorcet®, Norco®, Vicodin®)
For your safety,
take this
medicine only
as prescribed.
This medicine combines two different types of pain medications:
■ Hydrocodone (A narcotic analgesic) and
■ Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
Acetaminophen relieves pain and fever. Hydrocodone acts on the
brain to relieve pain. Together, they may provide better pain relief
for certain types of pain than taking one of these drugs alone.
However, tell your doctor if your pain does not improve, or if you
develop a different type of pain.
Dosage and Administration
Take this medicine as prescribed by your doctor. The usual dose is
1 or 2 tablets, taken every 4 to 6 hours, as needed. It takes about
20 minutes for this medicine to start working. Swallow the tablets
whole with a full glass of water. You can take this with food or milk
to reduce stomach upset. Take this medicine only as prescribed.
If not taken correctly, your risk of having side effects may be
increased.
Missed Dose
If you are taking this medicine on a regular schedule and miss a dose, take it as soon as you
remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, go back to your regular dosing
schedule. Do not take a double dose.
If you are taking this medicine on an as-needed basis, take only when necessary and as
prescribed.
Side-Effects
Like other narcotic pain medicines, this medicine can cause drowsiness, nausea,
constipation and dizziness. This often occurs with the first dose or if you change doses. If
you notice any other unusual side effects, contact your doctor.
Prevent constipation by drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. Talk to your doctor or
pharmacist about using a laxative or stool softener if you feel that you need it. Call your
doctor if you do not have a bowel movement for 3 days.
Drug Interactions
This medicine can interact with other drugs such as warfarin, alcohol, cimetidine, and
seizure medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if this medicine interacts with other
prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines you are taking. (Note: OTCs can be
bought without a prescription.)
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you:
■ Consume alcohol on a daily basis
■ Have a history of constipation or have difficulty with bowel movements
■ Have ever had liver disease, such as hepatitis
■ Have inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis
■ Have other medical problems
■ Are allergic to codeine, hydrocodone, or acetaminophen
■ Are pregnant or breast-feeding
Medication Safety
For your safety, please do not:
■ Drive or perform tasks that require mental alertness while taking this medicine.
■ Drink any alcohol while taking this medicine. There is a greater risk of drowsiness,
unconsciousness or death.
■ Share this medication with anyone.
■ Take any allergy or cold medications, products that can make you sleepy, or ones
that contain acetaminophen, without the advice of a healthcare provider.
Hydrocodone can be habit-forming. Do not take:
■ Extra doses
■ More pills than prescribed
■ More often than prescribed
■ For a longer period than prescribed
Taking too much of this medication could be life threatening. If you think you or
someone else may have taken an overdose, get emergency help at once.
Too much acetaminophen may damage your liver. Therefore, please:
■ Do not take anything else that contains acetaminophen (Tylenol®) while taking this
medicine, unless approved by your doctor. Many OTC medicines, including cough
and cold medicines, contain acetaminophen. Read labels carefully or check with your
pharmacist to understand Tylenol amounts.
2
■
Do not take more than a total of 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours without
asking your doctor or pharmacist. Ask your doctor about 24-hour limits that may be
proper for you. Those who are fasting or undernourished, have diabetes, are taking
isoniazid, or drink alcohol often may need to limit acetaminophen to just 2,000 to
3,000 mg per day – in divided doses. It is possible your doctor will tell you not to
take anything else with acetaminophen at all.
Storage and Disposal
Keep this medicine:
■ In its original container and tightly closed.
■ Out of reach of children.
■ At room temperature.
■ Away from heat and direct light.
■ Away from damp places, including the bathroom.
Dispose of leftover medicine properly. This medicine could be harmful to a child, pet, or
others if taken by accident. To ensure safe and secure disposal of leftover medicine:
■ Ask your local pharmacy if they take back this drug for disposal.
■ Go to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website at
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/index.html or
■ Call the DEA at 1.800.882.9539 to locate a disposal site in your area.
If you are unable to locate an authorized collector, it is best to mix the leftover medicine
with kitty litter, dirt, or coffee grounds, place in a sealable bag, and throw away in your
household trash.
This information is not intended to describe all possible drug uses or side effects. Please
contact your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
If you have any questions about this or any other medicine, please ask your doctor,
pharmacist or nurse.
Northwestern Medicine – Health Information Resources
For more information, contact Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Alberto Culver Health Learning
Center (HLC) at [email protected], or by calling 312.926.5465. You may also visit the HLC on the 3rd floor,
Galter Pavilion at 251 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL. Health information professionals can help you find the
information you need and provide you with personal support at no charge.
For more information about Northwestern Medicine, please visit our website at nm.org.
Para asistencia en español, por favor llamar al Departamento de Representantes para Pacientes al 312.926.3112.
The entities that come together as Northwestern Medicine are committed to representing the communities we serve, fostering a culture of inclusion, delivering
culturally competent care, providing access to treatment and programs in a nondiscriminatory manner and eliminating healthcare disparities. For questions, please
call either Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Patient Representatives Department at 312.926.3112, TDD/TTY 312.926.6363, the Northwestern Lake Forest Patient
Relations manager at 847.535.8282 and/or the Northwestern Medical Group Patient Representatives Department at 312.695.1100, TDD/TTY 312.926.6363.
Developed by: NMH Department of Pharmacy
©September 2016 Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
900380 (9/16) Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen (Lortab®, Lorcet®, Norco®, Vicodin®)