Hydrocodone (Amneal) 10/325mg

Description

Before taking this medicine

You should not use hydrocodone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• severe asthma or breathing problems; or
• a blockage in your stomach or intestines.

To make sure hydrocodone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• breathing problems, sleep apnea;
• a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
• drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness;
• urination problems;
• liver or kidney disease;
• problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid; or
• a heart rhythm disorder called long QT syndrome.

If you use opioid medicine while you are pregnant, your baby could become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on opioids may need medical treatment for several weeks.

Ask a doctor before using hydrocodone if you are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you notice severe drowsiness or slow breathing in the nursing baby.

What to avoid

Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how hydrocodone will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Hydrocodone side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to hydrocodone: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Stop using hydrocodone and call your doctor at once if you have:

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;
• a slow heart rate or weak pulse;
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• confusion, tremors, severe drowsiness;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• low cortisol levels – nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or
• high levels of serotonin in the body – agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and in those who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women. It is not known whether opioid effects on fertility are permanent.

Common hydrocodone side effects may include:

• constipation, nausea, vomiting;
• dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;
• headache; or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.