Effects of taking expired hydrocodone

FDA regulations do not require manufacturers to determine actual long-term drug potency and stability. For example, if a company chooses a three year expiration date, it does not have to test beyond that for prolonged effectiveness.

This process is not in anyway spontaneous after the expiry date. Expired drugs have not necessarily lost their potency and efficacy. The expiration date is only an assurance that the labeled potency will last at least until that date. Even 10 years after the expiration date many pharmaceuticals retain a significant amount of their original potency [4].

Solid dosage forms, such as tablets and capsules, are most stable past their expiration date. Drugs that exist in solution or as a reconstituted suspension may not have the required potency if used when outdated. The aim of the SLEP program was to reduce medication costs for the military.

Recently researchers investigated samples of 8 medications that had expired 28 to 40 years earlier and contained 15 different active ingredients in all [3]. The active ingredients tested for were: There are virtually no reports of toxicity from degradation products of outdated drugs.

According to The Medical Letter the only report of human toxicity that may have been caused by chemical or physical degradation of a pharmaceutical product is renal tubular damage that was associated with use of degraded tetracycline GW Frimpter et al, JAMA ; Other drugs may interact with hydrocodone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Back to Top Hydrocodone Dosage Follow all directions on your prescription label. Hydrocodone can slow or stop your breathing, especially when you start using this medicine or whenever your dose is changed.

Never use hydrocodone in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain. Hydrocodone may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Selling or giving away hydrocodone is against the law. Your dose needs may be different if you have recently used a similar opioid pain medicine and your body is tolerant to it.

Talk with your doctor if you are not sure you are opioid-tolerant. Do not crush, break, or open an extended-release pill. Swallow it whole to avoid exposure to a potentially fatal dose. Do not stop using this medicine suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using hydrocodone. Never crush or break a hydrocodone pill to inhale the powder or mix it into a liquid to inject the drug into your vein. This practice has resulted in death with the misuse of prescription drugs.

Store at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Keep track of your medicine. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Do not keep leftover hydrocodone pills. Ask your pharmacist where to locate a drug take-back disposal program. If there is no take-back program, flush any unused pills down the toilet.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at A hydrocodone overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.

Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and fainting. Since hydrocodone is used for pain, you are not likely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Copyright Cerner Multum, Inc.

Will taking Hydrocodone for pain cause weight gain? Hydrocodone is not known to cause weight gain as a side effect. The condition it is treating may restrict your activities, which could lead to weight gain. I am concerned about giving it to my son. Nausea, vomiting and dizziness are common side effects of codeine that many patients experience.

It is important to distinguish these side effects from reactions that are caused by an allergy to the medication.

If a child has tolerated another medication in the same class as codeine, such as hydrocodone, then it is quite possible that child will also tolerate the codeine just fine.

It is always a good idea to consult ones health care provider in matters like this. Does prescription hydrocodone expire? I have some that is two years past the expiration date. It was prescribed for back pain, and I hardly ever use except when I really can't stand the pain any longer. Is it safe to take this? Medications should never be used past the expiration date on the container. Once the date has passed, medications can lose potency and even become dangerous.

Any medication that is past its expiration should be disposed of properly. Contact your local waste-management company for disposal guidelines in your area. Contact your health care provider for proper treatment of back pain. Sarah Lewis, PharmD Q: I know someone that has a prescription for hydrocodone. He is crushing and snorting them.

Should I be concerned? Hydrocodone should only be taken as directed by a physician. It should not be crushed or snorted. Hydrocodone can be habit forming and should only be used by the person for which it was prescribed and only as the doctor has instructed to take it. I have a torn muscle in my buttocks, and I'm a year-old male. It has been determined to be an inoperable injury, so I take three 10 mg hydrocodone each day. Lately, my pain hasn't been fully relieved.

Should I ask for a dosage increase, medication change, or something else? One of the problems with continued use of hydrocodone is that eventually it can stop working.

Did they say that you could take this with ibuprofen, prednisone, voltarin or any other pain reliever? As for what they would change it to, it depends, they might inject you with a steroid that will help with the pain and inflammation for a few months or they may decide to give you something a little stronger than hydrocodone.

Keep in mind that when they prescribe the opiates, there is always the potential for addiction and tolerance. Matt Curley, PharmD Q: What is the APAP part? Can this drug cause a drop in blood pressure?

You also asked if the medication can cause a drop in blood pressure. Please consult with your physician regarding your blood pressure dropping. Jen Marsico, RPh Q: I get migraines and and have taken hydrocodone for years. It works for the most part except in extreme conditions. I have never needed or wanted more than prescribed. However, when should I try to stop taking it, and how is this accomplished?

Products containing hydrocodone are not commonly prescribed as the first line of treatment for migraine. Hydrocodone is a narcotic used to treat pain.

Although hydrocodone may relieve symptoms of migraine, high doses should not be used regularly because it may cause tolerance and dependency. Sometimes if the patient failed alternative medications, the physician has no choice but to prescribe a narcotic.

Sometimes migraine headache is triggered by environmental factors such as stress, foods, light, smells, weather, hormones and many more. These environmental factors should be ruled out and avoided before pharmacological treatment is initiated. Mild medications which should be used first are: NSAID aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc. Many people use over the counter Exedrin Migraine aspirin, caffeine, acetaminophen and claim it to work very well.

Other medications, which have mild side effects, can be used to treat or prevent migraines are ergotamine, Midrin, Fioricet, propranolol, amitriptyline, divalproex and topiramate. In addition, the commonly prescribed class of medication that is very effective is the triptans Amerge, Axert, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, and Zomig. All these medications have side effects and sometimes are contraindicated in patients with certain medical conditions.

For example, a patient with heart complications should avoid using the triptans. The prescriber must choose therapy base on side effect profile, effectiveness and weigh the risk versus the benefit. Please refer to the following links for further information.

The rate at which a drug is eliminated from the body depends on various patient-specific characteristics, so there is no standard answer to your question. There are over-the-counter urine drug tests available in your local pharmacy used to detect the presence of opiates such as hydrocodone in the urine.

Other side effects may include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation, headache, mood changes, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and dry mouth. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. When your doctor prescribes a new medication, be sure to discuss all your prescription and over-the-counter drugs, including dietary supplements, vitamins, botanicals, minerals, and herbals, as well as the foods you eat.

Always keep a current list of the drugs and supplements you take and review it with your healthcare providers and your pharmacist. If possible, use one pharmacy for all your prescription medications and over-the-counter products. This allows your pharmacist to keep a complete record of all your prescription drugs and to advise you about drug interactions and side effects. Tell your health-care provider about any negative side effects from prescription drugs. You can also report them to the U.

Food and Drug Administration by visiting www. Patti Brown, PharmD Q: Can one double up on Hydrocodone 7. I have pseudo gout and degenerative osteoarthritis. Hydrocodone is an opioid analgesic pain reliever which is usually found in combination with acetaminophen APAP, Tylenol for the treatment of moderate to severe pain eg.

It is important not to take more medication than is prescribed as this could lead to an overdose of acetaminophen. The maximum daily dose of Tylenol acetaminophen is mg 4grams daily. It is important to note that some over the counter pain or cough and cold medications also contain acetaminophen. It is important to not have more than 4grams of acetaminophen a day from all sources. An overdose of acetaminophen can lead to liver damage.

Since alcohol can also affect the liver, patients who drink more than 3 alcoholic drinks a day should avoid taking Tylenol acetaminophen due to the increased risk of liver damage. Taking more hydrocodone than prescribed can also increase the risk for side effects including constipation, drowsiness, dizziness and breathing problems.

If your prescribed pain medication does not adequately relieve pain it is important to talk with your doctor rather than taking more medication than prescribed. Laura Cable, PharmD Q: Hydrocodone is in a drug class called opiate or narcotic analgesics pain relievers. Hydrocodone works to relieve pain by changing the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Acetaminophen is in a drug class called analgesics.

Acetaminophen is not as potent a pain reliever as hydrocodone. Acetaminophen works by changing the way the body senses pain. Derek Dore, PharmD Q: I found some pills in my stepdaughter's room, but I don't know what they are.

They're blue with "M" on one side, Can you tell me what they are used for? Kimberly Hotz, PharmD Q: I am on Norco. I was taking 10 mg a day in 12 hours, not What kind of meds can I take to detox from it? I'm worried about my liver they r for the ones out there taking thes meds be careful. They become addictive quickly.

Detox can be a very difficult experience and is usually done with the help of a physician and support group. Also let them know that you are taking more Norco than prescribed so that they can best determine the type of detox treatment you need. Often, they will decrease the dose by small amounts to help the body adjust to the decreased levels of drug.

There are also organizations like Narcotics Anonymous that can provide support. There are branches of NA in many states and if interested you should be able to look them up on the internet. It is very important to notify your doctor of this possible addiction so that you can get the right treatment.

Megan Uehara, PharmD Q: What is hydrocodone with the numbers "m" on them? Hydrocodone with the marking "m" is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen manufactured by Covidien Mallinckrodt. Hydrocodone belongs to a group of drugs called narcotic analgesics or pain relievers.

Acetaminophen is a less-potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone. It is the active ingredient in Tylenol. The combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Common side effects of the combination of these two medications include anxiety, dizziness, drowsiness, mild nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation, headache, mood changes, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and dry mouth.

This combination of medications can cause side effects that impair your thinking and reactions. So, use caution when doing anything that requires alertness. Hydrocodone may be habit-forming, meaning that it is possible to become physically or mentally dependent on this medication. So, it should only be used by the person for whom it was prescribed.

Always follow your doctor's instructions and the directions on your prescription label. If you have questions or concerns about these instructions, consult your doctor or local pharmacist. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or local pharmacist for guidance based on your health status and current medications, particularly before taking any action. I broke my leg five weeks ago and was given hydrocodone and acetaminophen to manage the pain. I stopped taking this completely eight days ago, and my head still feels fuzzy and slightly dizzy.

I thought the dizziness was due to the hydrocodone. How long will it take before it is completely out of my system? I have reviewed your question regarding hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Both these ingredients are metabolized by the liver with a half-life for hydrocodone of between 3.

Over a period of several days, it will be out of your system. Neither of these medications should be causing a dizzy feeling after discontinuing the medication eight days ago. You did not indicate what other medications you are taking. If you are continuing to have these symptoms, please contact your physician. For any immediate concerns, consult your physician.

Joseph Hall, RPh Q: Saliva drug tests are becoming more common because it is relatively easy to use and not intrusive to the consumer. Saliva drug tests can test for a number of substances. Saliva drug tests can reliably test for drug use primarily in the last week and longer for regular users. Hydrocodone is a controlled substance CIII pain reliever whose chemical structure is similar to codeine.

Hydrocodone is prescribed with Tylenol acetaminophen or ibuprofen rather than by itself, and can be prescribed under several different trade names i. Vicodin, Lortab, Norco, Xodol, Vicoprofen, and more.

Side effects of hydrocodone can include drowsiness, dizziness, anxiousness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, blurred vision, and mood changes. This is not a complete list of side effects. Contact your doctor with any worsening or bothersome side effects.

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