Vicodin ES (Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen) Patient Information: How Should I Take the Drug at RxList

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May 27, 2012

Vicodin ES

Fracture »

Fracture facts

Bone fracture, broken bone, bone crack all mean he same thing. The bone has been damaged such that. None of these terms indicate the severity of the bone damage.
Bones are the body's storage place for calcium. Under hormone control, calcium content of bone is constantly increasing or decreasing.
Bones break when they cannot withstand a force or trauma applied to them. Sometimes the bones are so weak that force may be just gravity, like compression fractures of the back in the elderly.
Fracture descriptions help explain how the breakage appears. For examples, whether or not the fragments are aligned (displaced fracture) and whether or not there is skin overlying the injury is damaged (compound fracture).
Fractures may be complicated by damage to nearby blood vessels, nerves and muscles and joints.
Children's fractures may be more difficult to diagnose because their bones lack ...

Read the Fracture article »

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Vicodin ES Patient Information including How Should I Take

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking acetaminophen and hydrocodone?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to acetaminophen (Tylenol) or hydrocodone.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Acetaminophen and hydrocodone should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication:

asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, or other breathing disorders;
liver or kidney disease;
a history of head injury or brain tumor;
low blood pressure;
a stomach or intestinal disorder;
underactive thyroid;
Addison's disease or other adrenal gland disorder;
curvature of the spine;
mental illness; or
a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

Tell your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have ever had alcoholic liver disease (cirrhosis). You may not be able to take medication that contains acetaminophen.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this medication is harmful to an unborn baby, but it could cause breathing problems or addiction/withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Before you take acetaminophen and hydrocodone, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Acetaminophen and hydrocodone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take acetaminophen and hydrocodone?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

An overdose of acetaminophen can cause serious harm to your liver. The maximum amount of acetaminophen for adults is 1 gram (1000 mg) per dose and 4 grams (4000 mg) per day. One acetaminophen and hydrocodone tablet may contain up to 750 mg of acetaminophen. Know the amount of acetaminophen in the specific product you are taking.

Measure the liquid form of this medication with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

Drink 6 to 8 full glasses of water daily to help prevent constipation while you are taking acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Ask your doctor about ways to increase the fiber in your diet. Do not use a stool softener (laxative) without first asking your doctor.

You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using acetaminophen and hydrocodone after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain urine tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using acetaminophen and hydrocodone.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using acetaminophen and hydrocodone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Store acetaminophen and hydrocodone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

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