Lortab Elixir Side Effects Center

What Is Lortab Elixir?

Lortab elixir (hydrocodone and acetaminophen) is a combination of an opioid analgesic and a regular analgesic and antipyretic (fever reducer) used to treat moderate to severe pain.

What Are Side Effects of Lortab Elixir?

Side effects of Lortab elixir include:

• dizziness,
• anxiety,
• drowsiness,
• constipation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• headache,
• mood changes,
• blurred vision,
• ringing in your ears,
• dry mouth, and
• respiratory depression

Dosage for Lortab Elixir

The usual adult dosage of Lortab elixir is one tablespoonful every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain. The total daily dosage for adults should not exceed 6 tablespoonfuls.

Lortab Elixir During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

There are no well-controlled studies on the use of this drug in pregnant women. Lortab Elixir should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Babies born to mothers who have been taking opioids regularly prior to delivery will be physically dependent. Acetaminophen is excreted in human milk in small amounts. It is not known whether hydrocodone is excreted in human milk. A decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug in breastfeeding women. Like all narcotic pain relievers, Lortab elixir may cause dependence and withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses.

Additional Information

Our Lortab elixir Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty 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.

In rare cases, acetaminophen may cause a severe skin reaction that can be fatal. This could occur even if you have taken acetaminophen in the past and had no reaction. Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have skin redness or a rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• noisy breathing, sighing, shallow breathing, breathing that stops;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• low cortisol levels-- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; o
• 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.

Common side effects include:

• dizziness, drowsiness, feeling tired;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
• constipation; or
• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.