BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHydrocodone and acetaminophen overdoseLorcet overdose; Lortab overdose; Vicodin overdose; Norco overdoseHydrocodone is a painkiller in the opioid family (related to morphine). Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medicine used to treat pain and inflammation. They may be combined in one prescription medicine to treat pain. An overdose occurs when someone takes more than the recommended amount of this medicine. The treatment of this overdose must consider both the opioid and acetaminophen components.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.An overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article OverdoseAn overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Poisonous Ingredient Both acetaminophen and hydrocodone can be harmful in large amounts. Where Found Acetaminophen with hydrocodone is the main ingredient in many prescription painkillers, including:Anexsia Anolor DH Norco VicodinMedicines with other names may also contain hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Symptoms Symptoms of a hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose include:Bluish-colored fingernails and lips (cyanosis) Breathing problems, including slow and labored breathing, shallow breathing, or no breathing Slow and labored breathingMost people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cold, clammy skin Decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness Loss of consciousness, coma ComaDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Confusion ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Drowsiness DrowsinessDrowsiness refers to feeling more sleepy than normal during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep when they do not want to or at times whic...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fatigue Lightheadedness Liver failure (from acetaminophen overdose), causing yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) Yellow skin and eyesJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Low blood pressureLow blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle twitches Nausea and vomiting Tiny pupils Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Spasms of the stomach and intestines SpasmsMuscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Weak pulse Home Care Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready:Person's age, weight, and condition Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed If the medicine was prescribed for the person Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible.The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.Tests that may done include:Blood and urine tests including the blood level of acetaminophen CT (computerized axial tomography) scan of the head Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)Treatment may include:Activated charcoal Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth and breathing machine (ventilator) Fluids through a vein (by IV) Laxative Medicine to lower acetaminophen level in the blood or to counteract its effects (n-acetylcysteine) Medicine to reverse the effects of the hydrocodone Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage), if unable to swallow medicines Outlook (Prognosis) How well you do depends on how much hydrocodone and acetaminophen you swallowed and how quickly you receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.You may need to stay in the hospital to receive more doses of the medicine that reverses the effects of the drug. Complications may cause permanent disability. These possible complications are:Pneumonia Muscle damage from lying on a hard surface for a prolonged period of time Brain damage from lack of oxygen Kidney injury or failure Liver damage or failureIf there are no complications, long-term effects and death are rare.If you receive medical attention before serious breathing problems occur, you should have few long-term health problems, and will probably be back to normal within several days.A person may survive the hydrocodone overdose and still have serious injury from the acetaminophen, including liver failure. This, might require a liver transplant.Open ReferencesReferencesAronson JK. Opioid receptor agonists. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:348-380.Aronson JK. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and combinations. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:474-493.Ganetsky M. Acetaminophen. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 138.Nikolaides, JK, Thompson TM. Opioids. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 151.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Review Date: 1/2/2023 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdoseLorcet overdose; Lortab overdose; Vicodin overdose; Norco overdoseHydrocodone is a painkiller in the opioid family (related to morphine). Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medicine used to treat pain and inflammation. They may be combined in one prescription medicine to treat pain. An overdose occurs when someone takes more than the recommended amount of this medicine. The treatment of this overdose must consider both the opioid and acetaminophen components.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with overdoses, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.An overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article OverdoseAn overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something, often a medicine or drug. An overdose may result in serious, harmful sym...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Poisonous Ingredient Both acetaminophen and hydrocodone can be harmful in large amounts. Where Found Acetaminophen with hydrocodone is the main ingredient in many prescription painkillers, including:Anexsia Anolor DH Norco VicodinMedicines with other names may also contain hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Symptoms Symptoms of a hydrocodone and acetaminophen overdose include:Bluish-colored fingernails and lips (cyanosis) Breathing problems, including slow and labored breathing, shallow breathing, or no breathing Slow and labored breathingMost people take breathing for granted. People with certain illnesses may have breathing problems that they deal with on a regular basis. This arti...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cold, clammy skin Decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness Loss of consciousness, coma ComaDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness from whi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Confusion ConfusionConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Drowsiness DrowsinessDrowsiness refers to feeling more sleepy than normal during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep when they do not want to or at times whic...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fatigue Lightheadedness Liver failure (from acetaminophen overdose), causing yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) Yellow skin and eyesJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Low blood pressure Low blood pressureLow blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Muscle twitches Nausea and vomiting Tiny pupils Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Spasms of the stomach and intestines SpasmsMuscle cramps are when a muscle gets tight (contracts) without you trying to tighten it, and it does not relax. Cramps may involve all or part of on...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Weak pulse Home Care Seek medical help right away. DO NOT make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to. Before Calling Emergency Have this information ready:Person's age, weight, and condition Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed If the medicine was prescribed for the person Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room Take the container to the hospital with you, if possible.The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.Tests that may done include:Blood and urine tests including the blood level of acetaminophen CT (computerized axial tomography) scan of the head Chest x-ray ECG (electrocardiogram or heart tracing)Treatment may include:Activated charcoal Breathing support, including oxygen, tube through the mouth and breathing machine (ventilator) Fluids through a vein (by IV) Laxative Medicine to lower acetaminophen level in the blood or to counteract its effects (n-acetylcysteine) Medicine to reverse the effects of the hydrocodone Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage), if unable to swallow medicines Outlook (Prognosis) How well you do depends on how much hydrocodone and acetaminophen you swallowed and how quickly you receive treatment. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.You may need to stay in the hospital to receive more doses of the medicine that reverses the effects of the drug. Complications may cause permanent disability. These possible complications are:Pneumonia Muscle damage from lying on a hard surface for a prolonged period of time Brain damage from lack of oxygen Kidney injury or failure Liver damage or failureIf there are no complications, long-term effects and death are rare.If you receive medical attention before serious breathing problems occur, you should have few long-term health problems, and will probably be back to normal within several days.A person may survive the hydrocodone overdose and still have serious injury from the acetaminophen, including liver failure. This, might require a liver transplant.Open ReferencesReferencesAronson JK. Opioid receptor agonists. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:348-380.Aronson JK. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) and combinations. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:474-493.Ganetsky M. Acetaminophen. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 138.Nikolaides, JK, Thompson TM. Opioids. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 151.