Buy Hydrocodone Online
Hydrocodone, also known as dihydrocodeinone, acts as a semisynthetic opioid used in pain management and as a cough suppressant. Patients take it orally. Usually, healthcare providers prescribe it in combination with acetaminophen/hydrocodone or ibuprofen/hydrocodone for severe pain necessitating opioid intervention, and in conjunction with homatropine methylbromide to alleviate coughing. It is also available by itself in a long-acting form under the brand name Zohydro ER, among others, to treat severe pain of a prolonged duration. Hydrocodone is a controlled drug: in the United States a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
Side effects and mechanisms
Common side effects include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, and constipation. Serious side effects may include low blood pressure, seizures, QT prolongation, respiratory depression, and serotonin syndrome. Rapidly decreasing the dose may result in opioid withdrawal. Experts generally do not recommend using hydrocodone during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Hydrocodone is thought to function by activating opioid receptors, primarily located in the brain and spinal cord Hydrocodone 10 mg is equivalent to about 10 mg of morphine by mouth.
History and culture
Hydrocodone was patented in 1923, while the long-acting formulation was approved for medical use in the United States in 2013. It is most commonly prescribed in the United States, which consumed 99% of the worldwide supply as of 2010. In 2018, it was the 402nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 400,000 prescriptions. Hydrocodone is a semisynthetic opioid, converted from codeine or less often from thebaine. Production using genetically engineered yeasts has been developed but is not used commercially.
Medical uses
Hydrocodone treats moderate to severe pain. In liquid formulations, it treats cough. In one study comparing hydrocodone’s potency to oxycodone’s, researchers found that achieving the same degree of miosis (pupillary contraction) required 50% more hydrocodone. The investigators interpreted this to mean that oxycodone is about 50% more potent than hydrocodone.
However, in a study of emergency department patients with fractures, it was found that an equal amount of either drug provided about the same degree of pain relief, indicating that there is little practical difference between them when used for that purpose. Some references state that the analgesic action of hydrocodone begins in 20–30 minutes and lasts about 4–8 hours. The manufacturer’s information says onset of action is about 10–30 minutes and duration is about 4–6 hours. Recommended dosing interval is 4–6 hours. Hydrocodone reaches peak serum levels after 1.3 hours
Available forms
Hydrocodone is available in a variety of formulations for oral administration:[31][32][33]
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Dicodid, the original oral form of hydrocodone alone, is available for prescription in Continental Europe according to national drug control and prescription laws and Title 76 of the Schengen Treaty. However, dihydrocodeine has seen wider usage for the same indications since the early 1920s. Hydrocodone is regulated similarly to morphine in the German Betäubungsmittelgesetz, the similarly named law in Switzerland, and the Austrian Suchtmittelgesetz, whereas dihydrocodeine is regulated like codeine. Liquid hydrocodone products have served as cough medicines for several decades.
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Hycodan, a combination of hydrocodone and homatropine in small tablets, is used for coughing and neuropathic moderate pain. The inclusion of homatropine, an anticholinergic agent, serves as a deterrent to intentional overdose and is beneficial in both cases. In the United States, Hycodan was more commonly used than Dicodid and was marketed as a cough medicine, while Vicodin and similar drugs were preferred for analgesia.
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Tussionex, a time-release syrup containing extended-release hydrocodone along with chlorphenamine/chlorpheniramine, serves as a cough medicine in North America. In Europe, similar time-release syrups containing various substances such as codeine, dihydrocodeine (Paracodin Retard Hustensaft), nicocodeine (Tusscodin), thebacon, acetyldihydrocodeine, dionine, and nicodicodeine are utilized instead.
- Immediate-release hydrocodone with paracetamol (acetaminophen) (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet, Maxidone, Norco, Zydone)
- Immediate-release hydrocodone with ibuprofen (Vicoprofen, Ibudone, Reprexain)
- Immediate-release hydrocodone with aspirin (Alor 5/500, Azdone, Damason-P, Lortab ASA, Panasal 5/500)
- Controlled-release hydrocodone (Hysingla ER by Purdue Pharma, Zohydro ER)
Hydrocodone is not available in parenteral or any other non-oral forms.
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