Hydrocodone Side Effects: Common & Rare Risks to Look ForHydrocodone Side Effects:

Hydrocodone side effects include drowsiness, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and dry mouth, among others. 

Physicians often prescribe hydrocodone, an opioid, to manage moderate-to-severe pain. This drug may be used temporarily, like after surgery or injury, or long term to provide relief when non-opioid medications cannot. Despite its effectiveness in reducing pain, its use has to be weighed against its side effects, misuse risk, and addiction risk.

Common Side Effects of Hydrocodone

While hydrocodone can be an effective pain reliever, it also has the potential to be addictive. It can cause a range of side effects and interactions.[1] 

The most common side effects of hydrocodone include the following:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Headache

If any issues persist long term or a particular side effect seems severe, seek medical attention. 

The positive effects of hydrocodone, such as its ability to reduce pain and cause euphoria, can lessen over time since repeated use can cause a person to develop tolerance to the drug.[2] Never increase your dose beyond what was prescribed without first talking to a doctor. This is considered misuse of the drug, and it can increase your risk of an opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose.

You can develop a dependence on hydrocodone even when taking the drug only as prescribed.[3] This dependence is usually manageable if you follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and are honest about how your medication is making you feel. 

Less Common Side Effects of Hydrocodone

In addition to the common side effects, hydrocodone can cause less common side effects, such as these:

• Confusion
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Abdominal pain
• Itching
• Sweating
• Rash
• Swelling of the hands or feet

If you experience any of the above side effects, seek help from a doctor immediately. These are the signs of a potentially dangerous reaction to your medication, and this has the potential to be life-threatening. 

Don’t wait for these side effects to get so severe that they obviously warrant medical attention. Assume they’re serious as soon as they occur, so you can get treated promptly and reduce your risk of any lasting harm.

Dangerous Interactions With Hydrocodone

Mixing drugs, also known as polydrug use, can have serious and potentially deadly consequences. Different drugs can interact with each other in unpredictable ways, leading to negative side effects, overdose, and even death.

Drugs can often bring about more potent effects than intended when mixed, thanks to what is called their synergistic nature. Both substances interact and boost the effect of the other. This also increases the risk of serious adverse consequences manifesting more quickly than usual. 

Mixing drugs can have significant risks to our health, and it should only be done if told to do so by a doctor and after learning about any potential interactions that may occur. Mixing drugs with hydrocodone can cause severe issues, such as seizures, severely weakened breathing or an inability to breathe altogether, and heart complications.[4]

Hydrocodone can interact with other medications, which can increase the risk of side effects or other health problems. Some of the dangerous interactions with hydrocodone include the following:[5]

• Alcohol: Hydrocodone and alcohol can both cause drowsiness and dizziness, so combining them can increase the risk of falls and other accidents. The combination also increases the danger of life-threatening respiratory depression.[6]
• Other opioids: Taking hydrocodone with other opioids, such as fentanyl or oxycodone, can increase the risk of respiratory depression.
• Benzodiazepines: Hydrocodone and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, can both cause drowsiness and increase the risk of respiratory depression.
• Muscle relaxants: Combining hydrocodone with muscle relaxants, such as Flexeril, can increase the risk of drowsiness and dizziness.

It is important to talk to your doctor before taking any other medications with hydrocodone to avoid dangerous interactions.

Potential Risks & Warnings for Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone has the potential to be addictive, and long-term use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal symptoms.[7] 

It’s critical that patients follow their doctor’s instructions when using hydrocodone and avoid exceeding recommended dosages since serious consequences could result from misuse, such as severe respiratory depression. This reaction is especially threatening if one has existing pulmonary ailments or consumes other drugs that can enhance this depressive effect. In extreme cases, this can cause a life-threatening overdose that could lead to coma, permanent brain damage, and death.

Additionally, pregnant women should notify their physicians about their pregnancy and people hoping to become pregnant should notify them about the intended pregnancy. Using hydrocodone during pregnancy has the potential to expose the fetus to hydrocodone. Lactating mothers can also transmit the drug into breast milk, thereby exposing the newborn to potential risks.

Getting Help for an Addiction to Hydrocodone

If you are struggling with an opioid use disorder related to hydrocodone, there are several options for getting help. Talk to an addiction treatment specialist who can help you develop a plan for managing your OUD.[8]

The best results in OUD recovery are generally achieved using medication along with therapeutic interventions. Counseling and behavioral therapies can address triggers that may cause you to crave hydrocodone and put you at risk for engaging in opioid misuse.[9] Therapy can also help you channel thoughts that might normally have led to hydrocodone misuse in healthier ways, which is an important tool for avoiding relapse.

Medications like Suboxone are very effective at managing OUD for the long term. Many people remain on Suboxone for years, and some people remain on it indefinitely.[10] There is no reason to stop taking it if it continues to support your recovery efforts. 

Since Suboxone keeps opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms under control, you can focus on other aspects of building a balanced life in recovery, such as work you’re doing in therapy, on your career, or in your relationships.