Professional Information — Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Verdrocet

Indications and Usage

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets are indicated for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain

Dosage and Administration

Dosage should be adjusted according to the severity of the pain and response of the patient. However, it should be kept in mind that tolerance to hydrocodone can develop with continued use and that the incidence of untoward effects is dose-related.

The usual adult dosage for Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen Tablets USP is

Contraindications

This product should not be administered to patients who have previously exhibited hypersensitivity to hydrocodone or acetaminophen.

Patients known to be hypersensitive to other opioids may exhibit cross-sensitivity to hydrocodone

Adverse Reactions

The most frequently reported adverse reactions are lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory than in nonambulatory patients, and some of these adverse reactions may be alleviated if the patient lies down.

Other adverse reactions include

Central Nervous System

Drowsiness, mental clouding, lethargy, impairment of mental and physical performance, anxiety, fear, dysphoria, psychic dependence, mood changes

Gastrointestinal System

Prolonged administration of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets may produce constipation

Genitourinary System

Ureteral spasm, spasm of vesical sphincters and urinary retention have been reported with opiates

Respiratory Depression

Hydrocodone bitartrate may produce dose-related respiratory depression by acting directly on the brain stem respiratory center (see OVERDOSAGE)

Special Senses

Cases of hearing impairment or permanent loss have been reported predominantly in patients with chronic overdose

Dermatological

Skin rash, pruritus.

The following adverse drug events may be borne in mind as potential effects of acetaminophen: allergic reactions, rash, thrombocytopenia, agranulocytosis.

Potential effects of high dosage are listed in the OVERDOSAGE section

Drug Interactions

Patients receiving other narcotic analgesics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, antianxiety agents, or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) concomitantly with hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets may exhibit an additive CNS depression. When combined therapy is contemplated, the dose of one or both agents should be reduced.

The use of MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants with hydrocodone preparations may increase the effect of either the antidepressant or hydrocodone

Drug Abuse and Dependence

Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion of Opioids

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets contain hydrocodone, an opioid agonist, and is a Schedule II controlled substance. Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen, and other opioids, used in analgesia can be abused and are subject to criminal diversion.

Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving. Drug addiction is a treatable disease utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, but relapse is common.

“Drug seeking” behavior is very common in addicts and drug abusers. Drug-seeking tactics include emergency calls or visits near the end of office hours, refusal to undergo appropriate examination, testing or referral, repeated “loss” of prescriptions, tampering with prescriptions and reluctance to provide prior medical records or contact information for other treating physician(s). “Doctor shopping” to obtain additional prescriptions is common among drug abusers and people suffering from untreated addiction.

Abuse and addiction are separate and distinct from physical dependence and tolerance. Physical dependence usually assumes clinically significant dimensions only after several weeks of continued opioid use, although a mild degree of physical dependence may develop after a few days of opioid therapy. Tolerance, in which increasingly large doses are required in order to produce the same degree of analgesia, is manifested initially by a shortened duration of analgesic effect, and subsequently by decreases in the intensity of analgesia. The rate of development of tolerance varies among patients. Physicians should be aware that abuse of opioids can occur in the absence of true addiction and is characterized by misuse for non-medical purposes, often in combination with other psychoactive substances. Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen, like other opioids, may be diverted for non-medical use. Record-keeping of prescribing information, including quantity, frequency, and renewal requests is strongly advised.

Proper assessment of the patient, proper prescribing practices, periodic re-evaluation of therapy, and proper dispensing and storage are appropriate measures that help to limit abuse of opioid drugs

Overdosage

Following an acute overdosage, toxicity may result from hydrocodone or acetaminophen

Signs and Symptoms

Hydrocodone

Serious overdose with hydrocodone is characterized by respiratory depression (a decrease in respiratory rate and or tidal volume, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, cyanosis), extreme somnolence progressing to stupor or coma, skeletal muscle flaccidity, cold and clammy skin, and sometimes bradycardia and hypotension. In severe overdosage, apnea, circulatory collapse, cardiac arrest and death may occur

Acetaminophen

 In acetaminophen overdosage: dose-dependent, potentially fatal hepatic necrosis is the most serious adverse effect. Renal tubular necrosis, hypoglycemic coma, and thrombocytopenia may also occur

Early symptoms following a potentially hepatotoxic overdose may include

nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis and general malaise

Clinical and laboratory evidence of hepatic toxicity may not be apparent until 48 to 72 hours post-ingestion

In adults, hepatic toxicity has rarely been reported with acute overdoses of less than 10 grams, or fatalities with less than 15 grams

Treatment

A single or multiple overdose with hydrocodone and acetaminophen is a potentially lethal polydrug overdose, and consultation with a regional poison control center is recommended.

Immediate treatment includes support of cardiorespiratory function and measures to reduce drug absorption. Vomiting should be induced mechanically, or with syrup of ipecac, if the patient is alert (adequate pharyngeal and laryngeal reflexes). Oral activated charcoal (1 g/kg) should follow gastric emptying. The first dose should be accompanied by an appropriate cathartic. If repeated doses are used, the cathartic might be included with alternate doses as required. Hypotension is usually hypovolemic and should respond to fluids. Vasopressors and other supportive measures should be employed as indicated. A cuffed endotracheal tube should be inserted before gastric lavage of the unconscious patient and, when necessary, to provide assisted respiration.

Meticulous attention should be given to maintaining adequate pulmonary ventilation. In severe cases of intoxication, peritoneal dialysis, or preferably hemodialysis may be considered. If hypoprothrombinemia occurs due to acetaminophen overdose, vitamin K should be administered intravenously.

Naloxone, a narcotic antagonist, can reverse respiratory depression and coma associated with opioid overdose. Naloxone hydrochloride 0.4 mg to 2 mg is given parenterally. Since the duration of action of hydrocodone may exceed that of the naloxone, the patient should be kept under continuous surveillance and repeated doses of the antagonist should be administered as needed to maintain adequate respiration. A narcotic antagonist should not be administered in the absence of clinically significant respiratory or cardiovascular depression.

If the dose of acetaminophen may have exceeded 140 mg/kg, acetylcysteine should be administered as early as possible. Serum acetaminophen levels should be obtained, since levels four or more hours following ingestion help predict acetaminophen toxicity. Do not await acetaminophen assay results before initiating treatment. Hepatic enzymes should be obtained initially, and repeated at 24-hour intervals.

Methemoglobinemia over 30% should be treated with methylene blue by slow intravenous administration.

The toxic dose for adults for acetaminophen is 10 g

Description

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen is supplied in tablet form for oral administration

Hydrocodone bitartrate is an opioid analgesic and antitussive and occurs as fine, white crystals or as a crystalline powder. It is affected by light

The chemical name is

4 5a  Epoxy 3 methoxy 17 methylmorphinan 6 one tartrate1 1 hydrate 2 5 It has the following structural formula

Acetaminophen, 4  Hydroxyacetanilide, a slightly bitter white odorless crystalline powder is a nonopiate non salicylate analgesic and antipyretic. It has the following structural formula

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen tablets USP for oral administration are available in the following strengths

• 10mg 325mg  10mg Hydrocodone Bitartrate USP 325mg Acetaminophen USP

Discontinued the following strengths

• 10mg 500mg  10mg Hydrocodone Bitartrate USP 500mg Acetaminophen USP
• 10mg 650mg  10mg Hydrocodone Bitartrate USP 650mg Acetaminophen USP

Clinical Pharmacology

Hydrocodone is a semisynthetic narcotic analgesic and antitussive with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of codeine. Most of these involve the central nervous system and smooth muscle. The precise mechanism of action of hydrocodone and other opiates is not known, although it is believed to relate to the existence of opiate receptors in the central nervous system. In addition to analgesia, narcotics may produce drowsiness, changes in mood and mental clouding

The analgesic action of acetaminophen involves peripheral influences, but the specific mechanism is as yet undetermined. Antipyretic activity is mediated through hypothalamic heat regulating centers. Acetaminophen inhibits prostaglandin synthetase. Therapeutic doses of acetaminophen have negligible effects on the cardiovascular or respiratory systems; however, toxic doses may cause circulatory failure and rapid, shallow breathing

How Supplied / Storage and Handling

Hydrocodone Bitartrate and Acetaminophen tablets, USP are available in the following strengths:
10mg 325mg 10mg of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and 325mg of Acetaminophen.White to off white, scored, oblong biconvex tablets, debossed
IP110 on obverse and bisected on the reverse
They are supplied as follows

• 12634-144-78 Bottle of 12
• 12634-144-85 Bottle of 15
• 12634-144-79 Bottle of 25
• 12634-144-91 Blister Pack UD of 1
• 12634-144-61 Blister Pack Card 10
• 12634-144-52 Blister Pack Card 12
• 12634-144-55 Blister Pack Card 15

10mg 500mg 10mg of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and 500mg of Acetaminophen.Capsule-shaped, blue tablets bisected on one side and debossed
with Watson540 on the other side
DISCONTINUED

• 12634-978-95 Bottle of 5
• 12634-978-00 Bottle of 10
• 12634-978-85 Bottle of 15
• 12634-978-71 Bottle of 30
• 12634-978-91 Blister Pack UD of 1
• 12634-978-55 Blister Pack Card of 15

10mg 650mg 10mg of Hydrocodone Bitartrate and 650mg of Acetaminophen. White to off white, scored, oblong, biconvex tablets, debossed
IP114 on obverse, a bisected on the reverse
DISCONTINUED

• 12634-256-79 Bottle of 5
• 12634-256-50 Bottle of 50
• 12634-256-91 Blister Pack UD of 1

Patient Counseling Information

Hydrocodone, like all narcotics, may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a car or operating machinery; patients should be cautioned accordingly.

Alcohol and other CNS depressants may produce an additive CNS depression, when taken with this combination product, and should be avoided.

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming. Patients should take the drug only for as long as it is prescribed, in the amounts prescribed, and no more frequently than prescribed