Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Hysingla ER
  2. Vantrela ER
  3. Zohydro ER
  4. Hycodan

Canadian Brand Name

  1. pdp-HYDROcodone
  2. Robidone

Descriptions


Hydrocodone is used to relieve pain in opioid-tolerant patients severe enough to require around-the-clock pain relief for a long period of time. It should not be used if you need pain medicine for just a short time, such as when recovering from surgery. Do not use this medicine to relieve mild pain. This medicine should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while or "as needed". It is also used to manage severe and persistent pain that requires an extended opioid treatment and when other pain medicines did not work well or cannot be tolerated.

Hydrocodone belongs to the group of medicines called narcotic analgesics (pain medicines). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.

When hydrocodone is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose. Physical dependence may lead to withdrawal side effects if treatment is stopped suddenly. However, severe withdrawal side effects can usually be prevented by gradually reducing the dose over a period of time before treatment is stopped completely.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Hysingla® and Zohydro® are available only under a restricted distribution program called the Opioid Analgesic REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) program.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Tablet, Extended Release
  • Capsule, Extended Release

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Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024

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