Hydrocodone

Trade Names

Codan, Hycodan, Hydromet, Hydropane, Mycodone, Tussigon.

Class and Category

Schedule C-II conrtolled substance, semisynthetic opiate agonist.

Indications

Antitussive therapy or as an analgesic for moderate to moderately-severe pain.

Dosage

Analgesic affect occurs in approximately 10–30 minutes with peak affects occuring within 30–60 minutes lasting about 4–6 hours. The antitussive activity also last approximately 4–6 hours.

Contraindications

Allergy, opiate addiction.

Adverse Reactions

Euphoria, respiratory depression.

Drug Interactions

Those drugs interfereing with cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2D6 may be more resistant to its therapeutic affects.

Mechanism of Action

Weak agonist at opiate receptors within the central nervous system. The opiate receptor primarly affected by hydrocodone is the mu receptor. By acting on receptors the neuron becomes hyperpolarized which leads to decreased neuronal excitability.