When patients struggle with moderate to severe pain, medical professionals often have to administer a powerful, prescription-only palliative drug such as Norco or Lortab to ease one’s distress. While these medications can successfully treat pain, it does come with risks as both are combinations of an opioid analgesic, antitussive (cough suppressant), and a non-narcotic pain-reliever.
Opioids by themselves have been found to have a high risk for abuse and addiction, so when they’re combined with a cough suppressant like dextromethorphan (found in Robitussin DM), one’s risk for addiction, abuse and dependency increases even more.
With that in mind, it helps to understand the chemical composition of opioids like Norco and Lortab, along with their differences, so you can better understand how they might be used in a safe and effective manner, and where you should steer clear of them.
What is Lortab?
It’s not a surprise that Lortab is often used interchangeably with Norco as it contains the same key ingredients: hydrocodone (an opioid painkiller) and acetaminophen (a non-opioid pain reliever). With that in mind, the key difference is that Lortab only comes in a liquid form, while Norco comes in a tablet form.
Similar to Norco, Lortab can have the following side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in your ears
- Dry mouth, and
- Unclear thinking
What is Norco?
Norco is a combination medication that contains a powerful opioid analgesic called Hydrocodone, which is a semi-synthetic opioid (the term semi-synthetic means that certain components are made artificially). When Hydrocodone is combined with other medications, it’s referred to as a “fixed-dose combination drug.”
On its own, Hydrocodone is an opioid analgesic that can be used to treat moderate to severe pain associated with a wide range of medical conditions. It’s considered a Schedule II controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act and is only available through a prescription.
Hydrocodone is considered a synthetic opioid and is considered to be more powerful and addictive than natural opioids like codeine. On that note, Norco comes in a tablet form and can do wonders in effectively treating pain related to post-surgical or cancer-related conditions.
How Does Norco Work?
As mentioned above, Norco contains Hydrocodone, an opioid analgesic that works to relieve moderate to severe pain by blocking pain receptors that are stimulated by pain-inducing substances.
A single Norco pill contains 5 mg of Hydrocodone, which is equivalent to 10 mg of Oxycodone, or 5 mg of Hydromorphone, along with 325 mg of acetaminophen. Overall, it is just as effective as both of these opioids in relieving moderate to severe pain.
Norco can deliver the following common side effects:
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in your ears, or
- Dry mouth
Both Norco and Lortab Share Similar Pain-Relieving Properties and Side-Effects
When it comes to relieving pain, both Lortab and Norco do their jobs effectively. Consequently, both also share the same adverse side effects, such as the following:
- Sedation/drowsiness
- Decreased respiratory rate
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lightheadedness
Nevertheless, most of these occur when Norco or Lortab is used in high doses or for a prolonged period of time. Over time, any patient taking this prescription-only painkiller will experience a loss of potency. This means that a patient will require more and more of the medication in order to achieve the same pain-relieving result.
What is Hydrocodone?
Known as an active ingredient in strong painkillers like Norco, Lortab, and the more popularly-known brand like Vicodin, Hydrocodone is an active ingredient that works by interacting with the body’s opiate receptors in the brain.
When Hydrocodone interacts with these receptors, it suppresses the transmission of pain signals resulting in pain relief. Consequently, it has the following side effects:
- Dry mouth
- Stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Changes in heartbeat
- Hives
- Itching
- Swelling of the face, lips, and tongue
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
What is Oxycodone?
In the same way that Hydrocodone can be found in medications like Norco and Lortab, Oxycodone can be found in Oxycontin and Percocet. These medications are used to treat moderate to severe pain as they are considered to be more potent than Hydrocodone.
It is important to note that Oxycodone, like Norco, is a short-term solution for moderate to severe pain. Mainly, a prescription-only medication like Oxycodone should never be used to treat any kind of chronic pain, as there are safer, long-term alternatives for the treatment of chronic pain.
As for the side effects, you can expect the following:
- Pain relief
- Dizziness or faintness
- Tiredness
- Confusion and difficulty concentrating
- Euphoria or negative mood
- Restlessness
- Stiff muscles
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Stomach-ache and nausea
- Difficulty urinating
- Slow pulse
- Excess sweating, flushing, and itching
- Mild allergic rash or hives
Hydrocodone and Oxycodone: Painkillers that Work in Different Ways
While Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are both considered opioid analgesics, their pain-relieving effects work in two different ways.
Oxycodone works as an immediate and time-release narcotic medication, while Hydrocodone serves as more of an instant-release, pain-busting drug. Both drugs must only be prescribed by doctors, and even then, it is often used as a last resort due to their high risk of developing an addiction.
Seeing as both are powerful pain-relievers, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone can effectively address acute problems that no other pain-relieving drug can do.
Why are Hydrocodone and Oxycodone Addicting?
The reality is that no matter how controlled the situation is, opioid substances always have the tendency to develop into dependency for the user. That’s why it’s crucial to consume medications like Norco and Lortab strictly under medical supervision.
Along with the risk of addiction, many side effects can occur when taking this medication in high doses or for a prolonged period of time. The most commonly reported side effects tend to be nausea and vomiting, as well as impaired mental function.
The best way to manage the risk of Norco and Lortab addiction is to consult a medical professional before taking them and make sure that you are being mindful of any potential side effects.
The Bottom Line: The Importance of Understanding Norco and Lortab – the Relief and Risks
If you are taking any kind of opioid painkiller, it’s essential that you understand the risks associated with taking them. At the end of the day, you will always have to weigh the pros and cons of taking this kind of medication.
Both Norco (Hydrocodone) and Lortab (Hydrocodone + Acetaminophen) are two very popular opioid painkillers that provide pain relief for those suffering from moderate to severe pain.
They are often prescribed for the relief of pain associated with a wide range of medical conditions, and both are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, the same classification of drugs as heroin and cocaine.
As with most medications that contain hydrocodone, both Norco and Lortab are considered to be highly addictive and thus carry a high risk for abuse and dependency.
As a result, it’s imperative that you talk to a medical professional before taking any prescription-only medication. If you or your loved one is struggling with dependency on any painkiller, there is help available.
Take the first step and contact Addiction IO, a safe, medically-supervised local addiction treatment finder that is focused on getting you back to a healthy, addiction-free life.
Source: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=1fb18a80-8ef0-4bce-bb0d-9a86851c5206