What is Lortab?

Lortab helps relieve moderate to severe pain. This drug contains a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever. On the other hand, acetaminophen is a less potent pain reliever that increases the effects of hydrocodone. Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, helps in reducing a fever. If you want to order Lortab online, make sure that it is genuine.

How to take Lortab?

Take Lortab as directed. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take Lortab more than recommended or for longer than the prescribed duration. An overdose may harm your liver or even cause death. If the drug seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain, tell your doctor.

Hydrocodone may be addictive, even at regular doses. Never give this medication to someone else, especially if they have a history of drug abuse or addiction. Addiction, overdose, or death can result from the misuse of narcotic medicine, especially in people using the medicine without a prescription. It is illegal to sell or give Lortab to anyone.

Use the dosing syringe provided or a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup to measure liquid Lortab. If you do not have a measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

If you need surgery or medical tests, let your doctor know you are taking Lortab ahead of time. You may need to stop taking medicine for a while.

If you suddenly stop taking Lortab after a long period of use, you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, mental or mood changes such as anxiety, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior. Ask your doctor about how to stop taking this medication safely.

Store away from moisture and heat at room temperature. Keep track of how much drug you have used from each new bottle. Hydrocodone has a high potential for abuse, and you should be aware if someone is misusing your medication or using it without a prescription.

If you buy Lortab online, always check your bottle to ensure you have received the correct pills (same brand and type) that your doctor prescribed.

Overdose

An acetaminophen and hydrocodone overdose can be lethal.

Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness are the first signs of an acetaminophen overdose.

Pain in the upper stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes, and dark urine are some of the later symptoms of an acetaminophen overdose.

The overdose symptoms may also include cold and clammy skin, extreme drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, muscle weakness, slow heart rate, fainting, weak pulse, coma, blue lips, shallow breathing, or no breathing.

What to know before taking Lortab?

Do not use this Lortab if you are allergic to hydrocodone or acetaminophen or if you have recently used sedatives, tranquilizers, other narcotic medications, or alcohol.

Avoid using Lortab if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. Doing so may lead to a dangerous drug interaction. MAO inhibitors include  linezolid,  isocarboxazid, phenelzine, selegiline,  tranylcypromine, and rasagiline

Certain medicines can interact with hydrocodone and cause a condition known as serotonin syndrome. Make sure your doctor is aware of any medications you are taking for depression, mental illness, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, serious infections, or nausea and vomiting prevention. You must ask your doctor before making any changes to how or when you take your medications.

To make sure Lortab is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• a head injury, brain tumor, or stroke
• if you have liver disease, cirrhosis, or consume more than three alcoholic beverages per day
• breathing disorders such as COPD, asthma, sleep apnea
• inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, diarrhea, and severe constipation 
• kidney disease
• low blood pressure, or dehydration
• a history of alcoholism or drug addiction
• if you use a sedative like Valium, including diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Ativan, Restoril, Xanax, etc.

Lortab is more likely to trigger respiratory problems in older people, as well as those who are severely ill, malnourished, or otherwise disabled.

If you take narcotic medication while pregnant, your baby could become dependent on it. Babies who are born dependent on a habit-forming drug may require medical treatment for several weeks. 

Hydrocodone and acetaminophen may pass into breast milk and cause damage to a nursing baby. Therefore, do not breastfeed while using Lortab.

What to avoid while using Lortab?

Lortab may impair your thinking or reactions. If you do not know how Lortab will affect you, do not drive or operate machinery. Dizziness or extreme drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication.

Taking certain medications together can result in an overdose of acetaminophen, which can be lethal.

Avoid consuming alcohol while using acetaminophen because it can increase your risk of liver damage.

What are the side effects of Lortab?

The common side effects of Lortab include:

• drowsiness, headache
• blurred vision
• dry mouth
• upset stomach, constipation

Call your doctor immediately if you have:

• lightheadedness
• shallow breathing, slow heartbeat 
• seizure or convulsions
• easy bruising or bleeding
• confusion, unusual thoughts, or behavior
• impotence, sexual problems, loss of interest in sex
• infertility missed menstrual periods
• low cortisol levels, including loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, worsening tiredness, or weakness.
• liver problems including upper stomach pain, nausea, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes

Acetaminophen can cause a severe skin reaction in rare cases that can be fatal. This could happen even if you have never had a reaction to acetaminophen before. Stop taking this medication at once and call your doctor if you have skin redness or a rash.

If you develop symptoms of serotonin syndrome, get medical help right away. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include hallucinations, agitation, muscle stiffness, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, loss of coordination, twitching, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

What drugs can interact with Lortab?

Certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist/antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, and butorphanol) and naltrexone may interact with this drug.

Many other drugs can interact with narcotic (opioid) medications, resulting in dangerous side effects or death. Tell your doctor if you also use:

• other narcotic medications, such as opioid pain relievers or prescription cough medicines 
• medicines that can slow your breathing or make you sleepy, including sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, sedatives, tranquilizers, or antipsychotic medicines
• some medicines can affect serotonin levels in your body, including medicine for Parkinson’s disease, depression, serious infections, migraine headaches, or prevention of nausea and vomiting