Lortab Abuse
What is Lortab and how is it used
Lortab combines a narcotic analgesic and cough reliever with a non-narcotic analgesic for the relief of moderate to moderately severe pain.
Lortab when abused is taken orally, chewed, crushed (then snorted like cocaine), or crushed (then dissolved in water and injected like heroin). Lortab is is a combination of Hydrocodone bitartrate and Acetaminophen. Lortab, when used medicinally is given by mouth either in tablet or liquid form.
What are the side effects of Lortab?
The side effects of Lortab are:
- drowsiness
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- nausea / vomiting
- unusual fatigue or weakness
- allergic reactions
- anxiety
- blood disorders
- constipation
- decreased mental and physical capability
- difficulty urinating
- fear
- hearing loss
- itching
- mental clouding
- mood changes
- restlessness
- skin rash
- slowed breathing
- sluggishness
- pinpoint pupils
- flushing
- dry mouth
Drug Interactions for Lortab
Other medications that may interact with Lortab are:
- medicines for seizures
- medicines for high blood pressure
- alcohol
- warfarin
- cimetidine
- antacids
Other medicines that cause drowsiness may increase this effect of Lortab. Some other medicines that cause drowsiness are:
- alcohol - containing medicines
- barbiturates such as Phenobarbital
- certain antidepressants or tranquilizers
- muscle relaxants
- certain antihistamines used in cold medicines
Lortab - addiction
People become dependent upon Lortab for a feeling of well-being and will often get multiple prescriptions from different doctors to support their habit. Addictive drugs activate the brain's reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate brain reward mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems can produce an addiction.
What are the symptoms of Lortab overdose
The symptoms of an overdose are:
- muscle spasticity
- breathing slow and labored
- breathing shallow
- no breathing
- pinpoint pupils
- bluish skin (fingernails and lips)
- cold and clammy skin
- heavy perspiration
- spasms of the stomach and/or intestinal tract
- constipation
- vomiting
- weak pulse
- low blood pressure / slow heartbeat
- drowsiness
- coma
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