Lortab
® (
hydrocodone/APAP) is a prescription medication licensed for the treatment of pain. Specifically, Lortab's benefits include treating moderate to moderately severe pain in adults and children as young as two years old.
Lortab can help relieve pain because it contains two different medications,
hydrocodone bitartrate and
acetaminophen.
Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic, opioid pain reliever. It acts similarly to codeine. Hydrocodone is effective at decreasing pain and relieving coughing, but also causes drowsiness, mood changes, and mental "clouding."
Acetaminophen ("APAP") is a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in non-prescription medications such as
Tylenol®. "APAP" is an acronym for one of the chemical names for acetaminophen. Combining hydrocodone with acetaminophen helps improve acetaminophen's effectiveness at relieving pain and may limit the abuse potential of hydrocodone, as the maximum dose of Lortab is usually limited by the acetaminophen content.
(Click Lortab for a more in-depth look at the possible benefits of this drug, including information on how it works and how it can help relieve pain. This article also covers potential side effects, dosing guidelines, and what to tell your healthcare provider before taking this pain medication.)
