Lortab

Lortab is a medication that is licensed for treating moderate to moderately severe pain. It is available by prescription and comes in the form of tablets and an elixir. Lortab is a combination of two pain relievers: hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen. The medication is classified as a controlled substance, meaning it has the potential to be abused. Possible side effects include dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.

Lortab Medication Information

What Is Lortab?

Lortab^® (hydrocodone/APAP) is a prescription pain medication. It is approved to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. As a narcotic, the medication is classified as a controlled substance, which means that special regulations and laws control its sale and use.

(Click Lortab Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes It?

All Lortab products are marketed by UCB Pharma, Inc. Lortab 5/500 and 10/500 are made by Mallinckrodt, while Lortab 2.5/500, 7.5/500, and Lortab Elixir are made by Mikart, Inc.

How Does Lortab Work?

Lortab contains two different pain medicines: hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic opioid pain reliever. It acts similarly to codeine. Hydrocodone is effective at relieving pain and decreasing coughing, but also causes mood changes, drowsiness, and mental "clouding." In the United States, hydrocodone is only available in combination with other medications; it is not available alone.

Acetaminophen (commonly known as "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 the effectiveness of Lortab for relieving pain and may limit the abuse potential of hydrocodone, as the maximum dose of Lortab is usually limited by the acetaminophen content.

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