A healthcare provider may prescribe Vicodin
® (
hydrocodone/APAP) to treat moderate to moderately severe pain in adults.
This pain medication comes in pill form. Vicodin is typically taken every four to six hours as needed for pain. The pills are available in the following strengths:
- Vicodin 5/500 -- 5 mg of hydrocodone bitartrate and 500 mg of acetaminophen
- Vicodin HP® 10/660 -- 10 mg of hydrocodone bitartrate and 660 mg of acetaminophen
- Vicodin ES® 7.5/750 -- 7.5 mg of hydrocodone bitartrate and 750 mg of acetaminophen.
Vicodin contains two different medications, hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic, opioid pain reliever. It acts similarly to codeine and is effective at decreasing pain and relieving coughing. The acetaminophen component in Vicodin is a pain reliever and fever reducer. Combining hydrocodone with acetaminophen helps improve the effectiveness of acetaminophen at relieving pain and may limit the abuse potential of hydrocodone (the maximum dose of Vicodin is limited by the acetaminophen content).
(Click Vicodin for a more in-depth look at how Vicodin works, potential side effects, general dosing guidelines, and information on what to tell your healthcare provider before using this medication.)
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