Tiger Woods allegedly had two hydrocodone pills in his left pant pocket when he flipped his Land Rover in Florida and was subsequently arrested on DUI charges last Friday.
While the drug is prescribed to treat chronic pain or manage pain after surgery or injury, using it is not without risks — and serious ones at that.
A semi-synthetic opioid, it’s in the same class as oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl and is highly addictive — with a high enough risk of abuse that prescriptions have dropped by as much as a third since their peak in 2011.
What is hydrocodone used for?
A strong opioid, hydrocodone is often used for managing moderate to severe long-term pain when non-opioid painkillers aren’t efficient enough.
This drug works by blocking pain signals and increases dopamine, which can create a pleasurable, euphoric feeling.
Immediate-release hydrocodone is only available when combined with other ingredients like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for short-term relief. The drug is also used as a cough suppressant in certain medications.
Are they any dangerous side effects?
Hydrocodone can cause many side effects, both common and much more severe.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased sweating and decreased sexual desire.
More serious effects can involve shortness of breath, dizziness, extreme drowsiness, chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures, hallucinations and fever.
Taking hydrocodone with certain medications like certain antidepressants or alcohol can increase the risk of breathing problems, sedation, coma or other serious, life-threatening side effects.
Is hydrocodone addictive?
Hydrocodone does have an addictive nature and is habit-forming, as the euphoric feeling the drug produces can lead to physical dependence and abruptly stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Classified as a schedule II drug by the DEA, this indicates it has high abuse potential but can still be prescribed for medical use.
Combination products with hydrocodone were reclassified from schedule III to schedule II in 2014 due to widespread abuse.
Immediately stopping hydrocodone can result in symptoms like such as restlessness, sweating, chills, widened pupils, irritability, vomiting, muscle pain and rapid heartbeat.
Because of it’s addictive properties, hydrocodone shouldn’t be used “as needed” or for pain that only happens once in a while, but instead in the frequency and dosage it’s prescribed.
How does it compare to oxycodone and other opioids?
While hydrocodone and other opioids work in similar ways, their chemical structures, onset times and legal status differ.
Hydromorphone, another oral opioid, has the longest time to kick in (around 30 minutes) while hydrocodone and oxycodone both start taking effect within 10 to 15 minutes.
Hydrocodone as well as fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, amphetamine and methamphetamine (also known as meth) are all schedule II drugs.
Meanwhile, heroin is a schedule I drug.
They can also differ in potency, with codeine being weaker than hydrocodone, while heroin and oxycodone are much stronger.
Is there a black market?
Yes, hydrocodone is sold illegally both on the black web and on the street.
While prescriptions have dropped, there’s a still a high demand from those dealing with chronic pain who have finished their prescribed amount or those who have formed an addiction.
The risk of purchasing hydrocodone outside of a regulated pharmacy is counterfeit pills that contain deadly doses of fentanyl.
