Hydrocodone and the potential for abuse or misuse

Hydrocodone and the potential for abuse or misuse

Research the drug Hydrocodone and its potential for abuse or misuse. **MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:
1. History and epidemiology of the drug
2. The pharmacology, how does it work in the system
3. How is it grown, manufactured, transported and marketed
4. The dosage, expected effects, side effects and potential for overdose
5. The specific treatments that might be used in rehabilitation?

You must use articles in journals, books and or articles on a website. Information collected from websites MUST be from accurate and reputable sources. Please do not use the textbook or encyclopedias.

Hydrocodone is one of the most common pain medications prescribed by clinicians and one of the most abused by patients. It is a

relatively potent drug for moderate-to-severe pain control in postoperative patients, patients with trauma, or patients with cancer. The combination of hydrocodone with acetaminophen is much more efficacious in several randomized studies without any significant changes in adverse effects. Moreover, hydrocodone/acetaminophen has common use as an antitussive agent. This activity outlines the indications, mechanism of action, methods of administration, significant adverse effects, contraindications, monitoring, and toxicity of hydrocodone/acetaminophen so that providers can direct patient therapy to optimal outcomes.

Objectives:

Identify the mechanism of action of hydrocodone/acetaminophen.
Outline the approved uses for initiating hydrocodone/acetaminophen therapy.
Summarize the adverse event profile and contraindications to using hydrocodone/acetaminophen.
Explain interprofessional team strategies for improving care coordination and communication to advance hydrocodone/acetaminophen therapy, improve outcomes, and minimize adverse events and misuse, especially in light of the ongoing opioid crisis.
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Indications
Hydrocodone is one of the most common pain medications prescribed by clinicians and one of the most abused by patients. It is a relatively potent drug for moderate-to-severe pain control in postoperative patients, patients with trauma, and patients with cancer. The combination of hydrocodone with acetaminophen is much more efficacious than placebo in several randomized studies without any significant changes in adverse effects.[1] Moreover, hydrocodone/acetaminophen has common use as an antitussive agent.[2]