Hydrocodone Overdose Risks
Hydrocodone is an opioid medication available in tablet, capsule, and syrup form. The drug is prescribed to patients to treat pain or as a cough medicine. Hydrocodone is often combined with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and other non-opioid painkillers to produce other pain medications, like Vicodin and Lortab. Hydrocodone has come under increased scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its risks of overdose or death.
If someone you love used medication containing hydrocodone and died due to an overdose, Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel can help. Our drug injury lawyers are dedicated to protecting victims’ rights against aggressive pharmaceutical giants, and we want to fight for you, too. Contact our legal staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week—just dial (888) 485-8844 or complete a free initial consultation form.
Severe Health Consequences of Hydrocodone
Drugs containing hydrocodone can be habit-forming, which may cause dosages to be increased over time due to increased tolerance for the drug. Additionally, many hydrocodone combination drugs contain paracetamol, also called acetaminophen, which can cause liver damage or failure when safe dosage limits are exceeded.
Symptoms of a hydrocodone overdose can include:
- blue, clammy, or cold skin,
- bradycardia (heart slowness),
- cardiac arrest,
- coma,
- respiratory depression,
- seizures,
- and even death.
In January 2013, the FDA’s Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee voted in favor of reclassifying hydrocodone-containing compounds to make them more difficult for doctors to prescribe. Testimony leading up to the vote cited the fact that death rates from hydrocodone combination drug overdoses have tripled during the last 20 years.
Protecting Your Rights
If you or a loved one suffered an overdose after taking a drug containing hydrocodone, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, hospitalization, and loss of income. At Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel, we’ve been helping injured victims for more than 35 years, and we want to help you, too. Contact us 24/7 and get started on a claim with your free, confidential consultation.
Lortab® is a registered trademark of the UCB Group of Companies and is used here only to identify the product in question.
Vicodin® is a registered trademark of AbbVie Inc., and is used here only to identify the product in question.
This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with AbbVie, Inc.; UCB Group of Companies; or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Do not stop taking a prescription medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor’s advice can result in injury or death.
Cases may be referred to another attorney or law firm.