Hi all. I was just wondering about something. First of all as you know I am oh Hydrocodone/aecetminophen 7.5-750 mg and tizandine 2mg 3x's per day. I take the Hydrocodone in varying amounts depending on how I feel.

The maximum per day is as per the scripts 1 1/2 tablets 4x's per day for a total of 6 tablets. I have not taken a full days dosage yet. Some days I may have taken only 2 tablets other days I may have taken 3 or 4 tablets.

Now here is my question. Not sure where I read this so I may have mininformation. Isn't there an effect on the liver after long term use of Hydrocodone. If that is true then shouldn't some type of test i.e. blood work be done to make sure that there is no damage to the liver?

Please clairfy your understandins. Thanks for listening.

Allan

I take Oxycodone daily. Oxycodone and Hydrocodone both have Acetaminophn added to them. In my case, I take Oxycodone 7.5mg-325mg. The 325 is the amount of Acetaminophn. If you look at you Hydrocodone, you most likely will have the mg's added with another which is the amount of Acetaminophn. Since Acetaminophn is a cause for concern for liver damage, I have asked my Pain Spcialist to give me the lowest amount of Acetaminophn. Both these meds work better with this added; but the Oxycodone or Hydrocodone is not a concern for the liver; just what is added....Acetaminophn.

Hope this is of some help.

Gerry

the dosage i am on is 7.5 - 750. I thought the 750 was the amount of acetemeniphen in the prescription. Or is that wrong?

is the 7.5 the hydrocodone dosage? what is the 750 mg for?

The first number is the amount of the narcotic. The second number which is the 750 in your case is the amount of aecetiminophen. Your liver should be checked now and then if you are on this long term. Take care....ginnie

The -750 is the amount of aceteminophn. The 7.5 is the dosage of Hydrocodone.


Gerry

7.5 is the amount of hydrocodone. 750 is the amount of acetaminophen.

Are you sure the second number is 750 and not 650? (See below*)

Both are metabolized in the liver. While the hydrocodone itself should not pose any problems to your liver, the acetaminophen can, and I'm surprised your doctor prescribed that high an amount of acetaminophen since there are so many dosage combinations available.
http://www.askthedoctor.com/topics-a...r-disease.html

The new (Fall, 2011) safety limits for acetaminophen are no more than 1000 mg. within any six hour period and no more than 3000 mg. within any 24 hour period. (It is recommended that patients taking acetaminophen for more than 4 weeks take no more than 2600 mg. within any 24 hour period.)
1½ times 750 = 1125, which already exceeds the maximum safe dose.
*(1½ times 650 = 975, which would fall within the safety limit)

If you can get by on less than the prescribed dose, then you might discuss with your doctor keeping the hydrocodone the same, but lowering the acetaminophen to 650, 500, or 325.

Patients who take acetaminophen longterm should get liver panels done periodically, 1-2 times/year.

If it is a concern, you can take an OTC anti-oxidant supplement called N-acetyl cisteine (NAC) which may help protect your liver from damage from acetaminophen.
http://yarchive.net/med/tylenol.html

Doc

Yes I am positive it is 750 mg.

And I was wondering how often the liver panel should be done. I have been on oxycodone then hydrocodone I guess at this point for 7 months at the most. I guess it should be checked somewhere in the next 5 months or so.

Thanks for the input.

For the amount you're taking, I would normally think annually would be enough, but given your circumstances, your doctor(s) might recommend more often. I'd go with whatever they say unless there's some reason (like hepatological symptoms).

Doc

Agree with you completely.

I asked my Pain Specialist for the lower dose to 325 acetaminophn. He originally was going to prescribe 7.5 - 750 for my Oxycodone. I take 7.5 -325 (325 being the acetaminophn). Had I not said anything, I would have been prescribed the 750.


Gerry

I really don't understand why doctors are still prescribing such high amts. of acetaminophen. The effect on the liver is nothing new; they've known it for years, and the new lower daily maximums were highly publicized.

Some have proposed combining NAC with all acetaminophen-containing medications, but from what I've seen , that would apparently be prohibitively expensive (among other things). However on an individual basis, it's not prohibitively expensive, and is available in a wide range of dosages (so people can titrate what works best for them individually). It's an interesting supplement (anti-oxidant) and I seem to read/learn more (good things) about it every year.

Doc