This combination medication is used for a short time
(usually less than 10 days) to help relieve moderate to severe pain. It
contains an opioid pain reliever (hydrocodone) and a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug-NSAID (ibuprofen). Hydrocodone works in the brain to
change how your body feels and responds to pain. Ibuprofen reduces pain and
fever.
This medication is not intended to treat long-term
conditions (such as arthritis).
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist
before you start using this medication and each time you get a refill. If
you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your
doctor, usually every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Take it with a full glass of
water (8 ounces or 240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you
otherwise. Do not lie down for at least 10 minutes after taking this drug.
You may take this drug with or without food. If you have nausea, it may
help to take this drug with food. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about other
ways to decrease nausea (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little
head movement as possible).
The dosage is based on your medical condition and
response to treatment. To reduce your risk of stomach bleeding and other
side effects, take this medication at the lowest effective dose for the
shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose, take the medication more
often, or take it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the
medication when so directed. The manufacturer recommends you take no more
than 5 tablets in a 24-hour period.
Pain medications work best if they are used as the first
signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the
medication may not work as well. Also follow your doctor's or pharmacist's
directions for the safe use of other non-opioid pain relievers (such as
acetaminophen).
Suddenly stopping this medication may cause withdrawal,
especially if you have used it for a long time or in high doses. To prevent
withdrawal, your doctor may lower your dose slowly. Tell your doctor or
pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as
restlessness, mental/mood changes (including anxiety, trouble sleeping,
thoughts of suicide), watering eyes, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea,
sweating, muscle aches, or sudden changes in behavior.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not
work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working
well.
Though it helps many people, this medication may
sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance
use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this
medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your
doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Tell your doctor if your pain does not get better or if
it gets worse, or if you have any new pain.
See also Warning section.
Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, constipation,
dizziness, lightheadedness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these
effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
To prevent constipation, eat dietary fiber, drink enough
water, and exercise. You may also need to take a laxative. Ask your
pharmacist which type of laxative is right for you.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get
up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- easy bruising/bleeding
- fast/pounding heartbeat
- difficult/painful swallowing
- interrupted breathing during sleep (sleep apnea)
- mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion,
hallucinations)
- difficulty urinating
- unusual weakness
- signs of your adrenal glands not working well (such as loss
of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss)
- unexplained stiff neck
- signs of kidney problems (such as change in the amount of
urine)
- symptoms of heart failure (such as swelling ankles/feet,
unusual/sudden weight gain)
Stop taking this medication and get medical help right
away if any of these very serious side effects occur:
- fainting
- slow/irregular/shallow breathing
- severe drowsiness/difficulty waking up
- unexplained fever
- seizure
This drug may rarely cause serious, possibly fatal,
liver disease. Stop taking this medication and get medical help right away
if you have any symptoms of liver damage, including:
- nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop
- dark urine
- stomach/abdominal pain
- yellowing eyes/skin
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
- rash/blisters
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to ibuprofen or hydrocodone; or to aspirin
or other NSAIDs (such as naproxen, celecoxib); or to other opioids (such as
benzhydrocodone, codeine, morphine, hydromorphone); or if you have any
other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can
cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for
more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- aspirin-sensitive asthma (a history of worsening breathing
with runny/stuffy nose after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs)
- low red blood cell count (anemia)
- bleeding or clotting problem
- brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures,
stroke)
- breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD)
- growths in the nose (nasal polyps)
- high blood pressure
- heart problems (such as irregular heartbeat, recent heart
attack)
- liver disease
- mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression,
thoughts of suicide)
- personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such
as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol)
- stomach/intestinal problems (such as ulcer, blockage,
constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus)
- fluid retention/swelling of the ankles/feet/hands
- difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate)
- gallbladder disease
- disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Kidney problems can sometimes occur with the use of
NSAID medications, including ibuprofen. Problems are more likely to occur
if you are dehydrated, have heart failure or kidney disease, are an older
adult, or if you take certain medications (see also Drug Interactions
section). Drink plenty of fluids as directed by your doctor to prevent
dehydration and tell your doctor right away if you have a change in the
amount of urine.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or
marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use
machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely.
Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana
(cannabis).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
This medicine may cause stomach bleeding. Daily use of
alcohol and tobacco, especially when combined with this medicine, may
increase your risk for stomach bleeding. Avoid alcohol and stop smoking.
Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Older adults may be at greater risk for dizziness,
drowsiness, confusion, stomach/intestinal bleeding, kidney problems, heart
attack, stroke, and slow/shallow breathing while using this
drug.
Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of
this drug, especially slow/shallow breathing.
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and
benefits with your doctor. (See also Warning section.)
This drug passes into breast milk and may have
undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor right away if your
baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
See also Warning section.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
include:
- aliskiren
- ACE inhibitors (such as captopril, lisinopril)
- angiotensin II receptor blockers (such as losartan,
valsartan)
- certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist-antagonists
such as butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine)
- corticosteroids (such as prednisone)
- lithium
- naltrexone
- pemetrexed
- probenecid
- samidorphan
This medication may increase the risk of bleeding when
taken with other drugs that also may cause bleeding. Examples include
anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogrel, "blood thinners" such as
dabigatran/enoxaparin/warfarin, among others.
Other medications can affect the removal of
hydrocodone/ibuprofen from your body, which may affect how
hydrocodone/ibuprofen works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as
ketoconazole), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), mifepristone,
HIV medications (such as tipranavir), rifamycins (such as rifabutin,
rifampin), ritonavir, certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as
carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.
Check all prescription and nonprescription medicine
labels carefully since many medications contain pain relievers/fever
reducers (including aspirin, NSAIDs such as celecoxib, ketorolac, or
naproxen). These drugs are similar to ibuprofen and may increase your risk
of side effects if taken together. However, if your doctor has told you to
take low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162
milligrams a day), you should keep taking the aspirin unless your doctor
tells you not to.
Daily use of ibuprofen may decrease aspirin's ability to
prevent heart attack/stroke. Talk to your doctor about using a different
medication (such as acetaminophen) to treat pain. If you must take
ibuprofen, talk to your doctor about taking immediate-release aspirin (not
enteric-coated/EC) while taking ibuprofen. Take this product at least 8
hours before or at least 2 hours after your aspirin dose. Do not increase
your daily dose of aspirin or change the way you take aspirin/other
medications without your doctor's approval.
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow
breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication
is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing
problems. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products
such as other opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine, oxycodone),
alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as
alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol,
cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine,
diphenhydramine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy
or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause
drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products
safely.
This medication may interfere with certain lab tests
(such as amylase/lipase levels), possibly causing false test results. Make
sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this
drug.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, give them naloxone if available, then
call 911. If the person is awake and has no symptoms, call a poison control
center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents
can call 1-844-764-7669. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow breathing,
fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, coma.
Do not share this medication with others. Sharing it is
against the law.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as kidney function) may
be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab
appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.
This medication has been prescribed for your current
condition only. Do not use it later for another condition unless told to do
so by your doctor. A different medication may be necessary in that
case.
If you are taking this product on a regular schedule and
miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the
next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time.
Do not double the dose to catch up.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. For more details, read the Medication
Guide, or consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal
company.