Hydrocodone / Phenylephrine Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Cough and Nasal Congestion

Hydrocodone 5 mg/ phenylephrine 20 mg per 5 mL: 5 mL every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 6 doses (30 mL) per 24 hours

Usual Pediatric Dose for Cough and Nasal Congestion

Hydrocodone 1.7 mg/ phenylephrine 10 mg per 5 mL:
6 years and older: 2.5 mL every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 6 doses (30 mL) per 24 hours
Duration of therapy: 7 days

Hydrocodone 5 mg/ phenylephrine 20 mg per 5 mL:
12 years and older: 5 mL every 4 hours
Maximum dose: 6 doses (30 mL) per 24 hours

Renal Dose Adjustments

No data available

Liver Dose Adjustments

No data available

Dose Adjustments

Over 65 years: Dose selection should be cautious, usually starting low and titrating slowly, as hepatic, renal, or cardiac function are frequently decreased, and concomitant disease or drug therapy are more common.

Precautions

BOXED WARNINGS:
Limitations of Use:

• Use of this product may lead to opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.
• Reserve use of this drug for when alternatives are ineffective, not tolerated, or otherwise inadequate.

Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse:

• Opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse, overdose, and death are risks of this drug.
• Assess each patients risks prior to prescribing; prescribe for the shortest duration consistent with individual treatment goals, and monitor all patients regularly for development of addiction or abuse.
• Store drug securely to prevent theft or misuse.

Life Threatening Respiratory Depression: OVERDOSE:

• Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur with use.
• Life threatening respiratory depression may occur in infants exposed to this drug in-utero or via breast milk.
• Monitor for respiratory depression, especially at the beginning of therapy or during dose increases.

Accidental Exposure:

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

• Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients or to other opioid analgesics
• Known or suspected mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction (e.g. bowel obstruction, strictures) or diseases/conditions affecting bowel transit (e.g. any ileus)
• Suspected surgical abdomen (e.g. acute appendicitis, pancreatitis)
• Acute or severe bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive airway, or status asthmaticus
• Acute respiratory depression, elevated blood carbon dioxide levels, and cor pulmonale
• Acute alcoholism, delirium tremens, and convulsive disorders
• Severe CNS depression, increased cerebrospinal or intracranial pressure, and head injury
• Current use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or use within 14 days of stopping a MAOI.

Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 6 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

US Controlled Substance: Schedule II

Dialysis

No data available

Other Comments

Monitoring:

• Routinely monitor all patients for indications of abuse or misuse.
• Monitor for respiratory depression.

Patient advice:

• Do not consume alcohol with this drug as it increases the risk of dangerous or fatal side effects.
• Advise patients and caregivers of the sedation and respiratory depression risk if combined with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other CNS depressants.
• Use caution if driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.
• Caution patients that this drug may have combination effects with other CNS depressants (including other opioids, phenothiazine, alcohol, and other sedatives and hypnotics).

See also:

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer