Vicodin Side Effects

Generic name: acetaminophen / hydrocodone

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 30, 2023.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Vicodin Side Effects associated with acetaminophen / hydrocodone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Vicodin.

Applies to acetaminophen / hydrocodone: oral elixir, oral solution, oral tablet.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress while using this medicine, especially within the first 24 to 72 hours of treatment. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you or your child should continue to take it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor (eg, isocarboxazid [Marplan®], linezolid [Zyvox®], phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], tranylcypromine [Parnate®]) within the past 14 days.

It is against the law and dangerous for anyone else to use your medicine. Keep your unused tablets in a safe and secure place. People who are addicted to drugs might want to steal this medicine.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, other prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics (numbing medicines), including some dental anesthetics. Also, there may be a greater risk of liver damage if you drink three or more alcoholic beverages while you are taking acetaminophen. Do not drink alcoholic beverages, and check with your doctor before taking any of these medicines while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may be habit-forming. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose.

If you think you or someone else may have taken an overdose of this medicine, get emergency help at once. Your doctor may also give naloxone to treat an overdose. Signs of an overdose include: cold, clammy skin, coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum, dark urine, difficult or trouble breathing, irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing, nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper stomach, pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin, pinpoint pupils of the eyes, or yellow eyes or skin.

This medicine may cause sleep-related breathing problems (eg, sleep apnea, sleep-related hypoxemia). Your doctor may decrease your dose if you have sleep apnea (stop breathing for short periods during sleep) while using this medicine.

This medicine may cause adrenal gland problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions (eg, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis). Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur when you get up suddenly from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help lessen this problem. Also, lying down for a while may relieve dizziness or lightheadedness.

This medicine may make you dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Using narcotics for a long time can cause severe constipation. To prevent this, your doctor may direct you or your child to take laxatives, drink a lot of fluids, or increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Be sure to follow the directions carefully, because continuing constipation can lead to more serious problems.

Before you or your child have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of certain tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not change your dose or suddenly stop using this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you or your child to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms, including stomach cramps, anxiety, fever, nausea, runny nose, sweating, tremors, or trouble with sleeping.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant may cause serious unwanted effects, including neonatal withdrawal syndrome in your newborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if your child has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, a high-pitched cry, irritability, shakiness or tremors, sneezing, weight loss, vomiting, yawning, or failure to gain weight. Check with your doctor right away if you think you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

Using too much of this medicine may cause infertility (unable to have children). Talk with your doctor before using this medicine if you plan to have children.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Vicodin

Along with its needed effects, acetaminophen / hydrocodone may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking acetaminophen / hydrocodone:

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking acetaminophen / hydrocodone:

Symptoms of overdose

• bloody or cloudy urine
• change in consciousness
• chest pain or discomfort
• cold and clammy skin
• coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
• decreased awareness or responsiveness
• difficult or trouble breathing
• extreme drowsiness
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• increased sweating
• irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
• irregular heartbeat
• lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• loss of consciousness
• no blood pressure or pulse
• no muscle tone or movement
• not breathing
• pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
• severe sleepiness
• slow or irregular heartbeat
• stopping of heart
• sudden decrease in the amount of urine
• swelling in the legs and ankles
• unpleasant breath odor

Other side effects of Vicodin

Some side effects of acetaminophen / hydrocodone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to acetaminophen / hydrocodone: oral capsule, oral elixir, oral liquid, oral solution, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported adverse reactions include light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Hydrocodone-acetaminophen:

• Frequency not reported: Dizziness, lightheadedness, mental and physical performance impairment, lethargy, sedation, somnolence progressing to stupor or coma

Opioids:

• Frequency not reported: Serotonin syndrome^[Ref]

Cases of serotonin syndrome have been reported during concomitant use of opioids with serotonergic drugs.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Bradycardia, cardiac arrest, circulatory collapse, hypotension

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Hepatic necrosis, hepatitis^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Abdominal pain, constipation, gastric distress, heartburn, nausea, peptic ulcer, vomiting, occult blood loss^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Skin rash, pruritus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, allergic reactions, cold and clammy skin, diaphoresis^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Renal toxicity, renal tubular necrosis^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, iron deficiency anemia, prolonged bleeding time, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Allergic reactions, anaphylaxis^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Acute airway obstruction, apnea, dose-related respiratory depression, shortness of breath^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Hypoglycemic coma

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Ureteral spasm, spasm of vesicle sphincters, urinary retention^[Ref]

Endocrine

Opioids:

• Frequency not reported: Androgen deficiency, adrenal insufficiency

Other

• Frequency not reported: Hearing impairment or permanent loss^[Ref]

Cases of hearing impairment or permanent loss have been reported predominantly in patients with chronic overdose.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Skeletal muscle flaccidity

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Anxiety, euphoria, fear, mood changes, psychological dependence, dysphoria

See also:

Frequently asked questions

• Oxycodone vs Hydrocodone - How do they compare?
• Norco vs Vicodin - How do they compare?
• Vicodin vs Percocet: What's the difference?
• What is the difference between Apadaz and Vicodin?

Further information

Vicodin side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer