I just had a wisdom tooth removed and am taking Hydrocodone for pain right now. The label says HYDROCO/APAP Tab 7.5 500. I have a mild fatty liver and wanted to know if It would be bad to keep taking this stuff. Its says once every 4 hours, but It seems one does almost nothing, so I've been taking 1 1/2 or 2 and thats been working. Is this going to cause more damage or should it be OK? I just have another days worth of pills left.
2007-09-12 14:18:01 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
There are 2 problems here:
1. There is too much acetaminophen for your liver if you have any liver issues. One of the most significant problems with patients misusing the hydrocodone/APAP combination is acetaminophen levels. I am not as concerned about the amount of hydrocodone, but you cannot get hydrocodone without APAP. Also if 7.5 mg of hydrocodone and acetaminophen does not cover the pain of a wisdom tooth extraction, then there may be a problem. Do not take more than 6 tablets per day, and contact your dentist/oral surgeon asap.
2. If you are taking in excess of the precribed dose you will run out of pills. In my patients, if they did not follow the prescibed dose, and took in excess without first discussing the issue with my office, I would not provide additional meds if needed. It is a DEA issue.
Good luck with your wisdom tooth.
I would recommend a hot pack and warm salt water washes to ease the discomfort.
2007-09-12 18:30:08 · answer #1 · answered by US_DR_JD 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes at a dosage of 4000mg of acetaminophen or more a day for a long period of time. You may be at more of a risk because you have a fatty liver but again if you are not hitting the 4000mg mark a day I would not be concerned about it. The 500 in hydrocodone denotes the amount of acetaminophen in the medication so determine how much you should be taking based on that. If you are taking it how prescribed you should be fine. If you are worried about your liver you can ask your doctor to conduct a liver function test but I am sure you will be fine.
2007-09-12 14:34:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The maximum safe amount of Tylenol for people with HEALTHY livers is 4,000 mg. The maximum safe dose of the opiate portion of the drug is 40mg per day. So yes you are exceeding the safe limits. Frankly, as someone who's been on some heavy duty pain meds long term, I'd say there's no way that you would need more than 1 tab every 4 hours to keep pain from a wisdom tooth removal under control. If you really are in that much pain you need to call the dentist.
2007-09-12 17:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by dibzz d 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you have been taking it for a long time, I wouldn't worry about it. The liver damage usually comes about after someone has been taking it for an extended period and/or has been abusing the medication. I don't think you have anything to worry about. They wouldn't have prescibed it if they didn't think you would be ok.
2007-09-12 14:30:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋