Sponsored Helpline
800-784-1361
What is Norco?
Norco is the trade name of a semi-synthetic medication containing hydrocodone and acetaminophen. As an opioid analgesic, it is prescribed for pain management and carries with it the same addiction risk as all opioid based pain medications. For this reason, Norco pain medication has been classified as a schedule II drug which means that its dispensing and use is strictly regulated.
Vicodin vs. Norco
Both Norco and Vicodin are opioid based narcotic medications typically prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain, including post-operative pain. Hydrocodone is a generic form of Vicodin and is available in a variety of strengths under a variety of trade names such as Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet-HD, Hycodan, and Vicoprofen.
Hydrocodone can also be prescribed as a cough suppressant. It is considered more effective for cough suppression than codeine and approximately equivalent to morphine for pain relief.
The principal difference between Norco and hydrocodone is the addition of acetaminophen to Norco.
Norco Side Effects
Because Norco is made with hydrocodone, it possesses the same side effects and withdrawal symptoms of all opioid medications. Acetaminophen also has side effects associated with extended use.
The most serious side effect of the opioid used in Norco is the potential for respiratory depression. The leading cause of death by opioid overdoses is that people stop breathing.
Allergic reactions to the medication have also produced anaphylaxis, making immediate treatment necessary to keep people breathing.
Other side effects include digestive problems such as constipation and a lack of appetite. People also report nausea and vomiting as a result of taking opioid medications. In cases of prolonged use, renal impairment and shutdown has been reported.
Other serious side effects on the endocrine system include lowering of the immune system making people more vulnerable to viruses and infections. Other reports indicate the potential for stunted growth, impotence, erectile dysfunction, infertility and a low libido.
The suppression of adrenal function is a serious side effect that can lead to significant issues with physiological functioning, including problems regulating blood pressure and blood glucose levels. You may experience fatigue, weakness, digestive issues, and muscle cramps. In severe cases, you may become confused, depressed, or disoriented.
Thyroid problems have occurred with extended use of opioid medications. These issues may result in fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and weight fluctuations, among other symptoms.
Side effects on the central nervous system include impairment of mental and physical functioning, confusion and memory problems, extreme mood changes that look like euphoria followed by dysphoria (very high highs, and very low lows). Stiff muscles and balance problems can also be a side effect of using Norco.
Ongoing use of opioids can impact serotonin levels in the brain. A condition called serotonin syndrome can occasionally develop when opioids are combined with other medications that alter serotonin. This can be life-threatening.
Addiction to and Withdrawal from Norco
Because Norco contains hydrocodone, it is considered a medication with a high potential for abuse. While it is intended to be taken in oral form, people have ingested it through intravenous needle use, crushing to snort, and mixing with other products to smoke.
Norco can produce the same cycle of tolerance, physical dependence and addiction as any other opioid medication. Dependency, misuse and addiction are considered separate concepts with distinct pathological signs and symptoms.
However, withdrawal symptoms from opioid medication are indiscriminate and manifest the same way regardless of diagnosis. The level of severity of the withdrawal symptoms will be directly related to the degree of misuse, dependency or addiction and individual factors.
It is dangerous to abruptly discontinue using Norco or any other opioid medication once physical dependence has occurred. Physical symptoms of withdrawal include muscle and joint aches; sweating and chills; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; abdominal cramping; issues regulating heart rhythm and blood pressure, and more.
Psychological symptoms of opioid withdrawal include anxiety and agitation, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. People have engaged in high risk behaviors to avoid the physical and mental discomfort of withdrawal.
Acetaminophen carries a risk of overdose as well. Permanent damage to the liver and circulatory system can occur if a person is misusing Norco and unaware that the acetaminophen levels in the body are too high. While withdrawal is not necessarily an observable physical problem, damage to organ systems can cause complications and discomfort.
FAQs
Can you overdose on Norco? Yes, Norco is an opioid medication and taking more than the body can tolerate can result in overdose.
Is Norco addictive? Absolutely, any extended use of an opioid medication will cause a building of tolerance, eventually causing physical dependency and sometimes leading to addictive behaviors.
How long does Norco stay in your system? Norco, like many opioid medications, can be detected in urine tests from 2 to 4 days after consumption. However, detection time varies based on factors like metabolism, frequency of use, and individual health conditions.
Norco Misuse, Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of Norco misuse can help prevent severe and potentially life-threatening consequences. When a prescription medication is taken outside of prescribed dosages, or taken by someone other than the prescribed patient, or is taken in a method other than as prescribed to intensify the drug’s effects, this is misuse.
There are a number of signs to watch for if you suspect a loved one may be misusing Norco. For instance, your loved one may habitually attempt to refill their medication sooner than they should.
Friends and family members who are prescribed Norco and using it properly may find that their medication has inexplicably gone missing or has run out sooner than expected.
Sudden changes in behavior, mood or ability to function can be a sign of opioid misuse. Likewise, a decline in personal hygiene, uncharacteristic difficulties at work or school, or problems in personal or professional relationships can indicate a mental health challenge, including opioid use disorder.
Other signs of a potential opioid addiction include oversleeping, lethargy, nodding off while driving or in other situations where a person would normally be alert, lack of appetite and gastrointestinal upset.
One of the greatest dangers of opioid use disorder is when a person starts seeking outside sources for continued use, such as street pills. The DEA reports that an increasing percentage of street pills is laced with fentanyl which may be fatal in even minute doses.
Over 100,000 people died from overdoses between April 2020 and 2021. The majority of those opioid overdoses were reported to be a result of synthetic opioids like illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Many of these overdose deaths can be attributed to counterfeit pills and illicit drugs laced with fentanyl.
Fentanyl is now the number one cause of fatalities as a result of substance use in this country.
What Are the Treatment Options for Addiction to Norco?
Because it is dangerous to abruptly stop taking opioids, a gradual taper is recommended by medical professionals for persons wanting to withdraw from Norco or any opioid medication. Detox centers provide mental health support and medical supervision. They use medications that can provide relief from Norco withdrawal symptoms allowing opioids to leave the system slowly.
Chronic pain management classes and courses are available through many insurance carriers, hospitals, medical providers or other social organizations. Help for opioid use disorder is available in inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities nationwide and through telehealth.
Many programs specializing in the treatment of opioid use disorder offer medication assisted treatment (MAT) to support clients’ long-term recovery.
MAT involves the use of FDA approved medications, in conjunction with counseling and recovery education, to reduce cravings and ease the physical symptoms of opioid abstinence.
