Skip to main content

Vicodin ES 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 ES Side Effects associated with acetaminophen / hydrocodone. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Vicodin ES.

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

Important warnings This medicine can cause some serious health issues

Oral route (solution)

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen oral solution has the potential for addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.

Assess each patient's risk before prescribing, and monitor for development of these behaviors and conditions.

To ensure that the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for these products.

Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur.

Monitor closely, especially upon initiation or following a dose increase.

Accidental ingestion of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen oral solution, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen.

Prolonged use of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen oral solution during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.

Monitor patients receiving hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen oral solution and any CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer for signs of respiratory depression or sedation.

Acetaminophen has been associated with cases of acute liver failure, at times resulting in liver transplant and death, most often with the use of acetaminophen at doses that exceed 4000 mg/day, and involving more than 1 acetaminophen-containing product.

Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

Reserve concomitant prescribing for patients with inadequate alternative treatment options.

Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required and follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

Oral route (tablet)

Hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen has the potential for addiction, abuse, and misuse, which can lead to overdose and death.

Assess each patient's risk before prescribing, and monitor for development of these behaviors and conditions.

To ensure that the benefits of opioid analgesics outweigh the risks of addiction, abuse, and misuse, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for these products.

Serious, life-threatening, or fatal respiratory depression may occur.

Monitor closely, especially upon initiation or following a dose increase.

Accidental ingestion of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen, especially by children, can result in a fatal overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen.

Prolonged use of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen during pregnancy can result in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which may be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.

Monitor patients receiving hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen and any CYP3A4 inhibitor or inducer for signs of respiratory depression or sedation.

Acetaminophen has been associated with cases of acute liver failure, at times resulting in liver transplant and death, most often with the use of acetaminophen at doses that exceed 4000 mg/day, and involving more than 1 acetaminophen-containing product.

Concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids may result in profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death.

Reserve concomitant prescribing for patients with inadequate alternative treatment options.

Limit dosages and durations to the minimum required and follow patients for signs and symptoms of respiratory depression and sedation.

Serious side effects of Vicodin ES

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:

More common

  • dizziness
  • lightheadedness

Incidence not known

  • agitation
  • back, leg, or stomach pains
  • black, tarry stools
  • bleeding gums
  • blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
  • blood in the urine or stools
  • blood in vomit
  • bluish lips or skin
  • chills
  • choking
  • confusion
  • cough
  • dark urine
  • darkening of the skin
  • decrease in the frequency of urination
  • decrease in urine volume
  • diarrhea
  • difficult or trouble breathing
  • difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
  • difficulty with swallowing
  • fainting
  • fast heartbeat
  • fever
  • fever with or without chills
  • general body swelling
  • general feeling of tiredness or weakness
  • headache
  • hoarseness
  • irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
  • joint or muscle pain
  • light-colored stools
  • loss of appetite
  • lower back or side pain
  • mental depression
  • nausea
  • nosebleeds
  • not breathing
  • overactive reflexes
  • painful or difficult urination
  • pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin
  • pinpoint red spots on the skin
  • poor coordination
  • puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
  • red irritated eyes
  • red skin lesions, often with a purple center
  • restlessness
  • severe or continuing stomach pain
  • shivering
  • skin rash, hives, or itching
  • sore throat
  • sore tongue
  • sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
  • sweating
  • talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
  • tightness in the chest
  • trembling or shaking
  • twitching
  • unable to speak
  • unusual bleeding or bruising
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • upper right abdominal or stomach pain
  • vomiting
  • yellow eyes and skin

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

Symptoms of overdose

Other side effects of Vicodin ES

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:

More common

  • drowsiness
  • relaxed and calm feeling
  • sleepiness

Incidence not known

  • belching
  • changes in mood
  • difficulty having a bowel movement
  • fear or nervousness
  • feeling of indigestion
  • hearing loss
  • impaired hearing
  • pain in the chest below the breastbone
  • unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness

For healthcare professionals

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

General

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

Nervous system

Hydrocodone-acetaminophen:

Opioids:

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

Cardiovascular

Hepatic

Gastrointestinal

Dermatologic

Renal

Hematologic

Hypersensitivity

Respiratory

Metabolic

Genitourinary

Endocrine

Opioids:

Other

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

Musculoskeletal

Psychiatric

References

1. Turturro MA, Paris PM, Yealy DM, Menegazzi JJ (1991) "Hydrocodone versus codeine in acute musculoskeletal pain." Ann Emerg Med, 20, p. 1100-3

2. (2017) "Product Information. Norco (acetaminophen-hydrocodone)." Allergan Inc

3. (2017) "Product Information. Lortab (acetaminophen-hydrocodone)." Akorn Inc

4. (2017) "Product Information. Acetaminophen-Hydrocodone Bitartrate (acetaminophen-hydrocodone)." Mikart Inc

5. Morrison AB (1979) "Toxicity and abuse of hydrocodone bitartrate." Can Med Assoc J, 120, p. 1338

6. Morrow PL, Faris EC (1987) "Death associated with inadvertent hydrocodone overdose in a child with a respiratory tract infection." Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 8, p. 60-3

7. Fricke J, Halladay SC, Bynum L, Francisco CA (1993) "Pain relief after dental impaction surgery using ketorolac, hydrocodone plus acetaminophen, or placebo." Clin Ther, 15, p. 500-9

8. Sackner MA (1984) "Effects of hydrocodone bitartrate on breathing pattern of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and restrictive lung disease." Mt Sinai J Med, 51, p. 222-6

9. Seeff LB, Cuccherini BA, Zimmerman HJ, Adler E, Benjamin SB (1986) "Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in alcoholics." Ann Intern Med, 104, p. 399-404

10. Jackson CH, MacDonald NC, Cornett JW (1984) "Acetaminophen: a practical pharmacologic overview." Can Med Assoc J, 131, p. 25-37

11. Black M (1984) "Acetaminophen hepatotoxicity." Annu Rev Med, 35, p. 577-93

12. Kaysen GA, Pond SM, Roper MH, Menke DJ, Marrama MA (1985) "Combined hepatic and renal injury in alcoholics during therapeutic use of acetaminophen." Arch Intern Med, 145, p. 2019-23

13. O'Dell JR, Zetterman RK, Burnett DA (1986) "Centrilobular hepatic fibrosis following acetaminophen-induced hepatic necrosis in an alcoholic." JAMA, 255, p. 2636-7

14. Minton NA, Henry JA, Frankel RJ (1988) "Fatal paracetamol poisoning in an epileptic." Hum Toxicol, 7, p. 33-4

15. Keaton MR (1988) "Acute renal failure in an alcoholic during therapeutic acetaminophen ingestion." South Med J, 81, p. 1163-6

16. Shriner K, Goetz MB (1992) "Severe hepatotoxicity in a patient receiving both acetaminophen and zidovudine." Am J Med, 93, p. 94-6

17. Wong V, Daly M, Boon A, Heatley V (1993) "Paracetamol and acute biliary pain with cholestasis." Lancet, 342, p. 869

18. Csete M, Sullivan JB (1993) "Vicodin-induced fulminant hepatic failure." Anesthesiology, 79, p. 857-60

19. Thomas RH, Munro DD (1986) "Fixed drug eruption due to paracetamol." Br J Dermatol, 115, p. 357-9

20. Guin JD, Haynie LS, Jackson D, Baker GF (1987) "Wandering fixed drug eruption: a mucocutaneous reaction to acetaminophen." J Am Acad Dermatol, 17, p. 399-402

21. Gabriel R, Caldwell J, Hartley RB (1982) "Acute tubular necrosis, caused by therapeutic doses of paracetamol?" Clin Nephrol, 18, p. 269-71

22. Segasothy M, Suleiman AB, Puvaneswary M, Rohana A (1988) "Paracetamol: a cause for analgesic nephropathy and end-stage renal disease." Nephron, 50, p. 50-4

23. Shoenfeld Y, Shaklai M, Livni E, Pinkhas J (1980) "Thrombocytopenia from acetaminophen." N Engl J Med, 303, p. 47

24. Bougie DW, Benito AI, Sanchez-Abarca LI, Torres R, Birenbaum J, Aster RH (2007) "Acute thrombocytopenia caused by sensitivity to the glucuronide conjugate of acetaminophen." Blood, 109, p. 3608-9

25. Settipane RA, Stevenson DD (1989) "Cross sensitivity with acetaminophen in aspirin-sensitive subjects with asthma." J Allergy Clin Immunol, 84, p. 26-33

26. Van Diem L, Grilliat JP (1990) "Anaphylactic shock induced by paracetamol." Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 38, p. 389-90

27. Kondo K, Inoue Y, Hamada H, Yokoyama A, Kohno N, Hiwada K (1993) "Acetaminophen-induced eosinophilic pneumonia." Chest, 104, p. 291-2

28. Cohen J, Tattersfield H, Lloyd D, Cantopher T (1990) "A request for a strong analgesic." Practitioner, 234, p. 691-4

Further information

Vicodin ES 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.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.