DETERMINING IF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM EXISTS OPIOIDS: Answering “yes” to any of the following questions may indicate a problem with the use of pain medication: What You Need  Are you using someone’s else’s prescription? to Know  Are you obtaining drugs from an illicit source or by illegal means?

 Are you no longer using the drugs for the symptoms POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF for which it was originally prescribed? OPIOID MISUSE OR ABUSE  Are you lying about or hiding your use? Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users must take higher doses  Are you obtaining medications from multiple to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use, if physicians. not taken as prescribed, can lead to physical dependence and addiction — the body adapts to the  Have your friends, family members, or co-workers presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur expressed concern? if use is reduced AREor YOU stopped. ADDICTED? Hydrocodone  Are you preoccupied about your medication, Answering “yes” to any of the following questions and Symptoms of withdrawalmay indicate a problem with theinclude use of hydrocodone restlessness, muscle focused on the next dose, and concerned about how and acetaminophen. and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting,Acetaminophen: cold you will obtain more drugs? Growing Threat of • Do you feel physically ill (muscle and bone (Anexsia, Dolacet, Lorcet, Lortab, flashes with goosepain, bumps night sweats, insomnia, ("cold etc.) when you turkey"),Norco, Vicodin, and Zydone) involuntary leg movements.run out of or stop taking hydrocodone Finally, and taking a large  Do you fill your prescription sooner than would be acetaminophen? Prescription Drug OVERDOSINGsingle RISKS dose of an opioid could cause severe respiratory expected and make excuses for why? • Are you committing illegal acts such as Hydrocodonedepression and acetaminophen addiction that is a candoctor shoppinglead or buying to hydrocodone death. and However, many acetaminophen on the street to maintain your Abuse serious matter, not to be taken lightly. Taking larger thanstudies prescribed dosages can have lead to overdose, shown supply? that properly managed medical whichuse can result of in death. opioid If you suspect someone analgesic drugs is safe and rarely causes Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection may be experiencing any of the signs below, a • Do you need more pills to get the same or medicalclinical professional should addiction.be contacted to avoid desired effect? Prescription Monitoring Program a possibly devastating outcome. • Do you feel or have you been told your 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 145 hydrocodone and acetaminophen use has SignsMIXING of overdose include: OPIOID DRUGS WITH become an issue with your family or loved ones? GrowingAddictive Threat Drug of Hartford, CT 06106 • OTHERrespiratory depression (slow or shallow MEDICATIONS • Are you taking hydrocodone and acetaminophen (860) 713-6073 breathing) more often or in larger quantities than andPrescription Powerful Drug Pain • www.ct.gov/dcp prescribed? • Onlyextreme drowsiness under a physician's supervision canRelieverAbuse opioids be used safely with other drugs. Typically, they should • coma Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection not be used with otherPrescription substances Monitoring Program that depress the • centralcold or clammy skin nervous system,450 Columbus such Blvd, Suite 901 as alcohol, M. Jodi Rell Jerry Farrell, Jr. Hartford, CT 06103 (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp Governor Commissioner • antihistamines,bradycardia (slowing of heart beat), and barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or generalhypotension anesthetics, because these combinations Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Prescription Monitoring Program • increasecirculatory collapse, cardiac the arrest or deathrisk of life-threatening respiratory Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection depression. Prescription Monitoring Program This brochure was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp of Justice Programs - Award # 2006-FO531-CT-PM BX-0016. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse DETERMINING IF A PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM EXISTS OPIOIDS: Answering “yes” to any of the following questions may indicate a problem with the use of pain medication: What You Need  Are you using someone’s else’s prescription? to Know  Are you obtaining drugs from an illicit source or by illegal means?

 Are you no longer using the drugs for the symptoms POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF for which it was originally prescribed? OPIOID MISUSE OR ABUSE  Are you lying about or hiding your use? Chronic use of opioids can result in tolerance for the drugs, which means that users must take higher doses  Are you obtaining medications from multiple to achieve the same initial effects. Long-term use, if physicians. not taken as prescribed, can lead to physical dependence and addiction — the body adapts to the  Have your friends, family members, or co-workers presence of the drug, and withdrawal symptoms occur expressed concern? if use is reduced or stopped.  Are you preoccupied about your medication, Symptoms of withdrawal include restlessness, muscle focused on the next dose, and concerned about how and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold you will obtain more drugs? Growing Threat of flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Finally, taking a large  Do you fill your prescription sooner than would be Prescription Drug single dose of an opioid could cause severe respiratory expected and make excuses for why? depression that can lead to death. However, many studies have shown that properly managed medical Abuse use of opioid analgesic drugs is safe and rarely causes Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection clinical addiction. Prescription Monitoring Program MIXING OPIOID DRUGS WITH 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 145 Hartford, CT 06106 OTHER MEDICATIONS (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp Only under a physician's supervision can opioids be used safely with other drugs. Typically, they should not be used with other substances that depress the central nervous system, such as alcohol, M. Jodi Rell Jerry Farrell, Jr. antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, or Governor Commissioner general anesthetics, because these combinations Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory Prescription Monitoring Program depression. This brochure was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office (860) 713-6073 • www.ct.gov/dcp of Justice Programs - Award # 2006-FO531-CT-PM BX-0016. Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

WHAT IS HYDROCODONE AND ACETAMINOPHEN?

When combined, hydrocodone and acetaminophen form a painkiller used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Hydrocodone is a synthetic codeine; acetaminophen is commonly known by the trade name Tylenol.

Combined hydrocodone and acetaminophen is COMMON HYDROCODONE & WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM one of the most widely prescribed pain relievers ACETAMINOPHEN SIDE EFFECTS EFFECTS OF HYDROCODONE & and has become one of the most frequently abused ACETAMINOPHEN? drugs nationwide. Side effects of hydrocodone and acetaminophen use could include one or more of the following: As an individual continues to use hydrocodone What should I avoid while taking hydrocodone and acetaminophen, the body develops a tolerance and acetaminophen? • dizziness to its effects (including therapeutic benefits) and increasing amounts of hydrocodone and This medication can cause side effects that may acetaminophen must be taken to produce the same impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you • drowsiness effects. drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not use any other over-the-counter • lightheadedness Long-term effects of hydrocodone and cough, cold, allergy, or pain medication without acetaminophen abuse include: first asking your doctor or pharmacist. • nausea / vomiting

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking hydrocodone • liver problems and acetaminophen. Alcohol may increase your • itching risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen. • hearing loss • constipation Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, • nausea sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, antidepressants, or • respiratory depression (slow or shallow seizure medication can add to sleepiness caused by breathing) hydrocodone, or could slow your breathing. • headaches Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe Tell your doctor if you need to use any of these • chronic constipation or do not go away. other medicines while you are taking hydrocodone and acetaminophen.