karson
Stranger
Reged: 01/15/04
Posts: 19
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I have been taking 5/500 vicodin for some oral surgery I had earlier in the week, 1 every 4 hours. Well this morning I was hurting worse then ever and decided to take two tablets and now I am wondering if I could have taken two much? I feel fine other then a bit of a panic feeling that I did something wrong to myself. Is 10/1000 too much of either the apap or hydrocodone? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I just get nerves taking prescription medication. Thanks in advance.
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manoman
Journeyman
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 54
Loc: Warm part of the Sun
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That really shouldn't be a problem Karson.
10/650 is a common dose for hydrocodone. The 1000 of apap is a little more than needed, but won't cause you any immediate harm. The max daily for apap should be under 4000mg to avoid long term liver damage. Just don't take anything else containing apap while you're on those.
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dsmmcm
Board Addict
Reged: 11/08/03
Posts: 364
Loc: southwest US
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And don't drink any alcohol.....
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karson
Stranger
Reged: 01/15/04
Posts: 19
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Thanks for the help, I never drink so that shouldn't be a problem  . I feel better knowing this, I just seem to panic about taking meds, I guess the stories about what can happen get to me. It sure did take away the pain. Thanks again.
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manoman
Journeyman
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 54
Loc: Warm part of the Sun
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I understand completely, I'm the exact same way. I sometimes panic even when I take the suggested dose. Too much anxiety, I guess that's why I'm on benzos too.
Just enjoy the relief...
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mrscoach
Journeyman
Reged: 07/29/02
Posts: 82
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I recently had a similar situation - I just had vocal cord surgery a couple weeks ago, and right around day 2-3, the pain was bad enough that I had to take 2 at a time to really control it. On a short-term level, this should be fine. I'm sure the liver doesn't like it, but you're only going to be doing it for a few days, and then your liver can "regroup" so to speak.
Now, if you were taking that much every day for months, then I'd be concerned.
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"I'm not tense - just terribly, terribly alert."
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Were you afraid of overdosing on TEN mgs of hydro? I think even an opiate-naive person could take 2 Vicodin without worry of overdose.
Also, I just don't get the inflammatory "APAP warning" about 1000mgs (the amount in 2 Vicodin)...come on, this is 2 extra strength Tylenol commonly prescribed for any kind of pain or fever. In addition, on a short-term basis this is not going to cause hepatic damage or impairment. I'm not arguing that acetaminophen can't be dangerous or even lethal, but certainly NOT on a short term basis at 1000 to even 4000 mgs. Tylenol Extra Strength's label says you can take up to 8 tabs a day for up to 10 days without even consulting with your doctor--that's 4000 mgs/4 grams a DAY.
Just a bit irritable today and sensitive to the small things. Not meant to be a flame at anyone.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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karson
Stranger
Reged: 01/15/04
Posts: 19
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Yes I was more worried about the hydro. It just made me a bit nervous taking more then the recommended dose. I just was not sure how much the difference in prescribed dose and an overdose was. I wont be doing more then one again as it made me feel paranoid and that was not a pleasant feeling at all, probably worse then the pain . Thanks again for he help.
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NJ_Hoss
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 263
Loc: USA
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Quote:
Also, I just don't get the inflammatory "APAP warning" about 1000mgs (the amount in 2 Vicodin)...come on, this is 2 extra strength Tylenol commonly prescribed for any kind of pain or fever. In addition, on a short-term basis this is not going to cause hepatic damage or impairment.
In a vaccuum, it won't. For a normally healthy person without any aggrivating factors, the dosage required for systemic damage is substantial and must be sustained for a significant period.
Why not specify how long? Because there is no way to responsibly do so. The wonders of DNA and individuality make different people succeptible at different threshholds. It IS possibly to identify a dosage that would hurt virtually everyone, but the business of determining a significant level at which no one would be likely to suffer damage is another matter entirely.
There is another factor to consider here, though, and it is vitally important. If there are other influences affecting succeptibility like alchoholism, (past or present), hepatitis (diagnosed or undiagnosed), or even short term high consumption levels of alchohol and acetaminophen (or other substances that are processed through the liver) not only can the "safe" dosage and duration threshhold drop like a stone, but it then comes becomes significantly easier to damage the liver through APAP.
There is NO question though that in terms of toxicity alone, APAP is widely FAR more dangerous than Hydro. In fact, the combination with APAP and danger of large dose or prolonged consumption is what makes Hydrocodone (a Schedule II CS) available in Schedule III form.
To further clarify, save an allergic reaction or adverse interaction with another substance in the system, the means by which an opiod becomes fatal almost without exception results from respiratory depression. In terms of commonly available Hydrocodone-based products, it would be VERY likely that pronounced side-effects would occur before consuming a fatal dosage of the opioid. It CAN happen, but is rather rare, and is usually compounded by the presence of another respiratory depressant like a benzodiazepine (Valium, Xanax, Ambien, etc.) or alchohol.
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henry1
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/08/03
Posts: 282
Loc: North Central USA
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Thank you night shade, for the 'reality check' about Tylenol. All OTCs can have negative side effects, but for the most part they don't.
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treading the backward path...
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Very good points..and sorry--I was a bit crabby this morning. Even the label on Tylenol says not to take with alcohol or if you suffer from Hepatitis or other diseases affecting the liver functions.
I have had high alkaline phosphatase labs for years--probably from all the Percocet I took in my early 20's. The amazing thing about the liver is it will heal if the aggravating factors are removed. Obviously cirrhosis and hepatitis never go away. People should always read labels!
Thanks for the response...I did, of course, mean in an otherwise normally healthy person.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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mpcagh
Member
Reged: 12/27/03
Posts: 130
Loc: California
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I'm just the same Karson....I always worry about taking too much. I have been prescribed 5/500 before and the instructions said "Take 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain", so i'm sure that your dose of two pills is just fine. I know others have reassured you, but I thought I would add my 2 cents as well. Have a great day (or night I guess)!
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"There's a fine line between love and hate, and a mile full of lessons in between." William M. Siegel, Jr.
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