Hydrocodone Facts And Formulations

Posted by Safe & Vault on Oct 24, 2014

Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid that is derived from the drug codeine. It is a narcotic pain reliever that falls in the class of “analgesic.” The Greek translation of the term “analgesic” is literally “without pain.” Hydrocodone functions by binding with the opioid receptors in the central nervous system to lessen the amount of pain the user experiences.

Hydrocodone comes in a number of formulations, each one containing hydrocodone as the base drug, and a combination (or combinations) of secondary drugs that allow the drug to be used for treating a variety of conditions and illnesses. There are over two-hundred drugs containing hydrocodone.

Studies show that hydrocodone is stronger than codeine, yet not as strong as morphine. It is predominantly used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain, and it also commonly used as an antitussive to treat severe cough. As a result of the many uses of hydrocodone, it is prescribed more than any other pain reliever in the world. 99% of the prescriptions for hydrocodone are filled in the United States, with a staggering 139,000,000 prescriptions for hydrocodone-based products written a year in America.

Due to the extreme prevalence with which hydrocodone is prescribed, as well as its narcotic effects, there is currently an addiction epidemic surrounding this class of drugs. They are currently severely abused recreationally, with approximately 5,000,000 United States citizens currently identifying as “addicted” to this class of narcotics. In 2010, 12 million Americans (age 12 or older) reported having used hydrocodone for “non-medical” uses. Nearly 15,000 over-doses resulted in death in 2008, up three times from 4,000 deaths in 1999. Misuse and abuse of hydrocodone resulted in 500,000 emergency room visits in 2009, and is currently costing the insurance industry up to $72.5 billion dollars annually.

Hydrocodone has recently been rescheduled as a Class II or Schedule II narcotic. With regard to security safe or steel cabinet storage, Schedule II drugs must meet criteria as established by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Regulations under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1301specify that, in the instance of small amounts of the drug permit, a safe or steel cabinet may be used. The safe or cabinet must provide;

  • 30 man -minutes against surreptitious entry
  • 10 man-minutes against forced entry
  • 20 man-hours against lock manipulation
  • 20 man-hours against radiological techniques

 

The Code also states that if a safe or steel cabinet weighs less than 750 lbs., it must be bolted or cemented to the floor in such a way that it cannot be removed. Depending on the quantity and type of the substance(s) being stored, the safe or cabinet must be equipped with an alarm system which, upon attempted break-in, shall transmit a signal directly to a central protection company or State police agency which has a legal duty to respond, or a 24-hour control station operated by the registrant, or such other protection.

A full line of Schedule II controlled substance security safes and cabinets can be found here.

HYDROCODONE COMBINATION PRODUCTS (HCP’s that may require UL Listed Burglary Resistant Safe Storage)

Typehydrocodone systemic

Brand names: Zohydro ER, Hysingla ER

Class: antitussives

Indications: pain

 

Type: acetaminophen / caffeine / chlorpheniramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Hycomine Compound

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: acetaminophen / hydrocodone systemic

Brand Names: Norco, Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet

Class: narcotic / analgesic combination

Indications: back pain, cough, pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

Type: aspirin / hydrocodone systemic

Brand Names: Lortab ASA, Damason P, Adzone, Alor 5-500

Class: narcotic / analgesic combination

Indications: pain

 

Type: brompheniramine / guaifenesin / hydrocodone systemic

Brand Names: Tusnel HC

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: brompheniramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: VazoTuss HC, BPM PE HC, Canges – HC NR, FluTuss HC

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal decongestant

 

Type: brompheniramine / hydrocodone / pseudoephedrine systemic

Brand Names: Endacof HC, M-END, Drocon-CS, Anaplex HD

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal decongestant

 

Type: carbinoxamine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Excof, Donatussin MAX, Excof-SF, Max HC

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal decongestant

 

Type: carbinoxamine / hydrocodone / pseudoephedrine systemic

Brand Names: Hystex HC, Tri-Vent HC, Mintex HC,

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cold symptoms, cough and nasal congestion, sinus symptoms

 

Type: chlorpheniramine / guaifenesin / hydrocodone / pseudoephedrine systemic

Brand Name: Z-Tuss 2

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cold symptoms, cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: chlorpheniramine / hydrocodone systemic

Brand Names: Tussionex Pennkinetic, TussiCaps, Novasus, HyTan

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cold symptoms / cough

 

Type: chlorpheniramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Hydrocodone HD, Hydrocodone CP, Vanex-HD, Coughtuss

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: dexbrompheniramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Histussin HC Syrup, Cytuss-HC NR, H-C Tussive-NR

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough, cough and nasal congestion, hay fever, nasal congestion

 

Type: dexchlorpheniramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Codimal DH, Zotex HC, Notuss PD, EndaCof-Plus

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: diphenhydramine / hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Endal HD, Tussinate, Hydro-DP, Rindal HPD

Class: upper respiratory combinations

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: guaifenesin / hydrocodone systemic

Brand Names: Narcof, Monte-G HC, Hycotuss Expectorant

Class: upper respiratory congestion

Indications: cough

 

Type: guaifenesin / hydrocodone / pheniramine / phenylephrine / phenylpropanolamine systemic

Brand Name: S-T Forte

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: guaifenesin / hydrocodone / pheniramine / phenylpropanolamine / pyrilamine systemic

Brand Name: N/A (generic)

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal conditions

 

Type: guaifenesin / hydrocodone / phenylephrine

Brand Names: Levall 5.0, Nazarin HC, Mintuss G, Atuss G

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: guaifenesin / hydrocodone / pseudoephedrine systemic

Brand Names: Decotuss-HD, Tussadur-HD, Su-Tuss HD Elixir, Drituss HD

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: homatropine / hydrocodone systemic

Brand Names: Hycodan, Hydromet, Tussigon, Hydromide

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough

 

Type: hydrocodone / ibuprofen systemic

Brand Names: Vicoprofen, Reprexain, Ibudone

Class: narcotic analgesic combination

Indications: pain

 

Type: hydrocodone / pheniramine / phenylephrine / phenylpropanolamine / pyrilamine systemic

Brand Names: Rolatuss with Hydrocodone, Ru-Tuss with Hydrocodone, Vetuss HC Syrup

Class: upper respiratory combination

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Type: hydrocodone / phenylephrine systemic

Brand Names: Lortuss HC, Tusdec-HC, Phenylephrine HD, Nalex-DH

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Class: hydrocodone / phenylephrine / pyrilamine systemic

Brand Names: Hydrophene DH, PhendaCof Plus, Hycomal DH, Dicomal-HD

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Class: hydrocodone / phenylpropanolamine systemic

Brand Names: Hycomine, Codamine, Codamine Pediatric, Hycomine Pediatric

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Class: hydrocodone / potassium / guaiacolsulfonate systemic

Brand Names: Protuss, Mintuss NX, Prolex DH, Marcof Expectorant

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Class: hydrocodone / potassium / guaiacolsulfonate / pseudoephedrine systemic

Brand Names: Protuss-D, Procof D

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Class: hydrocodone / pseudoephedrine systemic

Brand Names: Rezira, Tussafin, Pancof HC, Tussgen

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion

 

Class: hydrocodone / pseudoephedrine / triprolidine systemic

Brand Names: Zymine HC

Class: upper respiratory conditions

Indications: cough and nasal congestion