Vicoprofen (hydrocodone bitartrate and ibuprofen)

About Vicoprofen

Vicoprofen is a mix of hydrocodone, a narcotic (opiate) pain medication (analgesic), and ibuprofen (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or NSAID), which relieves pain better than either medication taken alone. Hydrocodone acts on the central nervous system and smooth muscle tissue, slowing the central nervous system. It is not clear exactly how ibuprofen works to ease pain.

This medication is commonly prescribed for short-term treatment of acute pain. If you are being treated for a chronic condition, speak to your doctor about minimizing your use of Vicoprofen and reducing the likelihood of undesirable side effects from long-term use of narcotic analgesics and NSAIDs. Do not take this medication with alcohol, other prescription or over the counter pain medications, or any sedative, as this may increase your risk of liver damage or other dangerous side effects.

Vicoprofen is only available by prescription.

Vicoprofen Side Effects

Vicoprofen side effects are usually mild, but as with all narcotic pain medications, it can impair performance. If you feel lightheaded or nauseous, lying down may alleviate these symptoms. Driving or operating heavy machinery is not advised, as Vicoprofen can interfere with mental and physical abilities. Become familiar with your reaction to Vicoprofen before performing potentially hazardous tasks while taking it.

Vicoprofen side effects are typically dosage related, and may increase even if the medication is no longer as effective at relieving pain due to drug tolerance.

Common Side Effects: anxiety, constipation, decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping, difficulty urinating, drowsiness, dry mouth, gas, light-headedness, sleepiness.

Infrequent Side Effects: blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, drunken feeling, flushing, mild allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash), nausea, slurred speech, shaking, sweating, vomiting. If you experience any of these side effects, stop taking Vicoprofen and contact your doctor immediately. These side effects may be dose related, and can indicate that you have taken too much of this medication.

Serious Side Effects: bloody stool, burning feeling in torso, cough, delirium, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, difficulty urinating, extreme lightheadedness, frequent urination, hallucination, headache, heartburn, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, mood changes, ringing in the ears, seizure, serious allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock, bronchospasm, extreme skin reaction), severe stomach pain, stiff spine, swelling around the eyes, swollen extremities, tightness in chest or wheezing, urinary incontinence. If you experience any of these rare but serious side effects, seek medical attention immediately. These may be symptoms of a severe reaction to the medication or an overdose.

Cautions: Vicoprofen should be prescribed with caution to some patients, and it may not be the right treatment for everyone. Be sure to give your prescribing physician a complete medical history so that your treatment can be safe and effective, particularly if you have ever experienced any of the following conditions:

Acute Abdominal Conditions: Vicoprofen may interfere with diagnosis and treatment of acute abdominal conditions.
Addison's Disease: Individuals with underactive adrenal glands should use this medication only under the advice of their physician.
Alcohol or Drug Abuse: If you have ever suffered from alcohol or drug addiction in the past, you may be at increased risk for chemical dependence with this treatment. If you have an untreated addiction to alcohol or drugs, you should not use this medication as it increases your risk for dangerous or fatal overdose.
Allergies: Inform your prescribing physician of any allergic reactions you may have had to food, dyes, or medications. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to hydrocodone, any narcotic medication, or acetaminophen in the past, you should not take Vicoprofen. If you are asthmatic, and have ever had an allergic reaction to aspirin or any other NSAID, you should not take Vicoprofen.
Bleeding: If you have bleeding problems, or are taking other medications that can cause bleeding as a side effect, this medication may not be right for you. Ibuprofen may cause gastrointestinal bleeding or hemorrhage even in individuals who are not prone to this condition.
Breathing: High doses of Vicoprofen, or patient sensitivity, can cause breathing irregularity or other respiratory depression. If you have breathing difficulties, asthma, or any other lung disease, Vicoprofen may not be right for you. While hydrocodone may cause respiratory depression, ibuprofen may cause an allergic reaction in patients with aspirin sensitive asthma. If you have asthma, and have ever had a reaction to aspirin or any other NSAID medication, you may wish to try another treatment as ibuprofen may increase the risk of airway constriction.
Chronic Headache: If you have chronic migraine or cluster headaches, you should use Vicoprofen cautiously, as frequent use may trigger rebound attacks of vascular headaches. Use this medication no more often than 2-3 times per week, and look into a preventive treatment.
Cough Reflex: Hydrocodone is a cough suppressant, and should be used with care in patients with heart disease, who have just undergone an operation, or have a lung disease.
Dependence: Mental and physical dependence can develop if Vicoprofen is used for long periods of time. Long use of hydrocodone can create a tolerance condition where the medication no longer works at the initial dosage. Ibuprofen is not known to cause dependence.
Fluid Retention: Vicoprofen may worsen this condition.
Head Injuries: Hydrocodone's narcotic effects can cause an increase of pressure in the cerebral and spinal fluid. If a patient has suffered a head injury, both the pressure increase and the respiratory suppression can be exaggerated. Hydrocodone may interfere with an accurate diagnosis or treatment of head injuries.
Irritable Bowel: Hydrocodone may cause constipation.
Kidney or Liver Disease: Both hydrocodone and ibuprofen may worsen impaired kidney or liver function. It may be difficult for these individuals to remove the medication from their bodies, and a physician will likely suggest that they take lower doses.
Lupus: You may be at increased risk for rare but serious side effects.
Seizure Disorder: Discuss with your doctor whether or not hydrocodone treatment is appropriate for you, as it may increase the risk of seizure.
Thyroid: Individuals with hypothyroidism may want to carefully consider if treatment with Vicoprofen is compatible with their condition.
Urogenital Tract: Hydrocodone may worsen difficulties with urination.

Overdose: Hydrocodone overdose is characterized by slowed breathing, extreme drowsiness progressing to stupor or coma, limp muscles, or cold, clammy skin. Severe hydrocodone overdose may result in death due to cardiac arrest or stopped breathing. Ibuprofen overdose may result in gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhage, liver damage, kidney damage, heart damage, anemia, or drug-induced meningitis. Seek emergency medical treatment immediately if you suspect an overdose of this pain medication, and never take more than the recommended dosage.

Vicoprofen dosage for adults should be kept to a maximum of 5 tablets per day. Severe side effects very rarely occur with this dosage of Vicoprofen.

Vicoprofen Interactions

Alcohol - Hydrocodone and alcohol can accelerate central nervous system depression. Avoid mixing the two, as this could potentially result in a fatal overdose. Alcohol use combined with ibuprofen can accelerate or increase the risk of liver damage or stomach bleeding.
Antihistamines like Tavist may cause oversedation.
Alfalfa - Can alter blood clotting, alfalfa supplements should not be combined with ibuprofen, though eating alfalfa sprouts should not affect treatment.
Aspirin (or any salicylate, such as salicylamide, or salicylic acid) can cause kidney or liver damage when taken in high doses, and over long periods of time, in combination with ibuprofen. When taken in the recommended doses, for a short time, it has not been seen to produce this effect.
Benzodiazepines (a class of antidepressants, anti-panic agents, and muscle relaxants) such as Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), Halcion (triazolam), Restoril (temazepam), Librium(chlordiazepoxide), Xanax (alprazolam), Tranxene-SD (clorazepate), Paxipam (halazepam), ProSom (estazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), and others, should be used cautiously with hydrocodone.
Cinchona bark - May alter blood clotting, do not combine ibuprofen with cinchona bark.
Clove oil - Can alter blood clotting, clove supplements should not be combined with ibuprofen, though using the spice normally in food should not have this effect.
Desyrel (trazodone) - Risk of additive CNS depression.
Feverfew - The effects of this herb may be decreased by ibuprofen, and its effects on blood clotting would indicate that the medications should not be mixed.
Garlic - Can alter blood clotting, garlic supplements should not be combined with ibuprofen, though using garlic in food should not have any significant effect.
Gingko Biloba - May alter blood clotting, gingko should not be combined with ibuprofen.
Ginseng - May alter blood clotting, ginseng should not be combined with ibuprofen.
Kava kava - May increase drowsiness.
MAO inhibitors - Hydrocodone must not be mixed with MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors such as the antidepressants Nardil, Marplan, or Parnate. It should not be used within 2 weeks of stopping these medications.
Narcotic/opioid pain medications of any other kind, like Codeine, Demerol (meperidine), Buprenex (buprenorphine), Darvocet (propoxyphene), Dilaudid (hydromorphone), MS Contin or Kadian (morphine), nalbuphine, Percocet (oxycodone, acetaminophen), Stadol (butorphanol), Talwin compound (pentazocine), Vicodin (hydrocodone, acetaminophen), or OxyContin (oxycodone) should not be mixed with Vicoprofen.
Norflex (orphenadrine) - Risk of oversedation.
Pain medication - Do not mix Vicoprofen with any over the counter pain medication, as this will increase the risk of side effects. If your doctor has prescribed a rotating schedule of different types of pain medication, wait the recommended amount of time between doses.
Protease inhibitors like AZT (zidovudine) or Norvir (ritonavir) - Narcotic pain medication may increase blood levels of these drugs, potentially making side effects more severe.
Sedatives like Fioricet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine), Fiorinal (butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine), Phenobarbitol, Seconal, or other barbiturates can cause oversedaiton when used with Vicoprofen.
Skeletal muscle relaxants such as Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), Skelaxin (metaxalone), Soma (carisoprodol), or Robaxin (methocarbamol) may cause oversedation in combination with this medication.
Sleep medication like Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon), or over the counter sleeping pills should be used with hydrocodone only as, and if, advised by your doctor.
Street drugs of any type should not be mixed with narcotic analgesics as a dangerous or fatal overdose could result. Especially avoid combining with opiates, tranquilizers, narcotics, or any drug which makes you drowsy. Many drugs are more dangerous in combination than by themselves.
Tranquilizers such as Haldol (haloperidol), Mellaril (thioridazine), or Thorazine (chlorpromazine) may cause oversedation when used with Vicoprofen.
Trexan (naltrexone) - Causes narcotic pain medication to be ineffective.
Tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline), Asendin (amoxapine), Anafranil (clomipramine), Pertofrane or Norpramin (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Tofranil (imipramine), Aventyl or Pamelor (nortriptyline), Vivactil (protriptyline), and Surmontil (trimipramine), may increase the central nervous system suppressant effects from either the antidepressant, or the hydrocodone in Vicoprofen.
Ultram (tramadol) - Can increase the likelihood of respiratory depression when taken with Vicoprofen.
Valerian - May increase drowsiness when used with Vicoprofen.

In addition to the above medications, tell your doctor if you are using any other major antidepressants, pain medications, or central nervous system depressants in combination with Vicoprofen. Be cautious about taking Vicoprofen with any medicine warning that it 'may cause drowsiness.'

Vicoprofen Dosages

Vicoprofen tablets come in a mix of 7.5 mg of hydrocodone to 200 mg of ibuprofen. You may see this figure represented on the bottle as 7.5/200.

Doses should be administered overy 4-6 hours at minimum, and should not exceed 5 tablets in any one day. It is recommended that the longest comfortable waiting period should be used between doses, as side effects are dose related, and tolerance can develop with hydrocodone that would make treatment less effective.

Vicoprofen Directions

If you miss a dose of Vicoprofen, take it as soon as you remember. If you are within an hour or so of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your schedule. Taking double doses of Vicoprofen is not recommended, as it may lead to an overdose, tolerance, or dependence.

Do not crush tablets before taking, as this could release the drug into the bloodstream too fast, possibly resulting in an overdose.

Avoid taking this medication if you suspect you may have to go to the emergency room, or while you are waiting for an ambulance. Vicoprofen may interfere with the diagnosis or treatment of certain injuries, and hospital staff will be able to provide you with pain control.

Store Vicoprofen away from direct light and heat. Store in a dry location; avoid storing it in the bathroom, near sinks, or other areas where it may become damp. Do not use after the expiration date.

Keep Vicoprofen away from children; both when storing it, and when discarding any unused medication.

Vicoprofen may cause drowsiness or disorientation. Be cautious if you plan to drive or operate heavy machinery, avoid these activities if you find yourself feeling tired or experience slowed reactions.

Never share this medication with others, even if their symptoms are similar to your own. Only a doctor is qualified to decide if a medication is safe; sharing your prescription with others could be dangerous to their health and well-being.

Vicoprofen is a trademark of Abbott Laboratories

This document is provided for information only. It is not a substitute for consultation with a physician, either to diagnose symptoms or prescribe treatment. The dosages mentioned are general manufacturers guidelines only, please follow the directions of your doctor or pharmacist exactly when taking medication. Dosage recommendations for children and seniors may vary significantly from standard dosages, and pregnant women should always speak to their OB/GYN before taking any medication. We have made every effort to ensure that the information presented is accurate, but only your doctor can say if a medication, or drug combination, is safe for you. Information intended for US residents only.