Hydrocodone

Not to be confused with Dihydrocodeine.

Hydrocodone, also known as dihydrocodeinone, is a semisynthetic opioid used to treat pain and as a cough suppressant.^[1] It is taken by mouth.^[1]

Hydrocodone

Clinical data
Trade names	Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER
Other names	Dihydrocodeinone, hydrocodone bitartrate
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a601006
License data	US DailyMed: Hydrocodone
Dependence liability	High[2]
Addiction liability	High
Routes of administration	Clinical: by mouth[3] Others: intranasal, rectal
Drug class	Opioid
ATC code	R05DA03 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S8 (Controlled drug) BR: Class A1 (Narcotic drugs) [4] CA: Schedule I DE: Anlage III (Special prescription form required) NZ: Class B UK: Class A US: Schedule II
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	By mouth: 70%[5]
Protein binding	Low[5][6]
Metabolism	Liver: CYP3A4 (major), CYP2D6 (minor)[7]
Metabolites	• Norhydrocodone[7] • Hydromorphone[7] • Others[7]
Onset of action	10–20 minutes[3]
Elimination half-life	Average: 3.8 hours[8] Range: 3.3–4.4 hours[3]
Duration of action	4–8 hours[3]
Excretion	Urine[9][10]
Identifiers
IUPAC name 4,5α-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one
CAS Number	125-29-1 Y
PubChem CID	5284569
IUPHAR/BPS	7081
DrugBank	DB00956 Y
ChemSpider	4447623 Y
UNII	6YKS4Y3WQ7
KEGG	D08045 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:5779 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1457 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8023131
ECHA InfoCard	100.004.304
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Most of the time it is dispensed as the combination acetaminophen/hydrocodone or ibuprofen/hydrocodone for pain severe enough to require an opioid^[11][12][13] and in combination with homatropine methylbromide to relieve cough.^[1] It is also available by itself in a long-acting form under the brand name Zohydro ER, among others, to treat long-term severe pain.^[1][14]