What is Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is an opioid Drug used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It’s only used to treat people who need pain relief and who can’t be treated with other medications. This drug may be prescribed following an injury or a major surgery or to treat other types of severe pain, like cancer pain or arthritis.

Hydrocodone is derived from codeine, a natural alkaloid that comes from the resin of poppy seeds. Once in the body, hydrocodone binds to and activates the mu opiate receptor to block the feeling of pain.

How Hydrocodone Works?

Hydrocodone is prescribed to be taken by mouth, and therefore must pass through the digestive system before you will feel its effects. Usually, it takes about an hour to feel symptom relief. The dosage reaches peak concentration roughly 1.3 hours after it is taken.

For individuals who have developed a tolerance of the drug, it may take longer to feel relief, or the effect of one dose may not be as strong. With repeated use, the brain changes how it functions in order to accommodate the drug, and eventually it can no longer function properly without it.

At this point, opioid withdrawal symptoms will occur when you stop taking the drug. Withdrawal symptoms indicate that your body has developed a dependence on the drug. Dependence is when your body cannot function properly without the drug.

How Long Does It Take for the Effects of Hydrocodone to Wear off?

One way to find out how long a drug will last in the body is to measure its half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body.

How long does hydrocodone take to kick in? Hydrocodone has an average half-life of roughly 3.8 hours in healthy adult males. In other words, it takes 3.8 hours for the average healthy male to eliminate half of the dose of hydrocodone.

However, it’s important to note that everyone metabolizes medications differently, so the half-life will vary from person to person.

It takes several half-lives to fully eliminate a drug. For most people, hydrocodone will fully clear the blood within a day, but it can still be detected in the saliva, urine, or hair for much longer than that.

Factors that Influence How Long the Effects of Hydrocodone Last

The short-acting dosage forms of hydrocodone last around four to six hours. As you may expect from the name, the longer-acting dosage forms of hydrocodone can last much longer — 12 hours or more in some cases. 

How long for hydrocodone to kick in depends on several factors such as:

• The dosage form: Longer-acting dosage forms will typically last much longer than quick-acting dosage forms.
• Drug interactions: Hydrocodone is mainly broken down by the liver enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 in the body. Some other medications may interfere with these liver enzymes, leading hydrocodone to last a longer or shorter period than expected.
• Age: Hydrocodone’s effects can last longer in the elderly than in younger people.
• Liver and kidney health: A person with a healthy liver and kidneys can break down hydrocodone quicker than a person with an unhealthy liver or kidneys.

Skip To:

• How Long Does It Take for Hydrocodone to Kick in?
• What is Hydrocodone?
• How Hydrocodone Works?

Learn More:

• How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Your System?
• How Long Does Vicodin Stay in Your System?
• Vicodin Side Effects
• How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Urine?
• Effects of Hydrocodone and Alcohol
• Hydrocodone vs Oxycodone
• Opioid Addiction Treatment
• Prescription Drug Addiction
• Prescription Pill Detox
• Pain Medication List, Strongest to Weakest
• Opiate Withdrawal
• Opiate Detox
• How Long Do Opiates Stay in Your System?

2.1 million

An estimated 2.1 million in the United States alone abuse opioid pain reliever medications.

Source: NIDA

6.9 million

There were 6.9 million people who experienced hydrocodone misuse in 2017.

Source: NIDA

Half-Life of Hydrocodone

The half-life of a drug refers to how long it takes for half of a single dose to be eliminated by your body. Typically, it takes five half-lives to fully rid your system of a drug. 

How fast does hydrocodone kick in? The half-life of hydrocodone depends on whether you are taking a short- or long-acting form of the drug. The half-life of short-acting hydrocodone is 3.8 to 4.5 hours, meaning it can stay in your body for almost an entire day. In contrast, the half-life of long-acting hydrocodone is seven to nine hours, meaning it can linger in your body for about two days.

Norco

(7mg, 10 mg combined with 325 mg Acetaminophen)

What Norco looks like: white tablets with orange specks with “WATSON” debossed on one side and 913 on the other, light orange tablets with “NORCO® 729” on one side and bisected on the other, and yellow tablets with “NORCO 539” debossed on one side and bisected on the other.

Though Vicodin is by far the most common Hydrocodone prescription, Norco is still commonly used. It is most often prescribed in two strengths: 7.5 mg or 10 mg of Hydrocodone combined with 325 mg of Acetaminophen.

Lortab

(5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10mg combined with 325 mg Acetaminophen)

What Lortab looks like: tablets in multiple colors depending on strength (white with pink, green, or blue specks; or wholly pink) with “ucb” debossed on one side and a number (901, 902, 903, 910) on the other. Lortab is a brand name version of Hydrocodone similar to brands Norcoand Lorcet.

Zohydro

(10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 5 0mg)

What Zohydro looks like: white, light green, dark blue, or dark brown capsules with “Z3## [dosage] mg” in black ink. Zohydro was the first purely Hydrocodone medication approved by the FDA in 2013. The agency approved the medication against the advice of its scientific advisory board, which voted 11-2 to deny Zohydro’s approval. The addition of Acetaminophen is thought to lower Hydrocodone’s risk of abuse, causing many to question the FDA’s decision to approve Zohydro.

Is Hydrocodone Addictive?

Hydrocodone is one of the most commonly-prescribed opioid pain relievers for patients with severe pain. Due to its high potential for abuse, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies hydrocodone as a Schedule II controlled substance. Substances in this classification have a high potential for abuse, which may lead to addiction.

Opioids stimulate the brain to release dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, This euphoria may make you want to take the medication again because naturally-occurring good feelings seem dull in comparison.Ttaking hydrocodone for just 3 to 5 days can cause physical dependence, which means you’ll experience symptoms of withdrawal when you stop taking the drug.

• Fatigue
• Slow breathing
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Skin and bodily infections

• Poor personal hygiene
• Doctor shopping, which is when you go to multiple doctors hoping to receive multiple prescriptions
• Attempting to fill prescriptions before their refill date

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers New Jersey

Substance abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in a mental health disorder and substance abuse. Dual diagnosis programs in New Jersey treat both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. In this strategy, both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend largely on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

Medication-Assisted Treatments

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use disorders and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

Now that we’ve answered the question ”How long does it take for hydrocodone to kick in” and learned about its addictive properties and the risks that come along with its abuse. It is important to reach out for professional help if you or a loved one are struggling with long-term Hydrocodone side effects and addiction. Contact one of our helpful treatment specialists today. We Level Up rehab center in New Jersey can provide information on dual diagnosis and detox programs that may fit your specific needs.