Hydrocodone

Hydrocodone (chemical synonym: dihydrocodeinone; trade names: Vicodin, Anexsia, Dicodid, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Tussionex) is an opioid derived from either of the naturally occurring opiates — codeine or thebaine. Hydrocodone is an orally active narcotic analgesic and antitussive which is marketed in multi-ingredient Schedule III products. The typical therapeutic dose of 5 mg to 10 mg is pharmacologically equivalent to 30 to 60  mg of oral codeine. Sales and production of this drug have increased significantly in recent years, as have diversion and illicit use. Hydrocodone is commonly available in tablet, capsule, and syrup form.

In the US it is a Schedule II drug in its pure form and Schedule III in multi-ingredient forms where it is combined with non-narcotics such as Paracetamol, Aspirin and Homatropine Methylbromide. In the UK it is listed as a Class A drug under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

The drug gained some additional name recognition due to its frequent usage by the lead character in the 2005 US hit television series drama House M.D.. The frequency with which the character took the pills was the subject of an entire episode, during which the topic of whether he was addicted to the medication was the primary plot element.