Tussigon (hydrocodone)

Tussigon (hydrocodone) is an opioid narcotic pain-reliever cough suppressant similar to codeine, oxycodone, morphine, methadone, fentanyl, and other opioids prescribed to treat cough in adults and in children 6 years of age and older.

Common side effects of Tussigon include

• lightheadedness,
• dizziness,
• sedation,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• drowsiness,
• constipation,
• spasm of the ureter, and
• difficulty urinating.

Serious side effects of Tussigon include

• impaired thinking and physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery and depressed breathing.

Tussigon is habit forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur when used long-term.

Drug interactions of Tussigon include alcohol and other sedatives because it can lead to increased sedation and even cause confusion.

Tussigon should not be taken with any of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) class of antidepressants or other drugs that inhibit monoamine oxidase, for example, linezolid. Such combinations may lead to confusion, high blood pressure, tremor, hyperactivity, coma, and death.

Tussigon should not be administered within 14 days of stopping an MAOI. There are no adequate studies of Tussigon in pregnant women.

Tussigon is excreted in breast milk, and should be used cautiously by nursing mothers. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. 

The most common side effects of hydrocodone are:

• lightheadedness,
• dizziness,
• sedation,
• nausea,
• vomiting.

Other important side effects include

• drowsiness,
• constipation,
• spasm of the ureter, and
• difficulty in urinating.

Hydrocodone can impair thinking and the physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery. Hydrocodone can depress breathing, and should be used with caution in elderly, debilitated patients and in patients with serious lung disease. Hydrocodone is habit forming. Mental and physical dependence can occur when used long-term.

Homatropine can increase pressure inside the eye and this is dangerous for those with glaucoma.

Central Nervous System

• Sedation, drowsiness, mental clouding, lethargy, impairment of mental and physical performance, anxiety, fear, dysphoria, dizziness, psychic dependence, mood changes.

Gastrointestinal System

• Nausea and vomiting may occur; they are more frequent in ambulatory than in recumbent patients.
• Prolonged administration of Tussigon may produce constipation.

Genitourinary System

• Ureteral spasm, spasm of vesicle sphincters and urinary retention have been reported with opiates.

Respiratory Depression

• Tussigon may produce dose-related respiratory depression by acting directly on brain stem respiratory centers (see OVERDOSE).

Dermatological

• Skin rash, pruritus.

• Patients receiving narcotics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, antianxiety agents or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) concomitantly with Tussigon may exhibit an additive CNS depression. When combined therapy is contemplated, the dose of one or both agents should be reduced.
• The use of MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants with hydrocodone preparations may increase the effect of either the antidepressants or hydrocodone.

Drug Abuse And Dependence

• Tussigon is a Schedule II narcotic. Psychic dependence, physical dependence and tolerance may develop upon repeated administration of narcotics; therefore, Tussigon should be prescribed and administered with caution.
• However, psychic dependence is unlikely to develop when Tussigon is used for a short time for the treatment of cough.
• Physical dependence, the condition in which continued administration of the drug is required to prevent the appearance of a withdrawal syndrome, assume clinically significant proportions only after several weeks of continued oral narcotic use, although some mild degree of physical dependence may develop after a few days of narcotic therapy.