Hycodan Tablets: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What is HYCODAN used for?

HYCODAN is used for the temporary relief of cough associated with:

• allergies, or
• the common cold

Serious Warnings and Precautions

Taking HYCODAN with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.

How does HYCODAN work?

Hydrocodone bitartrate acts on the brain to supress cough.

What are the ingredients in HYCODAN?

HYCODAN TABLETS

Each white, biconvex and bisected tablet contains:

Medicinal ingredients: hydrocodone bitartrate 5 mg

Non-medicinal ingredients: Corn starch, lactose, pregelatinized tapioca starch, stearic acid, talc and zinc stearate. Sodium- and tartrazine-free.

HYCODAN SYRUP

Each 5 mL of red, wild cherry-flavored syrup contains:

Medicinal ingredients: hydrocodone bitartrate 5 mg

Non-medicinal ingredients: Artificial cherry flavour, caramel syrup, FD&C RED No. 2, hydrochloric acid, methylparaben, propylparaben, purified water, sorbitol solution 70% and sucrose. Alcohol-, lactose-, sodium-, sulfite- and tartrazine-free.

HYCODAN comes in the following dosage forms:

5 mg tablets and 5mg/5mL syrup

Do not use HYCODAN if you:

• are allergic to hydrocodone bitartrate or to any of the other ingredients in HYCODAN
• have severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other breathing problems
• have bowel blockage or narrowing of the stomach or intestines
• have a head injury
• are at risk for having seizures
• suffer from alcoholism
• are taking or have taken within the past 2 weeks a Monoamine Oxidase inhibitor (MAOi) (such as phenelzine sulphate, tranylcypromine sulphate, moclobemide or selegiline)

• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or you are in labour

• are younger than 6 years of age

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take HYCODAN. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have a history of illicit or prescription drug or alcohol abuse and consequent to these, temporary mental disorders
• have severe kidney disease
• have severe liver disease
• have low blood pressure
• have severe breathing problems
• have problems with your thyroid, adrenal or prostate gland
• have or had depression
• suffer from chronic or severe constipation
• have, or had in the past hallucinations or other severe mental problems
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding

Other warnings you should know about:

Accidentally taking HYCODAN can result in a fatal overdose. This is especially true if a child accidentally takes it.

As with all opioids, taking hydrocodone bitartrate may cause you to become dependent on it. Do not take more than the dose prescribed to you by your doctor.

If you took HYCODAN while you were pregnant, whether for short or long periods of time or in small or large doses, your baby can suffer life-threatening withdrawal symptoms after birth. This can occur in the days after birth and for up to 4 weeks after delivery. If your baby has any of the following symptoms:

• has changes in their breathing (such as weak, difficult or fast breathing)
• is unusually difficult to comfort
• has tremors (shakiness)
• has increased stools, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, or fever

Seek immediate medical help for your baby.

Young children are at risk of the sedating effects of narcotic cough drugs. The use of hydrocodone in children has led to slow, shallow or weak breathing that has been fatal. HYCODAN should not be given to children who have difficulty breathing. IMPORTANT: calculate the child’s dose using their age and weight.

Driving and using machines: Before you do tasks which may require special attention, you should wait until you know how you react to HYCODAN. HYCODAN can cause:

• drowsiness
• dizziness or
• lightheadedness

This can usually occur after you take your first dose and when your dose is increased.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with HYCODAN:

• Alcohol. This includes prescription and non-prescription medications that contain alcohol. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking HYCODAN. It can lead to:

  • drowsiness
  • unusually slow or weak breathing
  • serious side effects or
  • a fatal overdose
• opioid analgesics (drugs used to treat pain)
• general anesthetics (drugs used during surgery)
• benzodiazepines (drugs used to help you sleep or that help reduce anxiety)
• antidepressants (for depression and mood disorders). Do not take HYCODAN with MAO inhibitors (MAOi) or if you have taken MAOi’s in the last 14 days.
• drugs used to treat serious mental or emotional disorders (such as schizophrenia)
• antihistamines (drugs used to treat allergies)
• anti-emetics (drugs used to prevent vomiting)
• drugs used to treat muscle spasms and back pain
• some heart medication (such as beta blockers)

How to take HYCODAN:

Usual Dose:

Adult Dosage

One HYCODAN TABLET or 5 mL (one teaspoonful) of HYCODAN SYRUP not less than 4 hours apart, after meals and at bedtime with food or a glass of milk, not to exceed six tablets or 30 mL (six teaspoonfuls) of syrup in a 24-hour period. Maximum single dose three tablets or 15 mL (three teaspoonfuls) of syrup.

Children's Dosage

Under 6 years of age: Do not use hydrocodone in patients below the age of 6 years.

Over 12 yrs: One HYCODAN TABLET or 5 mL (one teaspoonful) of HYCODAN SYRUP not less than 4 hours apart, after meals and at bedtime with food or a glass of milk, not to exceed 30 mL (six teaspoonfuls) in a 24-hour period. Maximum single dose two tablets or 10 mL (two teaspoonfuls) of syrup.

Age 6 to 12 yrs: One half of a HYCODAN TABLET or 2.5 mL (1/2 teaspoonful) of HYCODAN SYRUP not less than 4 hours apart, after meals and at bedtime with food or a glass of milk, not to exceed a total of three tablets or 15 mL (three teaspoonfuls) of syrup in a 24-hour period. Maximum single dose one tablet or 5 mL (1 teaspoonful) of syrup.

Overdose:

Signs of overdose may include:

• unusually slow or weak breathing
• dizziness
• confusion
• extreme drowsiness

What are possible side effects from using HYCODAN?

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking HYCODAN. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

• drowsiness
• insomnia
• dizziness
• fainting
• nausea, vomiting, or a poor appetite
• dry mouth
• headache
• problems with vision
• weakness, uncoordinated muscle movement
• itching
• sweating
• constipation

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

Storage:

Store at 15° to 30 °C. Keep unused or expired HYCODAN in a secure place to prevent theft, misuse or accidental exposure to children and pets.

Keep HYCODAN out of sight and reach of children and pets.

Disposal:

HYCODAN should never be thrown into household trash, where children and pets may find it. It should be returned to a pharmacy for proper disposal.

If you want more information about HYCODAN:

• Talk to your healthcare professional

• Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this consumer medication information by visiting the Health Canada website; the manufacturer’s website http://www.bmscanada.ca, or by calling 1-866-463-6267.

  Montréal, Canada H4S 0A4

Last Revised April 12, 2017

®Registered Trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company used under licence by Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada