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hydrocodone/APAP
Hydrocodone is an opioid agonist that binds to mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system to reduce pain, while acetaminophen (APAP) inhibits prostaglandin synthesis to provide additional analgesic and antipyretic effects.
Hydrocodone is an opioid agonist that binds to mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system to reduce pain, while acetaminophen (APAP) inhibits prostaglandin synthesis to provide additional analgesic and antipyretic effects. Used for Moderate to moderately severe pain.
At a glance
| Generic name | hydrocodone/APAP |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Lortab, Vicodin |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development |
| Drug class | Opioid analgesic combination |
| Target | Mu opioid receptor (hydrocodone); COX inhibitor (acetaminophen) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Pain Management |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Hydrocodone acts as a mu opioid receptor agonist, modulating pain perception and emotional response to pain in the brain and spinal cord. Acetaminophen works through a separate mechanism, inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes and reducing prostaglandin production, which contributes to pain relief and fever reduction. The combination provides synergistic analgesia for moderate to moderately severe pain.
Approved indications
- Moderate to moderately severe pain
Common side effects
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Respiratory depression
- Physical dependence
Key clinical trials
- Nonopioid Analgesia After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Post-operative Pain Management in Children With Supracondylar Humerus Fractures (PHASE4)
- SCHF Post-Op Study Between Opioid and Non-Opioid Pain Management (PHASE4)
- Cold and Compression Post TKA (NA)
- Connective Tissue Matrix Compared to Steroid Injections for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy (NA)
- An Artificial Intelligence Driven Approach to Optimize Patient Selection for a Transitional Pain Service (PHASE3)
- Opioid Analgesic Reduction Study (PHASE3)
- Postoperative Pain Management in Rhinoplasty (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- hydrocodone/APAP CI brief — competitive landscape report
- hydrocodone/APAP updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- VA Office of Research and Development portfolio CI