What Is A Lethal Dose Of Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid painkiller commonly found in medications like Vicodin, Norco, and Lortab. While it’s effective for treating moderate to severe pain when used as prescribed, hydrocodone is also highly addictive and dangerous when misused. Determining an exact lethal dose of hydrocodone is difficult because fatal overdoses depend on many factors including a person’s weight, tolerance to opioids, whether other drugs are involved, and individual health conditions. There is no universally agreed-upon lethal dose that applies to everyone.

Research examining fatal hydrocodone overdoses found that the average blood concentration in lethal cases was approximately 0.47 milligrams per liter. However, this number varies widely. Some people have died from much lower concentrations while others with tolerance survived higher amounts. Because there’s no definitive lethal dose and overdose risk is unpredictable, medical experts strongly recommend only taking hydrocodone exactly as prescribed by a doctor. Taking more than prescribed, combining hydrocodone with alcohol or other drugs, or using it without a prescription significantly increases the risk of fatal overdose.

Learn more about the lethal doses of commonly abused drugs

Hydrocodone Drug Abuse Can Lead To Fatal Or Non-Fatal Overdose

Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid painkiller available as an extended-release capsule or tablet to be taken orally.

Unfortunately, medical professionals often prescribe Vicodin, a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Like other opioids, this drug is often misused for its euphoric, pain-relieving, and calming/sedation effects. Hydrocodone is a long-acting medication, meaning it works in phases to release into the bloodstream gradually after initially taking the medication. People may abuse the prescription drug by crushing and snorting it to force faster onset of effects, which can risk overdose, especially when combining it with other drugs or alcohol. Taking one or more central nervous system depressants, like Vicodin and alcohol, risks respiratory depression. When left untreated, this can be fatal.

Warning Signs Of Hydrocodone Overdose

Respiratory depression is the primary risk of hydrocodone overdose, which is characterized by slow and labored breathing. This can turn to respiratory arrest, in which breathing ceases altogether. This is potentially fatal, but those under respiratory arrest can be saved if caught early enough.

Other important warning signs of hydrocodone overdose include:

• solemn behavior
• coma
• seizure
• cold and clammy skin
• muscle weakness
• drowsiness
• narrow or wide pupils
• slow heartbeat

What To Do If Someone Overdoses On Hydrocodone

If you suspect someone is overdosing on hydrocodone, call 911 immediately—every second counts. While waiting for emergency services to arrive, administer naloxone (Narcan) if you have it available. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and restoring normal breathing. It comes as a nasal spray or injection and can be used by anyone, even without medical training. After giving naloxone, stay with the person, keep them on their side if they’re unconscious, and monitor their breathing until paramedics arrive. Even if naloxone helps and the person wakes up, they still need emergency medical care because the effects of naloxone wear off and overdose symptoms can return.

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Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff