Lortab, as mentioned, is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain. Since it is a combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen, it can take care of pain in two different ways. 

Hydrocodone is an opioid. Opioids are a class of drugs that relieve pain bypassing the blood-brain barrier and attaching to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system. When this happens, the drug slows operations of the central nervous system, including respiration, but can also provide pain relief, relaxation, and sedation.

As with other opioids, hydrocodone can also create a sense of euphoria or well-being when it’s taken, particularly in higher doses, and this is one of the reasons it has a potential for addiction and abuse. Opioids combat pain by releasing dopamine, which is a feel-good brain chemical, and once that happens, the brain wants to continue seeking out the substance that led to that.

When a person takes opioids exactly as directed, there is a reduced potential for addiction, but it is still a risk.

The acetaminophen in Lortab, which is also the same as brand-name Tylenol, is added to increase strength and effectiveness. Rather than altering how someone perceives pain, as is what happens with oxycodone, acetaminophen alters pain signals, so it’s like a dual effect to combat pain. That’s one of the reasons combination drugs such as Lortab are so widely prescribed.

Lortab is available in a liquid, frequently referred to as Lortab elixir.

When taking Lortab, it’s critical that a person follows the instructions for a few different reasons. First, there is the risk of addiction that comes with the use of any opioid. There’s also the risk of an opioid overdose. 

Since opioids like hydrocodone slow the central nervous system, they can slow breathing to the point that a person slips into a coma or dies.

There’s also a third level of risk with Lortab, and that’s what comes with the use of acetaminophen. This component of Lortab isn’t addictive, but it can lead to severe liver damage. Some of the risks of liver damage from the use of acetaminophen include taking too much in a 24-hour period or drinking alcohol while using Lortab.