Have you found a pill labeled IP 109 and aren’t sure what it is? Or were you prescribed IP 109 pills by your doctor and want to learn more about them?
In this article, I’ll go over what IP 109 pills are and what they’re used for, the most common side effects of IP 109 pills, how they interact with other medications you might be taking or planning to take, and what risks to avoid when using IP 109 pills.
Before we get into details, take a look at the picture below to make sure that what you have is definitely an IP 109 pill. It should be white, oblong, about 15 millimeters long, and stamped with IP 109.
What IP 109 Pills Are Used For: Drug Name and Dosages
IP 109 is a 325 mg/5 mg dose of acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate.
Acetaminophen/hydrocodone is a prescription-only drug primarily used to treat pain, particularly back pain and rheumatoid arthritis, and is also sometimes used to treat coughs.
Hydrocodone is a narcotic; acetaminophen is a mild painkiller. Together, they belong to the group of medicines known as narcotic analgesics, also known as opiates, narcotics, or opioid analgesics, which are used to relieve moderate to severe and chronic pain.
IP 109 Brand Name and Manufacturers
IP 109 pills are sold by Amneal Pharmaceuticals.
Its trade names–what it’s sold as, or the name your doctor might have mentioned when they prescribed it–include Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, and, most commonly, Norco.
Common Side Effects and Warnings for IP 109 Pills
It’s important to know the side effects of any drug before taking it. These are some of the most common side effects of IP 109 pills, or Norco/Lortab/Lorcet:
- Drowsiness, lethargy
- Nausea, vomiting
- Constipation
- Dizziness
Call your doctor or 911 if you have one of these rarer, more serious side effects:
- Hives
- Swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue
- Difficulty breathing
- Lightheadedness
- Confusion
- Difficulty urinating
- Symptoms of depression or anxiety
- Mood swings
- Convulsions
- Overdose or chemical dependency
- Skin redness
- A blistering or peeling rash (a potentially fatal reaction)
- Signs of liver damage, such as jaundice, clay-colored stools, or upper right quadrant abdominal pain
Be especially careful using IP 109 pills if you have any of the following conditions or belong to any of the following demographics:
- A prior history of addiction or substance abuse
- Psychiatric disorders
- Parkinson’s disease
- Migraines
- Breathing problems or disorders, such as asthma or sleep apnea
- Kidney or liver disease or cirrhosis
- Alcoholism
- Prior brain tumors, strokes, or head injuries
- Low blood pressure
- Diarrhea, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, or bowel obstruction
- Using IP 109 pills or other narcotics can put your baby at increased risk of opioid dependency if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant.
- Risk of breathing problems may be increased if you are an older adult or if you are already ill, injured, dehydrated, or malnourished, or if you have recurrent infections.
- If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor. Narcotics can enter your breast milk and harm a nursing infant.
IP 109 Drug Interactions to Avoid
Sometimes, though a medication might be safe on its own, it can interact with other drugs to produce dangerous side effects.
Here are some of the drug interactions to avoid when it comes to IP 109 pills:
- Using alcohol, benzodiazepines (especially those like Valium, such as diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Ativan, Klonopin, Restoril, Tranxene, Versed, or Xanax), tranquilizers, or other narcotics alongside acetaminophen/hydrocodone can increase the risk of overdose or addiction.
- Any other drug that contains acetaminophen should not be taken while you’re taking Norco.
- If you take medication for depression, Parkinson’s disease, or any kind of mental illness, migraines, infections, or nausea, inform your doctor before taking IP 109 pills. You might be at risk of developing a serious condition known as serotonin syndrome, which can cause diarrhea, shivering, fever, muscle rigidity, seizures, and, if severe and untreated, death.
- Don’t take IP 109 pills if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.
Dangers of Overuse of IP 109 Pills
IP 109 pills are classified as a Schedule 2 controlled substance in the United States, according to the Controlled Substance Act (CSA).
This means that if you take them, you are at high risk for developing addiction and dependence. Be careful when taking IP 109 pills, and never take more than the recommended dose, particularly if you have a history of substance abuse or aren’t prescribed this medication.
Don’t share your IP 109 pills with anyone, especially those for whom it might be particularly habit-forming.
If you use more than the recommended dose of IP 109 pills, the results can be fatal, as hydrocodone can stop or slow your breathing.
An overdose of hydrocodone/acetaminophen can also damage your liver, possibly resulting in death. Call 911 or your medical provider if you notice signs of liver damage, such as nausea, itching, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and/or skin), dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, upper stomach pain, or loss of appetite.