Painkillers have become pretty common. With so many medicines available in the market, people can easily prevent or cure headaches, body aches, pain from injuries, etc. Two of these medicines are Vicodin and Lortab, both of which are opioids and are only consumed if prescribed.
Vicodin vs Lortab
The main difference between Vicodin and Lortab is that Vicodin is a medicine available in only tablet form whereas Lortab is a medicine available in only liquid form. Both Vicodin and Lortab have common ingredients including hydrocodone and acetaminophen. If not taken in the prescribed dosage, the two can be addictive.
Vicodin medicines are used for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Vicodin is a combination of narcotic hydrocodone and non-narcotic acetaminophen and they collectively work inside the body for relief. Vicodin is only available on prescription and in the form of tablets only.
Lortab medicines are used for the relief of severe pain. Lortab is a combination of narcotic hydrocodone and non-narcotic acetaminophen. Lortab is only available on medical prescriptions and in the form of liquid syrup only. The dosage depends on many factors including condition, age, etc.
Comparison Table Between Vicodin and Lortab
| Parameters of Comparison | Vicodin | Lortab |
| Other names | Also known as Hydrocodone/Paracetamol | Also known as Hydrocodone/APAP. |
| Form | Available in tablets only. | Available in liquid syrup only. |
| Bioavailability | More than 80%. | Approximately around 80%. |
| Preferred by | People who carry their medicines. | People who have trouble inhaling tablets. |
| Recommended Dosage | 1 to 2 tablets every four to six hours. | 11.25 milliliters every 4 to 6 hours. |
What is Vicodin?
Vicodin is also known as Hydrocodone/Paracetamol. Originally, Vicodin is a brand that produces this medicine but the medicine itself stands out by the brand’s name as many brands are producing the same medicine in mass quantity. Vicodin is a painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain. IT is a combination of two ingredients including hydrocodone and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is an opioid which means that it has addictive properties. On the other hand, acetaminophen is a non-opioid substance. Vicodin is available in tablets only.
Vicodin medicines come in different strengths including the standard Vicodin 5mg, Vicodin ES with additional strength, and Vicodin HP with high potency. All variations of Vicodin include a constant amount of 300 milligrams acetaminophen and 5 milligrams, 7.5 milligrams, 10 milligrams hydrocodone respectively. Vicodin is only allowed to be consumed on medical prescription and the dosage depends on the severity of pain
Some common side effects of Vicodin consumption include dizziness, anxiety, nausea, drowsiness, headache, etc. Since Vicodin is available in tablet form only, it is mostly preferred by people who carry their medicines as tablets are easier to carry than liquid medicines. Vicodin is not recommended for people who already have a drug, smoking, or alcohol addiction.
What is Lortab?
Lortab is also known as Hydrocodone/APAP. Just like Vicodin, Lortab is also the brand name but it is used as the name of the medicine to differentiate between the same medicines of different brands. Lortab is a painkiller used to treat severe pain. Lortab is also a combination of the same two ingredients including opioid hydrocodone and non-opioid acetaminophen.
Lortab medicine is only available in liquid form. Every tablespoon of Lortab contains about 10 milligrams of hydrocodone and 300 milligrams of acetaminophen. One dosage of this medicine is about 11.25 milliliter. Lortab also contains some amount of alcohol. Lortab is produced in large quantities for most hospitals. Since not all patients can consume the medicine in tablet form, hospitals generally prefer Lortab over Vicodin as it is easier to consume and can also be transferred through pipes. Since the medicine is liquified, a calibration device is necessary to precisely measure the prescribed amount of it.
Some common side effects of Lortab include nausea, headache, lower respiratory rates, and constipation. If not consumed in the prescribed amount, the medicine can be very addictive for a few people causing further physical and psychological problems. The right amount of dosage depends on many factors such as age, medical history, etc.
Main Differences Between Vicodin and Lortab
- Vicodin is available in the form of tablets whereas Lortab is available in form of liquid syrup only.
- The bioavailability of Vicodin is more than 80% whereas, for Lortab, it is approximately 80%.
- Vicodin’s dosage for a regular adult is about 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours. On the other hand, Lortab’s dosage is about 11.25 milliliters every 4 to 6 hours.
- Most people prefer Vicodin over Lortab as tablets are easier to carry than liquid medicines.
- Hospitals don’t generally prefer Vicodin over Lortab because liquids are easier to consume for patients as some of them might be unable to inhale tablets.
Conclusion
Painkiller medicines are pretty common and the ingredients involved are also not confidential. Therefore, the same medicines are produced by many brands in the market in different forms. Both Vicodin and Lortab are almost the same medicines with a few minor differences. These medicines of the same dosage can be interchangeably consumed by the patient.
The one and the only differentiating factor between the two medicines is in the form of availability. Vicodin is available in tablets only whereas Lortab is available only in liquid form. It depends on various factors as to which medicine is suitable for an individual. Vicodin is the more common of the two as most people keep their medicines with them and it is simply easier to store tablets than liquids. While in hospitals, Lortab is preferred as it is easier to consume by patients who have trouble inhaling tablets. Lortab can also be transferred directly into the body through pipes well.
Since the two medicines are the same, they can be used interchangeably for the same dosage. The dosage of these medicines should be accurate as anything more than the prescribed quantity is likely to create problems for an individual including addiction and a few psychological issues.
References
- https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(16)30415-9/abstract
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/article-abstract/594976