Uses for Zydone: An Overview
Zydone is approved to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It is not appropriate for severe pain, since stronger medications are usually necessary, or for mild pain, since non-narcotic medications are usually sufficient.
It is typically used to treat short-term pain due to an injury, surgery, or dental procedure. Occasionally, the drug is used to treat chronic pain,
migraines, or other types of recurring, long-term conditions that cause pain. Zydone is often used (or rather, abused) inappropriately, as it contains a narcotic medication.
Zydone contains two different medications:
acetaminophen and
hydrocodone bitartrate. Acetaminophen ("APAP") is a pain reliever and fever reducer commonly found in non-prescription medications such as
Tylenol®. APAP is an acronym for one of the chemical names of acetaminophen.
Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic, opioid pain reliever that is similar to codeine. It is effective at decreasing pain and relieving coughing, but also causes drowsiness, mood changes, and mental "clouding." In the United States, hydrocodone is only available in combination with other medications; it is not available alone. Combining hydrocodone with acetaminophen helps improve Zydone's effectiveness at relieving pain.
