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Can Hydrocodone And Tylenol Be Taken Together?
Question: I am suffering from trigeminal neuralgia and have been prescribed tegretrol . No relief! Hydrocodone with Tylenol provides relief. Why can't I take both?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern, the pain from trigeminal neuralgia is really intense.
The reasons your doctors do not want you to take Hydrocodone with Tylenol is two fold. First there is an interaction between Hydrocodone and Tegretol, Tegretol alters Hydrocodone metabolism. As a result you might need to take higher doses of Hydrocodone and if you happen not to take Tegretol, hydrocodone values can rise in a dangerous manner.
Second reason is not about taking them together, but about Hydrocodone in general. It is an opioid, so it has potential to become addictive, create tolerance (need to raise dose) and dosage. So in general opioids are not preferred for regular pain treatment.
However if Tegretol is not effective for you something must be done, either try a different medication (such as Lamotrigine or Baclofen), or consider invasive procedures such as gamma knife surgery, percutaneous procedures or microvascular decompression (depending on MRI imaging information).
If there are no alternatives then it may be considered using Hydrocodone with Tylenol as a last resort.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern, the pain from trigeminal neuralgia is really intense.
The reasons your doctors do not want you to take Hydrocodone with Tylenol is two fold. First there is an interaction between Hydrocodone and Tegretol, Tegretol alters Hydrocodone metabolism. As a result you might need to take higher doses of Hydrocodone and if you happen not to take Tegretol, hydrocodone values can rise in a dangerous manner.
Second reason is not about taking them together, but about Hydrocodone in general. It is an opioid, so it has potential to become addictive, create tolerance (need to raise dose) and dosage. So in general opioids are not preferred for regular pain treatment.
However if Tegretol is not effective for you something must be done, either try a different medication (such as Lamotrigine or Baclofen), or consider invasive procedures such as gamma knife surgery, percutaneous procedures or microvascular decompression (depending on MRI imaging information).
If there are no alternatives then it may be considered using Hydrocodone with Tylenol as a last resort.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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