I have been taking 3 to 10..10/325 norco a day for the past 2 months..will I have heart or liver problems?

Question by Aaron B: I have been taking 3 to 10..10/325 norco a day for the past 2 months..will I have heart or liver problems?
I just want to know if taking this amount of hydrocodone will affect my health long term? I don’t show any signs of liver toxicity, but I am really worried that it will cause me to have a heart attack later in life. We had a family friend die of a heart attack from years of drinking and pain medication abuse. I have taken pain meds on and off for the past two years, but recently I have developed an addiction to norco 10/325. I take anywhere from 4 to 12 pills a day and I am worried I will have heart complications later in life. On a side note I have decided that I am going to stop doing this for a number of reasons and today is my first day going sober. I know the next couple of days are going to be filled with withdrawal symptoms, should I take a half of a pill to alleviate that or just go cold turkey? Please respond respectfully and thoughtfully as this is a very difficult time for me in my life, I need to stop this because I want to be a good husband and father in the future and this is really something that could kill me if I don’t stop now.
I should add that I workout aerobically 3-4 times at pretty high intensity every week. I know that an active lifestyle leads to good cardiovascular health which will also factor into my question…

Best answer:

Answer by JDDO
It is not the “10” (hydrocodone) in the Norco you need to be worried about – it is the “325” which represents the amount of acetaminophen (Tylenol) in the medication. And yes, taking as much as you are can cause serious problems, especially in the liver.

The liver is a wonderfully forgiving organ. It takes a great deal of abuse and can repair itself to some extent before showing any signs or symptoms of damage, but once the damage is done, it is bad. A toxic dose of Tylenol can be as little as 4000mg. That is a single dose, but you are coming pretty close to that every single day!

I am not trying to be too dramatic but liver failure is a terrible way to die, and people who abuse medications or are active alcoholics don’t stand a very good chance at getting a transplant.

Here’s the thing with narcotics. You CAN go cold-turkey safely, but you will feel like crap. There are other medications as well as alcohol where cold-turkey can be dangerous, but with hydrocodone you can do it. I tell patients that the symptoms of withdrawal from narcotics are like the flu, only 5-times worse…but you have to do it. There are also hotlines and places to get help. If you are getting these meds from a doctor, go to that individual and talk to them about help. One of the toughest things you’ll ever do, but in some ways probably one of the most rewarding.
Good Luck.

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