Hydromet is a combination medication that contains hydrocodone (an opioid) and homatropine (an anticholinergic). It helps ease cough in adults by lowering the urge to cough. But Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) isn't a first-choice option for this condition because it's a controlled substance and can cause serious side effects, such as trouble breathing. Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) is taken by mouth, typically every 6 hours as needed. Some common side effects of this medication include sleepiness, trouble thinking clearly, and constipation. Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) is available as a generic medication.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) is a combination of two medications:
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Hydromet contains an opioid medication (hydrocodone), which carries a risk of addiction or misuse, even at recommended doses. In serious cases, addiction and misuse of an opioid medication can lead to overdose and death.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) is typically prescribed only when cough relief outweigh these serious risks. If absolutely necessary, your healthcare professional (HCP) will prescribe the lowest amount of medication for the shortest period of time needed to treat your symptoms. Contact your HCP to discuss other options if you've taken Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) for 5 days and your cough hasn't gotten better.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can cause dangerously slow breathing, which can be life-threatening. This can happen at any time, but you're at higher risk 1 to 3 days right after you start Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine). Drinking alcohol and taking other medications, like benzodiazepines, can also raise your risk for this dangerous side effect.
You're recommended to ask your prescriber about getting naloxone, a medication that can reverse slowed breathing from opioids. You should have naloxone before you start Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) so that you can use it in case of an accidental overdose. Call 911 to get medical help right away if you or your loved one notices you have trouble breathing or have bluish-colored lips.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can cause extreme sleepiness and lower your ability to think, react, and focus. Your risk for these side effects is higher if you're taking other medications that can make you sleepy, such as benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and sleep medications.
Make sure you know how Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) affects you before driving a car or doing activities that require your concentration. Talk to your HCP right away if you feel too sleepy from the medication.
Take Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) exactly as prescribed. Taking too much medication or taking it more often than prescribed can lead to an overdose. When measuring out your dose of Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine), only use a oral syringe or a medication cup; don't use household spoons because they might not be accurate. Be sure to keep the opioid medication out of reach from children, pets, or visitors to prevent accidental exposure or overdose. Don't drink alcohol while taking Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) because doing so raises the risk for overdose.
Symptoms of an opioid overdose include not responding to sound or touch, extremely slow breathing, extreme sleepiness, slow heartbeat, and cold or clammy skin. Be sure you and your loved ones know how to recognize an overdose. Your prescriber will probably write a prescription for naloxone (Narcan), a medication that can treat an opioid overdose. Carry naloxone with you at all times; use it and call 911 right away if an overdose happens.
Additionally, anticholinergic medications can be found in some over-the-counter products, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Very rarely, taking too much anticholinergic medication can lead to side effects such as confusion, delirium, skin flushing, and fever. To prevent an accidental overdose, read package labels carefully. Ask your pharmacist if you're not sure whether a product has an anticholinergic in it.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) interacts with a lot of common medications. So it's important to tell your prescriber and pharmacist about the medications you're taking and planning to take with Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine). Your care team can check that your medications are safe to take together. Also talk to your care team first before making any changes to your medications because sudden dose adjustments can also lead to harm.
Some interactions can raise the level of hydrocodone in your body. This can raise your risk for serious side effects, including potentially life-threatening slowed breathing. Examples of medications that can lead to this type of interaction with Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) include erythromycin, ketoconazole, and ritonavir (Norvir).
Other drug interactions can lower the levels of hydrocodone in your body. This can cause the opioid to work less well for you and possibly lead to withdrawal symptoms. These interactions include taking Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) with rifampin (Rifadin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol).
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can be transferred to your unborn baby if you take this medication during pregnancy. Long-term opioid use during pregnancy can cause your unborn baby to become dependent on the medication.
Once your baby is born, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as high-pitched crying, poor feeding and sucking behavior, trembling, irritability, abnormal sleep patterns, and seizures. This condition is called neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated in time. Let your healthcare team know if you've used Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) during pregnancy or if you notice these symptoms in your baby.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can cause extremely low blood pressure. Your blood pressure might drop when you stand from a sitting or lying down position. This can lead to dizziness and fainting. To avoid falling, get up slowly if you've been sitting or lying down. Talk to your HCP if any dizziness or lightheadedness doesn't go away.
Some people taking opioid medications like Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) have had low adrenal hormone levels. This might be more likely to happen after taking opioids for longer than 1 month. Symptoms include tiredness, dizziness, weakness, not feeling hungry, nausea, and vomiting. Tell your HCP if you have these symptoms. If your adrenal hormone levels are too low, you might need to stop Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) and be treated with corticosteroids.
Opioids such as hydrocodone can raise the risk of having seizures more often in people who have had seizures in the past. Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can also raises your risk of seizures in certain situations. Get medical help right away if you have a seizure while you're taking this medication.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) can cause your gut movement to slow and can lead to constipation or bowel obstruction. This medication shouldn't be taken by people who already have bowel obstruction or conditions related to gut movement. To lower your risk of constipation, drink enough fluids and eat foods that are rich in fiber, such as broccoli, apples, almonds. Get medical attention right away if you experience symptoms related to bowel obstruction, such as serious stomach pains, bloating, or nausea.
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Bladder pain
bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
bloody or cloudy urine
body aches or pain
chills
difficult or labored breathing
difficult, burning, or painful urination
ear congestion
fear or nervousness
frequent urge to urinate
headache
loss of voice
lower back or side pain
rapid weight gain
tightness in the chest
tingling of the hands or feet
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusual weight gain or loss
Incidence not known
Agitation
darkening of the skin
difficulty swallowing
fast heartbeat
loss of appetite
mental depression
overactive reflexes
poor coordination
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
restlessness
shivering
talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
trembling or shaking
twitching
vomiting
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Blue lips and fingernails
blurred vision
change in consciousness
chest pain or discomfort
cold and clammy skin
confusion
constricted pupil (black part of the eye)
coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
decreased awareness or responsiveness
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
increased sweating
irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
pale skin
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
slow or irregular heartbeat
weak muscle tone
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Difficulty having a bowel movement
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) will likely start to relieve your cough within a few hours after your dose. But if your cough doesn't get better within 5 days of starting Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine), let your care team know. This is likely a sign that Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) won't work well for you and continuing this medication will only raise your risk for dependence and other serious side effects, like dizziness and trouble breathing. Your healthcare team can examine you to see if there are better options to treat your cough.
It takes about a day for most of Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) to leave your body after a single dose. This time frame is estimated based on the half-life of the medication. It might differ from person to person based on other factors, such as genetics and whether or not you have kidney problems.
Yes. Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) is a combination medication that includes an opioid called hydrocodone. The other ingredient in this combination medication is homatropine, which is an anticholinergic medication.
Yes. Hydromet contains hydrocodone, an opioid that can habit-forming. Because of this, Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) has a black box warning for risk of addiction and dependence and is a schedule II controlled substance, just like other opioids. To lower the risk for addiction and dependence, take Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) exactly as prescribed to you. Your HCP will also prescribe the lowest dose for the shortest period of time needed to treat your condition.
Ibuprofen (Advil) doesn't have any known interactions with Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine). But keep in mind that ibuprofen (Advil) isn't safe for everyone. For example, it's not a good option for people with certain medical conditions, such as heart failure or kidney problems. Before you take ibuprofen (Advil) with Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine), speak with a healthcare professional or pharmacist to make sure it's safe for you to take them together.
Speak with your healthcare professional (HCP) to make sure it's safe for you to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine). Acetaminophen (Tylenol) doesn't have any major interactions with Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine). But acetaminophen (Tylenol has has a risk for causing liver problems, so it's not the best choice for everyone.
Yes, sleepiness is a common side effect of opioids like the hydrocodone in Hydromet. Let your healthcare team know if you're taking other medications that make you sleepy, such as benzodiazepines or muscle relaxants. Also, avoid alcohol because it can worsen sleepiness (as well as other side effects). Make sure to avoid driving or doing anything that requires concentration until you know how Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) affects you.
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 473ml of 5mg/1.5mg/5ml | 120 ml | $14.41 | $0.12 |
Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) liquid
Each 5 mL of solution contains 5 mg of hydrocodone and 1.5 mg of homatropine.
Adults: The typical starting dose is 5 mL by mouth every 6 hours as needed. Your primary care provider (PCP) will typically ask you to take the lowest dose for the shortest time needed to manage your cough.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Hydromet (hydrocodone / homatropine) will not be safe for you to take.