Can hydrocodone, apap 5/500 kill you?
Yes, this drug can kill you. There are a few different ways that it can do this. The opiate portion of the medication is the hydrocodone. Opiates are CNS (Central Nervous System) depressants. In a high enough dose hydrocodone can depress the CNS so much that breathing becomes so shallow that it stops. This, of course, is not conducive to life. The dosage in which this occurs varies among individuals. Some people can take a much higher dosage without negative effects while others have problems on lower dosages. Another way that this can kill you is the acetaminophen level. This is the 500 portion of the 5/500. This means that there is 500mg of acetaminophen in each tablet. The daily recommended dose of acetaminophen is no more than 4000mg. Exceeding this (there is debate on how much) can do permanent damage to the liver. Acute liver failure can kill within 48 hours.
