What is Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Aspirin is in a group of drugs called salicylates (sa-LIS-il-ates). It works by reducing substances in the body that cause pain, fever, and inflammation.

Hydrocodone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers.

The combination of aspirin and hydrocodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Aspirin and hydrocodone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Hydrocodone may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person this medicine was prescribed for. This medication should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

Aspirin should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Aspirin can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye’s syndrome in children.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin or hydrocodone, or if you have:

• a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia; or
• an allergy to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before you take aspirin and hydrocodone, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart disease, high blood pressure, or congestive heart failure
• liver or kidney disease
• a stomach or intestinal disorder, history of stomach ulcer or bleeding
• diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics
• asthma or other breathing disorders
• an enlarged prostate or problems with urination
• seizures or epilepsy
• a history of head injury or brain tumor; or
• mental illness or a history of drug or alcohol addiction

FDA pregnancy category C. Hydrocodone may cause breathing problems and addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Aspirin may be harmful to an unborn baby’s heart, and may also reduce birth weight or have other dangerous effects. Do not take aspirin and hydrocodone during pregnancy unless your doctor has told you to.

Aspirin and hydrocodone may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medication.

Alor 5/500 Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• confusion, hallucinations
• weak or shallow breathing
• feeling like you might pass out
• hearing problems, ringing in your ears
• seizures (convulsions)
• black, bloody, or tarry stools
• coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or
• nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, constipation
• upset stomach, heartburn
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, depression
• dry mouth; or
• feeling restless or excited (especially in children)

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Alor 5/500 Interactions

What other drugs affect Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, Symbyax), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), or venlafaxine (Effexor). Taking any of these drugs with aspirin may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by aspirin and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other narcotic pain medicine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• naltrexone (Vivitrol)
• plicamycin (Mithracin)
• valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor)
• vancomycin (Vancocin)
• zidovudine (Retrovir)
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
• diabetes medications you take by mouth
• gout medications such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
• aspirin or other salicylates such as Backache Relief Extra Strength, Novasal, Nuprin Backache Caplet, Doan’s Pills Extra Strength, Tricosal, and others
• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate)
• medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), anistreplase (Eminase), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and urokinase (Abbokinase); or
• medication to decrease the acidity of urine, such as sodium bicarbonate, potassium citrate (K-Lyte, Urocit-K), sodium citrate and citric acid (Bicitra, Oracit), or sodium citrate and potassium (Citrolith, Polycitra)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with aspirin and hydrocodone. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Do not use any other over-the-counter medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Aspirin is contained in many medicines available over the counter. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much aspirin. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains aspirin.

Avoid taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) while you are taking aspirin and hydrocodone, unless your doctor tells you to. NSAIDs include diclofenac (Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.

Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking this medication. Alcohol may increase your risk of drowsiness or stomach bleeding while taking aspirin and hydrocodone.

Alor 5/500 Dosage

How should I take Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Tell your doctor if the medicine seems to stop working as well in relieving your pain.

Aspirin and hydrocodone should be taken with food or a full glass of water to avoid stomach upset.

Drink 6 to 8 full glasses of water daily to help prevent constipation while you are taking aspirin and hydrocodone. Ask your doctor about ways to increase the fiber in your diet. Do not use a stool softener (laxative) without first asking your doctor.

This medication can cause you to have false results with certain medical tests, including urine glucose (sugar) tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using aspirin and hydrocodone.

If you need to have any type of medical or dental surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking aspirin and hydrocodone. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not stop using aspirin and hydrocodone suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when you stop using this medication.

Store aspirin and hydrocodone at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Do not take this medication if it has a strong vinegar odor. Call your pharmacist for instructions.

Keep track of how many tablets have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Hydrocodone is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I overdose on Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.An overdose of aspirin and hydrocodone can be fatal.

Overdose can cause dizziness, confusion, extreme drowsiness, sweating, ringing in your ears, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, cold and clammy skin, blue lips or fingernails, slow or rapid heart rate, pinpoint pupils, fainting, seizure (convulsions), weak or shallow breathing, or breathing that stops.

What happens if I miss a dose of Alor 5/500 (Aspirin Hydrocodone)?

Since aspirin and hydrocodone is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Edited from everydayhealth.com