Generic Name: Zohydro ER (hydrocodone)
For Pain "I would give this medicine 20 stars if I could. Finally a time release version of hydrocodone without any acetaminophen. I have been taking Norco 10/325 for a little over a year and it was starting to have little to no effect for my chronic back pain. I was always in constant fear about getting bumped up to oxycodone due to the Norcos not working anymore but then Zohydro comes along and changes the game! No side effects whatsoever for me and I'm getting a good 12 hrs of pain relief per dose! Another positive note is that I'm only taking 2 pills per day rather than taking 4-5 Norcos, and with the absence of acetaminophen I don't have to worry about damage to my liver anymore. THANK YOU ZO-HYDRO!"
For Pain "I am suffering from arachnoiditis of the thoracic spine due to 2 arachnoid cyst surgeries. Zohydro is far superior at lowering pain levels. It also does not upset my intestines or cause liver damage. In terms of pain reduction, it is the best pain reliever ever. It also does not have the ups and downs in regards to pain levels that Norco has. It is about time that a hydrocodone-only medication has been offered, and I really hope that the special interest lawmakers don't get their way, and this medication remains on the market."
For Pain "Suffering with chronic pain from debilitating spinal injuries, I was always prescribed Acetaminophen-containing hydrocodone. I was always getting bad acid reflux and digestive problems. I would explain this to my original pain management Dr., and he would switch me from Vicodin to Percocet. The constant stomach issues continued. I switched to a new Pain Dr. I told him I was feeling fatigue and constant acid reflux when taking my pain medicines. He suggested trying a time-released pain medicine with no acetaminophen. He felt I was taking too much Acetaminophen and perhaps too many pills, period (4 pills a day). He suggested trying Zohydro. I am forever grateful I switched. Great relief of back pain and stomach problems. 10 stars."
For Pain "I have chronic arthritis and have for 25 years. Believe me, I have tried everything. Finally, a pain clinic doctor put me on Zohydro, and I have my life back. I can't tell you how much it helps. Please don't let anything happen to where FDA takes this drug away. Why do the druggies have to ruin it for the people that are in pain always. Thank you Zohydro...thank you.."
For Pain "My doctor put me on this after my blood test came back showing signs of liver problems from the Vicodin I was taking. I'm actually much more satisfied with Zohydro. It only needs to be taken once daily instead of four times. I feel more consistent pain relief without the spikes and valleys of the other. Wish it would have been available sooner. I could have avoided the possible liver damage I now have to deal with."
For Pain "I have horrible arthritis pain for many years... tried everything. I've been on Vicodin (10mg) 4 a day for about 6 years. Finally, a pain clinic doctor gave me Zohydro (40mg) 2 a day. I would say I am 80 percent pain-free. Overall quality of life has changed. No more ups and downs. I have to remind myself to take the second pill. Thanks ZOHYDRO!"
For Pain "I have been taking Zohydro for two months now for a herniated disc in my back. I was taking Norco three times a day, but it would always wear off, and with my liver condition, I was not keen on the acetaminophen that is in Norco. I can now go through my day pain-free! I hope all the naysayers leave us chronic pain patients alone!"
For Pain "After three years of taking oxycodone 10 ER and oxycodone 5 IR for three cervical anterior and posterior with instrumentation, I asked my spine doctor to change me to Zohydro ER. The oxy was making me sick to my stomach, and I was dizzy and tired. I have to report that after a few months on the Zohydro ER, I was able to transition to not only getting off the oxy but I am almost pill-free and pain-free. I am so grateful for Zohydro ER. I was afraid I was getting addicted to the oxycodone, and with the Zohydro ER, I had no feeling of euphoria. I am so grateful. Thank you for giving me back my life."
For Pain "I have chronic back and neck pain from 2 car accidents. I was rear-ended. Had to have a 3-level cervical fusion with a titanium plate 5 years ago. I was on Exalgo 8 mg, with Dilaudid or Norco for breakthrough pain. Norco always worked better for breakthrough pain, but didn't like being forced to take acetaminophen that's in Norco. Just switched to 10 mg Zohydro 2x/day. Side effects were headache, nausea, and a knot in my stomach, which lasted the first 1-2 hours. My doctor gave me Zofran for nausea, which worked. My pain control is great! I am also sleeping much better. I do take some Norco for breakthrough, but it's so much better! This is day 3, and side effects seem to be gone! Great medicine. Need to get the coupon working for me. Thanks, Zohydro!"
For Pain "I was taking Norco 10mg 4x a day but it wore off so fast. I asked the doctor for an increase of 20mg. He suggested 20mg Zohydro twice a day and 20 mg Norco for breakthrough pain. The medicine is pricey, and I had to give it up this month. I am shopping for price comparisons, and I have the company coupon that will get $250 off. I didn't realize how effective it was until I gave it up. How stupid I was! This stuff covers me from getting out of bed until it runs out, which is about 8 hours later, so I probably need to move up to the 30s. I have an appointment in a few days, and I am going to tell my doc to keep the Norco's and just adjust my Zohydro, and I will rob banks to pay for it. I had my life back for a while. I miss it."
For Pain "I have only taken Zohydro ER today. After 5 years of constant pain due to a back injury and R.A. today is the first day I have been pain-free. I can actually enjoy sitting up watching TV pain-free. Just 24 hours ago, my pain was so bad it ruled my life. Thanks to Zohydro ER, I see a light at the end of a very, very long tunnel. The only side effect I have experienced today is I have had spells of being a bit sick to my stomach. But I do think being pain-free outweighs that."
For Pain "Beginning month 2 of Zohydro. Cannot believe the negative press! It is a long overdue blessing to chronic pain sufferers. I have multiple back issues and surgeries. The Norco 4x a day was causing about as much issue with my stomach and intestines as helping with pain. Finally asked, is there an option? Pain clinic Dr. said good results with Zohydro! As we are adjusting the dosage, I take 5 mg of Norco for breakthrough pain, but consider that temporary. Me, my back, and stomach are much better with much more level pain relief. Thanks again!"
For Pain "I was switched from Norco 5 mg 4 times daily to Zohydro ER 10 mg 2 times daily with Norco 5 mg 2 times daily for breakthrough pain. I tore my ACL several years ago and decided to finally have surgery. It has been many years of restless, painful nights of trying to sleep. Since starting the Zohydro, my knee no longer has that constant ache that doesn't go away. I can walk on my knee and do hours of activity without my knee being in pain. I have been on Zohydro for about 3 months. My next visit we will be doing an increase, which hopefully will mean less breakthrough pain medication. Zohydro ER does work for chronic pain. Very grateful for this medication!!"
For Pain "I was taking OxyContin 20 with oxycodone 15 for breakthrough qid for severe back pain/spinal stenosis. Previous surgery 30 years ago and no known surgery to help except the experimental approaches with cages to lift. I'm in the business, so not interested. Anyway, knowing my pharmacology, I moved from OxyContin (4 hours half-life) to Zohydro (8 hours half-life). And, it's spot on. Neither is a true BID drug, but Zohydro comes close and gives you maybe 6-7 hours of good sleep, and if you wake up with breakthrough, take an oxycodone, wait 45 minutes, and go back to bed. Don't take another Zohydro. Fairly flexible. Really works well for me. So much better than force-fitting a TID or even a QID OxyContin as a BID. Look at the pharmacodynamics please."
For Pain "I have been taking Zohydro now for about 3 months, and what a difference it has made. My doctor will be increasing the dosage from the 20 mg to the 40 mg because I still take hydrocodone for breakthrough pain, and the Zohydro doesn't quite take the pain away at the current 20 mg. I started at a lower dose to see if there were any reactions to the medication, and to date, I have had none. It doesn't last the 12 hours as it says, but that has been the case with any time-released meds that I have tried due to my metabolism. It is hard to find, and CVS Pharmacy has paperwork that their corporate office has to have completed before they will fill the prescription, and that can take a month. Insurance did cover it after a formulary exemption was filed."
For Pain "I just started taking Zohydro ER 15 mg 2 X's per day. I've got to say, so far it seems to be working pretty well. I have had two very significant car wrecks since 2004. The second wreck was in 2012 and was pretty much a career ender. I have been taking Norco, various doses (usually 7.5/325 and 10/325) 'off & on' for approximately 12 years. I know, a long time, right?! That said, I believe, speaking only for myself, that I am pretty aware of the effects and feelings of hydrocodone. That once warm, euphoric feeling is long gone; but now the euphoria comes from a greatly improved quality of life, rather than the drug itself... I probably need to increase to 40 mg doses. But Zohydro is 'spot on.' Terrific for long-acting relief."
For Pain "I have just started this yesterday. I was in a hit-and-run accident that changed my life. It took over 2 years alone to finally walk as little as 25 ft with devices. I did every kind of therapy, pain medicines, patches, injections, etc. I would get some relief, but side effects prevent any return to normal routines or withstanding activities with family. My pain has truly limited my social and family life. Norco never lasts long enough, and the GI upset was bad enough to warrant the need for continuously trying to tweak the regimen. Having had a career and college degrees, I have resigned to give in to the constraints of chronic pain. I have only taken 2 pills so far, but it seems to be helping better, with fewer doses. I will post again in 1 week."
For Pain "It takes about 2 hours to start working, so it's definitely a long-acting medication. It says it lasts for 12 hours, but it only lasts 7 for me, every time, without fail. I cannot just take the Zohydro ER, but I need to take my rescue medication, or else be miserable for 2 hours before it works. It gives you constipation sometimes, even if you drink a ton of water. It seems to be weak pain relief. I wish it could work better and last longer. My doctor is switching me to a different ER pain medication now."
For Pain "I've been on this medication for about 4 months now, and I can honestly say it has helped in giving me my life back. I have stage IV endometriosis, a bulging disc that's pressing on nerves in my L4-L5, sciatica, and cervical pain. Before this medication, I was on Nucynta ER, which was crap. I now go to a great pain doctor who promised me that I will get my life back, and they have kept their promise. I take Zohydro 15 mg 2x per day, and Narco 750 for breakthrough, and Flexeril at night. I am now able to sleep at night and make it through the days mostly. I pay a $15 copay because of a prescription card and insurance. My insurance denied it at first, but my doctor advocated for me to them, and they now cover it. I hope this helps someone."
For Pain "My pain doctor put me on Zohydro after I tried Hysingla (worked great for a couple of weeks, then only lasted about 8-12 hours - which can't work for a once every 24-hour medicine) and after I had been on Percocet and hydrocodone at varying dosages and frequencies. I've had chronic back pain for 5+ years. I'm so glad I got to try this medicine, it has changed my life. It's very expensive ($300+ per prescription before meeting my deductible), but it's totally worth it in my mind. It doesn't give you the annoying 'high' that you get from short-acting pain medication, no fuzzy thoughts, no exhaustion. Medicine usually lasts the prescribed 12 hours and takes about 50-80% pain level away."
For Pain "Suffering from a back injury since 2001. Over a couple of years, nerve damage on the left side started. Surgery was done, L4 and L3 were removed and replaced with an artificial substance. Cage over spine with 4 screws. Limited back movement. I'm in constant pain always. Last meds were OxyContin and Percocet for breakthrough. Put on Zohydro ER, 30 mg. It's not working. It's only been about 3 weeks. Asking the doctor to put me back on previous meds. It was a job-related injury."
For Pain "I am a chronic pain sufferer and am allergic to most pain medications. Zohydro 40 mg ER works wonders for me. I take it twice per day, with one 10 mg hydrocodone for breakthrough pain relief. My situation is so serious that at times, I've wanted to die. The pain is just that bad, but now I'm getting relief, it sort of levels it off, and my ability to function without the constant thought of hurting is greater. It's an absolute pain reliever."
For Pain "I suffer from chronic TMJ, I can't eat apples, steak, most foods that require you to open your mouth, or my jaw will emit a loud bone-breaking-sounding CRACK followed by waves of intense pain WAY beyond the acceptable threshold. I'm only 33. An MRI, CTScan, several X-Rays, and worthless visits to "Specialists" did nothing but empty my bank account and receive the news that I have "two displaced discs in my face, and there's nothing we can do." I was about to give up then said heck with it and sought out a pain specialist. She witnessed the horrific noise, saw the X-rays and surgeon notes, and immediately put me on ZoHydro 20mg (twice a day) and thinking my woes were addressed, then they reformulated it and it's like taking aleve."
For Pain "I had a bad car wreck in 2011, which caused chronic back pain. I have had five surgeries, which ended up putting in a spinal cord stimulator. That helps with nerve pain, but not back pain so much. I eventually was put on Zohydro 40 mg about one year ago. He first tried 30 mg, but upped it after a month or so to be covered better. It has been a wonderful medicine to help me have a productive life. I still use (3) Norco 5 mg/325 mg for breakthrough pain a day. Looking at possibly moving to Zohydro 50 mg next month as pain has slowly increased more lately. But all in all, it has been a great drug and has helped me live a productive life with chronic pain. The SCS also has helped tremendously. It is very expensive before meeting my deductible ($500)."
For Pain "My doctor prescribed 10mg once or twice a day to address some nasty sciatic pain. Maybe the dosage is low, but it really had no discernible effect on the pain after several days usage. I don't want another expensive shot to deal with it either. I have had two, and they only provided about one week of relief, while costing me plenty even with insurance."
Hysingla ER, Vantrela ER
Hysingla ER
