(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for severe and long-lasting (chronic) pain.
This new treatment is found under the brand name Vantrela ER. It's an extended-release tablet that contains hydrocodone bitartrate.
This medication has been approved to treat pain severe enough to require taking an opioid medication (a type of painkiller) every day, around-the-clock and for long periods of time. It was also approved for those who have not found pain relief from other treatment options.
Vantrela ER (hydrocodone bitartrate) was designed to make misuse and abuse difficult when administered by mouth, into the nose or into the vein.
Common side effects of hydrocodone bitartrate include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, itching and dry mouth. This medication can also cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking this medication until you know how it affects you.
Vantrela ER carries a boxed warning regarding addiction, abuse and misuse, as well as respiratory depression and accidental ingestion. It also has a boxed warning that notes withdrawal symptoms when taken during pregnancy and risks when taken with certain medications that work on the central nervous system, such as anxiety medications.
Drinking alcohol while taking pain medicine like hydrocodone bitartrate may be dangerous and can be fatal.
This medication is not safe for everyone, including for those with severe asthma, trouble breathing or other lung problems, as well as those with a bowel blockage or narrowing of the stomach or intestines.
Vantrela ER (hydrocodone bitartrate) is manufactured by Teva.
