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Snorting hydrocodone is dangerous. Hydrocodone is a prescription opioid that can suppress breathing and cause an overdose. Taking it differently from the prescription also introduces risks that a prescribed dose taken as directed does not account for. MedlinePlus explains hydrocodone's medication warnings.
If someone cannot be awakened or is breathing slowly or abnormally, call 911 immediately. Give naloxone if available, following the product instructions, and stay with the person until emergency responders arrive. Do not wait for an admissions callback or assume they can sleep it off. FDA guidance on recognizing and responding to an opioid overdose explains why emergency care is still needed after naloxone.
Why is snorting hydrocodone dangerous?
There are several distinct concerns: the opioid's effects on breathing, injury from putting crushed tablets into the nose, and the other ingredients or release mechanisms in a particular medication. A prescription label does not make another route of use safe.
Breathing problems and drug interactions
Hydrocodone can cause life-threatening breathing problems. Alcohol and certain other medicines can increase the risk of severe sedation, coma, or breathing complications. Tell a clinician about everything taken, including prescriptions, nonprescription medicines, and other substances. Hydrocodone safety information describes these risks.
Damage to the nose and throat
Published clinical reports describe serious tissue injury after people snorted hydrocodone-acetaminophen tablets. A 2012 study of patients treated for these complications documented damage to the nasal cavity and throat. This study describes patients who developed complications; it does not establish how often injury occurs among everyone who misuses the medication.
Persistent nasal pain, bleeding, or other symptoms after intranasal use deserve a medical evaluation. Be direct about the medication and how it was taken so the clinician has the information needed to assess the problem.
Extended-release and combination products
Extended-release hydrocodone products must be taken intact as directed. Crushing or breaking them can cause too much medication to be released at once. MedlinePlus warns against altering these products.
Some products contain acetaminophen as well as hydrocodone. An overdose can therefore involve both opioid toxicity and liver injury. A person may survive the opioid effects and still have serious harm from acetaminophen. MedlinePlus explains why both ingredients require attention.
How to recognize a possible overdose
An opioid overdose may involve:
- A person who is unconscious or does not respond.
- Slow, shallow, or abnormal breathing.
- A limp body.
- Blue lips, gums, or fingertips.
You do not need to see every sign before calling 911. Naloxone can reverse opioid effects temporarily, but symptoms can return and additional doses may be needed. Follow the product instructions and emergency dispatcher's guidance, and remain with the person. The FDA's overdose guidance explains these steps.
For a medication exposure or possible poisoning without immediately life-threatening symptoms, U.S. Poison Help is available at 1-800-222-1222. Keep the medication packaging available if possible. MedlinePlus provides poisoning guidance.
Getting help for ongoing hydrocodone use
You can ask for help without deciding on a diagnosis first. Tell the clinician what you take, how often, how you take it, and whether you have trouble cutting back. Include pain concerns, previous treatment, other medications, and any mental health symptoms. These details help the team assess your needs without relying on assumptions about one behavior.
Treatment for opioid use disorder can include medication, counseling, and recovery support. SAMHSA identifies buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone as FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder. The appropriate option depends on an individual assessment; this list is not a promise that every medication is offered at every facility. SAMHSA describes treatment options.
If you take hydrocodone regularly, discuss stopping with your prescriber rather than making an abrupt change on your own. Withdrawal can occur after suddenly stopping. MedlinePlus advises speaking with your doctor.
Treatment options at Ambrosia
Ambrosia's admissions team can discuss your concerns and the next step in an assessment. Depending on your needs, that conversation may include medical detox, medication-assisted treatment, or addiction treatment. If mental health concerns are also present, ask about dual-diagnosis care.
Midwest Detox in West Palm Beach provides medically supervised detox. Ambrosia Treatment Center on Singer Island provides adult addiction and dual-diagnosis care. Families seeking help for an adolescent can explore The Academy's substance use program.
Before arranging treatment, ask which location and level of care are recommended, what the first assessment involves, and how insurance verification works. Call (888) 492-1633 for admissions questions. For a suspected overdose, call 911.