The author doesn't have the facts! Hydrocodone is a cough suppressant, not used for pain relief. It has a chemical composition with elements similar or the same as cocacaine. Therefore, no evidence of cocaine abuse! Anti-anxiety medications can produce many side effects but none hamper breathing. I am well versed in psychiatric medications and have never seen such a claim! Of course the combination of two pain medications (that should never be taken together) combined with a narcotic cough suppresant can be deadly combination!! I can only assume that the two pain relievers were prescribed by different doctors. Please don't bring anti-anxietiy mediecations up unless there is medically something more of a problem what breathing problems. If anything, they enhance breathing rather than impeding it!

Actually, the author does have his facts straight, seeing how Scott Fishman, chair of UC Davis Department of Pain Medicine is the consultant. Further, as a practicing pain physician, your so called "facts" need revision. Are you actually a doctor? If you are, then you're committing gross malpractice.

Benzodiazepines do "hamper breathing" as you put it, by its sedative effects. And when combined with opioid, it certainly can lead to respiratory arrest - just ask any anesthesiologists worth his salt what would happen when one combines versed with fentanyl. Additionally, who the hell prescribes hydrocodone as a cough suppressan? It's a scheduled III opioid with good analgesic effect.

I can continue in this vein for awhile if you want me to, but seeing that your comments are totally without merits, it's really not worth my time anymore. I would suggest you go back to school and learn how opioids and its adjuvants work.

Well, she probably is "well versed in psychiatric medications".

;-)

Yes, the original poster is way off, hydrocodone is a opioid (commonly known as Vicodin) but it is used in some prescription cough syrups, as a depressent and painkiller like all opiates, it also can slow involentary actions like coughing, as well as kill the pain of a sore throat. As an aside, the hydrocodone containing cough syrup is a party favorite, popularized by the southern rap scene...ie "sippin on some syzurp".

The original poster is way off that hydrocodone is anything like cocaine. The structures are completely different as are their effects. In general, uppers mimic endogenous neurotransmitters like norepinephrin/epinephrin and all have a characteristic single benzene ring from Methamphetamine to the more complex cocaine. Opiates like hydrocodone do not, they mimic our endogenous painkillers (endorphins) and have a characteristic three joined six carbon rings (one of which is a benzene ring) joined by an oxygen that binds to a carbon on the benzene ring and a carbon on the last carbon ring forming a base structure that sort of resembles a baseball diamond.