Can you get high on Lortab?

Yes, Lortab can get you high. But taking enough Lortab to achieve euphoric effect may cause permanent liver damage. More on the composition, use, and dangers of Lortab here.

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Yes. You can get high on Lortab.

In fact, the opiate painkiller hydrocodone found in Lortab acts on the pleasure centers of the brain and can cause feelings of euphoria.   Generally, getting high involves taking larger amounts than typically prescribed – and because Lortab contains acetaminophen, which is easy to overdose on, using Lortab to get high can be very dangerous. We review the dangers of getting high on Lortab here and invite your questions about Lortab use at the end.

What’s in Lortab?

Lortab used for analgesia contains two drugs to help with pain: the opiate hydrocodone, and acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is habit-forming, causing heavy or long-term users to develop and physical dependence, and sometimes an addiction.  How do people get addicted to hydrocodone?  By taking it other than prescribed to get high. Although the acetaminophen found in Lortab is not addictive, it does cause liver damage at fairly low doses – so it’s important to only take as much Lortab as prescribed to avoid the effects of acetaminophen overdose.

Lortab and euphoria

As an opiate, hydrocodone directly affects the pleasure centers of the brain, creating a euphoric high like other similarly structured painkillers. This effect tends to be strongest when a person is first taking Lortab and diminishes rapidly as a tolerance develops.

Lortab and central nervous system effects

Lortab depresses the central nervous system, causing side effects that include:

  • altered perception
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • sedation

In larger amounts, Lortab can cause slowed or difficult breathing, which can be life-threatening.

Mixing Lortab with other substances

Lortab is most dangerous when combined with other drugs that depress the central nervous system. Alcohol and benzodiazepines (medications used to treat anxiety or insomnia) are especially dangerous, as they also cause drowsiness and may increase the possibility of unconsciousness, coma, or respiratory arrest. Taking Lortab and ibuprofen or other NSAIDs may be possible, but check with your prescribing doctor before attempting to mix Lortab with other medications.

Getting high on Lortab

To get high on Lortab, you’d have to take a higher than therapeutic dose, especially if you’ve been using it for some time. Taking more Lortab than prescribed can cause liver damage that might not be immediately obvious, but which can be irreversible. It’s important to use Lortab responsibly and only under a doctor’s supervision because of this. Additionally, higher doses of Lortab put you at risk of Lortab overdose. Left untreated, a Lortab overdose can cause death.

In particular, high doses of hydrocodone can be very dangerous, with or without acetaminophen. An overdose on hydrocodone can cause:

  • cold and clammy skin
  • slowed breathing
  • unconsciousness or coma
  • very small, “pin prick” pupils

When do people get addicted to Lortab?

Often, people get addicted to Lortab after using it for legitimate medical reasons. Someone with a medical history of drug or alcohol abuse is more likely to become addicted to Lortab. Others develop a tolerance and have to take higher doses to manage chronic pain, which can become an addiction. There are also people who obtain Lortab illicitly or using other people’s prescriptions, who take it for the specific purpose of getting high, and the high doses used to abuse Lortab can quickly get someone addicted.

Am I addicted to Lortab?

If you need to take Lortab every day and experience withdrawals, you have a physical dependence on the drug. If you compulsively seek more of the drug and can’t function emotionally without it, physical dependence has become an addiction.

Help for Lortab abuse

Narcotics are highly addictive, and there is help available if you think that you have a problem with Lortab. First, talk to a doctor about your options for getting clean. Experts suggest medically supervised detox during withdrawal from Lortab followed by long term addiction treatment. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to therapists and support groups in your area.

After you have come off Lortab, try to avoid people, places, and situations where you know you’ll be tempted to abuse Lortab. If you’ve been taking it for a long time, don’t try to stop taking it abruptly – withdrawals are unpleasant and sometimes drive people right back into using, and sometimes they can even be dangerous.

Getting high Lortab questions

Do you still have questions about getting high on Lortab? We will be happy to try to answer all legitimate questions with a personal and prompt response. If you have a question or comment about Lortab use, please leave it here. You are not alone and we are here to help!

Reference Sources:MedLine Plus: Hydrocodone
Drug Enforcement Administration: Drug Fact Sheet: Hydrocodone
FDA Drug Safety Communication: Prescription Acetaminophen Products 
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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