# Why are HydroCodone used with Tylenol? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2017, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811 "2017-03-23T02:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/61 "2017-03-24T22:14:11Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > You’re being ridiculous. Compounding pharmacies could make special purpose pills for this if needed, I’m just proposing banning mass market use of vicodin The thing is, when there are sufficient numbers of people who need a certain compounding it makes a hell of a lot more sense to manufacture it in an actual factory rather than custom-making each prescription. As I said, there are a LOT of drugs out there, and combos, that can kill you is misused. Why are you singling this one out? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/62 "2017-03-24T22:43:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The dangers of acetaminophen toxicity were well known in 1978. If it was that dangerous it would have been moved to prescription only status. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/63 "2017-03-25T03:33:47Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > It is rare to see this much opinion and outright crap in a GQ thread. > > Aside from the cornfield, is there another repository for this kind of “stuff”? > [@DrDeth](#): > > Do you have any idea of who **Qadgop the Mercotan** is? > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > This. Both these reason. There are some very good studies showing that the combination gives greater pain relief than either separately, and mixing the two and thus punishing those ‘bad people’ who abuse it appeals to the law and order crowd.\*\* The first is demonstrated factual, the second is just my opinion.\*\* (Bolding mine) ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/64 "2017-03-25T04:34:27Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > OR - > > The ugly side of universal access to Web 2.0: > > The triumph of the “There are no facts, only opinions, and my opinions are as good as yours”. We call them “alternative facts” now. Get with the program. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/65 "2017-03-25T09:39:18Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > (Bolding mine) It’s the opinion of someone with a whole lot of experience prescribing the drug. He’s an actual doctor who talks with other doctors, so, yeah, his opinion is not crackpot. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/66 "2017-03-25T11:29:47Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > If it was that dangerous it would have been moved to prescription only status. There have been and still are people pushing for that. Indeed, in some places there are purchase restrictions limiting the number of tablets. Reye syndrome, discovered in the 60s made acetaminophen very attractive as a fever reducer for children. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/67 "2017-03-26T21:32:55Z")
There are many reasons one may want to avoid NSAIDs:[ul] [li]kidney problems (and other drugs that affect the kidneys, such as diuretics)[/li][li]bleeding problems (e.g. stomach ulcers, blood thinners, recent surgery)[/li][li]allergies[/li][li]sensitive stomach[/li][li]pregnancy[/li][li]congestive heart failure[/li][/ul] The big problem with acetaminophen is liver damage, but that usually isn’t a problem when one stays within the proper dosage. NSAIDs can cause problems in many cases even when taken with a normal dose. I suspect hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen more often simply because it’s safer for many patients. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/68 "2017-03-26T21:46:41Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > There are many reasons one may want to avoid NSAIDs:[ul] > [li]kidney problems (and other drugs that affect the kidneys, such as diuretics)[/li][li]bleeding problems (e.g. stomach ulcers, blood thinners, recent surgery)[/li][li]allergies[/li][li]sensitive stomach[/li][li]pregnancy[/li][li]congestive heart failure[/li][/ul] > > The big problem with acetaminophen is liver damage, but that usually isn’t a problem when one stays within the proper dosage. NSAIDs can cause problems in many cases even when taken with a normal dose. I suspect hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen more often simply because it’s safer for many patients. The pregnancy thing is a big deal. NSAIDS can cause placental abruption, miscarriage, and all kinds of complications. Placental abruption late in pregnancy can lead to maternal death, and it’s one reason for a woman requiring an emergency hysterectomy. Narcotics in small doses are actually safer in pregnancy than NSAIDS. I know someone who broke a bone in her hand when she was pregnant, and had it set with a local, then took Tylenol 3 for several days. She was a pharmacist, so if it had been even slightly dangerous, she would have known about it, and probably stuck to plain Tylenol. He son is a teenager now, and perfectly normal. I must have been warned verbally by my doctor not to take NAIDS at every appointment I had when I was pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/69 "2017-03-28T16:46:25Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s the opinion of someone with a whole lot of experience prescribing the drug. He’s an actual doctor who talks with other doctors, so, yeah, his opinion is not crackpot. and even if his Opinion is wrong he certainly posted a corroborated fact also. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811/70 "2017-03-28T17:15:32Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > If it was that dangerous it would have been moved to prescription only status. Like cigarettes and alcohol! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hydrocodone-used-with-tylenol/782811.md?page=3)