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Thanks Stinky, by the time he posted most of this--it was really too late to do anything. If I implied rec. use of prescribed med, it was not intentional. Was surprised he took so much of something he was allergic to and lived to write about it!Quote:
Originally Posted by stinkyattic
Stinky--sorry to make u work so hard; am a noob and still learning the rules; my sincerest apology! thanks 2 ur hard work (and the other mods) this is a very resourceful site and I would feel bad to cause it a problem. I have found it a little difficult to navigate, but getting the hang and PROMISE, I WILL TRY TO DO BETTER. Almost have my legal card now. With all the reading, I AM LEARNING. Maybe a list, like most sites, to list the regulations and a box that states "I agree" would help with a dim wit like me to using new sites would help WITH RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF YOUR DEDICATION!Quote:
Originally Posted by stinkyattic
I doubt this had anything to do with the medicine being old. It might not have even been expired. Depending on your state pharmacy laws, some states require the expiration date of the medicine to be written on the prescription bottle as based on what is written on the stock bottle in the pharmacy (stock bottle meaning the big bottle the pills are sitting in on the pharmacy shelf that fill up your little prescription bottle). Other states may require an expiration date based on when the prescription was filled (sometimes 6 months from the day it was filled, sometimes a year). Some states require no information on expiration on the prescription label. Some labels have a default date on it from a year from when the prescription was filled because the system might be set up to put dates on the labels but the state doesn't require them. It's all very confusing but if you are getting a commonly prescribed drug the turnover is quick so you are getting a prescrition that might not expire for several years. Generic vicodin is commonly prescribed so there is high turnover and "fresh" pills. Expiration doesn't necessarily mean it turns rancid but that it has lost some of its effectiveness. They try to base it on if stored at ideal conditions how long before it becomes only 80% effective then factor in the fact that people often times don't store meds in ideal conditions to come up with expiration dates, not when it turns poisonous. Some drugs do suffer "major breakdowns" like aspirin which will turn to vinegar if old or stored in damp conditions but vicodin is pretty "stable." On top of all of that, they short date the expiration dates. If it says Aug of 2008 it probably really expires in May 2009 or about 9-12 months later than when they say. It's an additional factor to make sure people are getting effective medicine. Me, I take expired meds all the time I really don't care when it comes to some things, not all but some.
Don't take this as written in stone by any means or your sole source of medical advice meant to replace your doctor but most of the time if you take a narcotic pain killer and you throw up then this is falling under the category of adverse reaction and not allergy. I'll talk about the rash in a second. It is normal for many people to feel the side effect of nausea and possibly vomiting from hydrocodone (vicodin) as well as other narcotic pain killers. This doesn't necessarily mean you are allergic to the medicine but it makes you sick to your stomach.
The skin rash is a lot tougher to talk about because there is a range of skin problems from side effect to adverse reaction to allergic reaction. A lot of people complain that their nose itches or their hair stands on end or flushing when taking narcotic pain killers. These are side effects that many people experience. Other times it is a definite rash and not flushing. Best advice, call your doctor and talk to them about it.
There's a histamine release that can be associated with some painkillers but that really is most common with morphine so we won't talk about that.
If you have trouble breathing or it feels like your throat is swelling shut after you take a med, hopefully no one needs to point out this is almost always a very serious allergic reaction, sometimes anaphylactic, and you should call your doctor and maybe 911.
You were probably throwing up bile. Some doctors will say that if your vomits contains bile you should be seen. If it is a small amount and you hadn't eaten for many hours others may disregard this as duodenogastric reflux (bile flowing back into the stomach from the small intestine) and may opt for a wait and see approach. You should call your doctor and tell them and let them decide, although this advice is a little late!