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Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen

Hydrocodone Bitartrate side effects: what 43,191 FDA adverse event reports show

Hydrocodone Bitartrate · 1,111 reaction terms · 114,964 drug–reaction co-reports · data 2026-09-14
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Drug class

Not stated in label

Who reports

43,191 reports · 87% serious · 21,422 with death outcome · 52% female

openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied

Used for

Hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release tablets are indicated for the management of severe and persistent pain that requires an opioid analgesic and that cannot be adequately treated with alternative options, including immediate-release opioids. Limita.

FDA label, Indications and Usage

What it is

Hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release tablets are supplied in 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg and 120 mg film-coated tablets for oral administration. The tablet strengths describe the amount of hydrocodone per tablet as the bitartrate salt. Hydrocodone bitartrate is an opioid agonist.

FDA label, Description section

Boxed warning

SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF HYDROCODONE BITARTRATE EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release tablets exposes patients and othe.

FDA label
How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation. Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)? That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.

Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals

Labeled adverse reaction 2Labeled (related wording) 6Likely indication confounding 1Reporting / coding artifact 8Outcome field, not a reaction 1Not in label — unassessed 22
What the badges mean

Strongest disproportionality signals

Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only (and, for the 300 most-reported drugs, adjusted for age band), and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers. Each row also shows the PRR against the other drugs of the same FDA class, which removes most confounding by the condition being treated, and a calibrated p-value: on validation, known non-causes average an ROR of about 2, so significance is judged against that empirical null (✓ = p < 0.05 after calibration). 1,071 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.

Show:
ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Drug diversion51047.4
43.3–51.9ROR 48.0 · calibrated p 2e-5 ✓
43.2 EB05 40.1 · IC025 +5.2
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=206 · ♀ 30% (drug 52%) · 99% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Vision abnormal neonatal3037.0
25.5–53.6ROR 37.0 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
33.7 EB05 24.8 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=30 · 100% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Drug dependence10,36433.0
32.4–33.6ROR 43.1 · calibrated p 3e-5 ✓
30.9 EB05 30.4 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 20.9 · 97% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Learning disability34132.7
29.3–36.5ROR 33.0 · calibrated p 2e-4 ✓
30.6 EB05 28.0 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=341 · 100% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Drug withdrawal syndrome5,57832.5
31.7–33.4ROR 37.2 · calibrated p 8e-5 ✓
30.5 EB05 29.9 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 25.0 · 93% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Neonatal hypoacusis1430.7
17.9–52.7ROR 30.7 · calibrated p 6e-4 ✓
27.9 EB05 17.6 · IC025 +3.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=14no trial arm names this drug
Toxicity to various agents9,51029.1
28.6–29.7ROR 37.1 · calibrated p 8e-5 ✓
27.5 EB05 27.0 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 18.7no trial arm names this drug
Emotional distress6,72128.4
27.8–29.0ROR 33.4 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
26.9 EB05 26.3 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 19.2 · 86% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Overdose9,66222.6
22.2–23.0ROR 28.9 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
21.7 EB05 21.3 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 18.1 · 96% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Spina bifida7818.7
14.9–23.4ROR 18.7 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓
17.9 EB05 14.8 · IC025 +3.6
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=78 · 100% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Developmental delay32017.7
15.8–19.7ROR 17.8 · calibrated p 0.003 ✓
17.1 EB05 15.5 · IC025 +3.9
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 11.4 · 100% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Polysubstance abuse2116.3
10.6–25.2ROR 16.3 · calibrated p 0.007 ✓
15.4 EB05 10.2 · IC025 +2.8
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=21no trial arm names this drug
Inadequate analgesia27816.2
14.4–18.3ROR 16.3 · calibrated p 0.005 ✓
15.7 EB05 14.2 · IC025 +3.7
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious n=44 · 86% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Coronary artery atherosclerosis1112.7
7.0–23.1ROR 12.7 · calibrated p 0.023 ✓
10.6 EB05 5.6 · IC025 +2.0
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=11no trial arm names this drug
Victim of homicide1311.4
6.6–19.8ROR 11.4 · calibrated p 0.030 ✓
9.6 EB05 5.4 · IC025 +2.1
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=13no trial arm names this drug
Gallbladder cholesterolosis1010.7
5.7–20.1ROR 10.7 · calibrated p 0.040 ✓
8.4 EB05 4.5 · IC025 +1.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=10no trial arm names this drug
Drug abuse1,77610.5
10.0–11.0ROR 10.9 · calibrated p 0.024 ✓
10.3 EB05 9.9 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 6.9 · 84% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Accidental overdose75410.2
9.5–11.0ROR 10.4 · calibrated p 0.029 ✓
10.0 EB05 9.4 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 10.9 · ♀ 25% (drug 52%) · 84% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Self esteem decreased469.3
7.0–12.5ROR 9.3 · calibrated p 0.045 ✓
8.7 EB05 6.7 · IC025 +2.6
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=46no trial arm names this drug
Homicide328.7
6.2–12.4ROR 8.7 · calibrated p 0.057
8.0 EB05 5.8 · IC025 +2.4
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=21 · ♀ 23% (drug 52%) · 100% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Gun shot wound318.0
5.6–11.5ROR 8.0 · calibrated p 0.074
7.3 EB05 5.3 · IC025 +2.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=31 · ♀ 0% (drug 52%)no trial arm names this drug
Drug effect increased528.0
6.1–10.5ROR 8.0 · calibrated p 0.072
7.5 EB05 5.9 · IC025 +2.4
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifact87% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Death11,9326.8
6.7–6.9ROR 9.0 · calibrated p 0.045 ✓
6.7 EB05 6.6 · IC025 +2.7
3/3 methods agree
Outcome field, not a reaction
boxed warning mentions mortality
serious PRR 4.5 · 94% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Hepatitis c1696.8
5.8–7.9ROR 6.8 · calibrated p 0.108
6.6 EB05 5.8 · IC025 +2.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 4.7 · 81% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Colonic polyp226.4
4.2–9.8ROR 6.4 · calibrated p 0.140
5.7 EB05 3.9 · IC025 +1.8
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=21no trial arm names this drug
Cholecystitis chronic896.4
5.2–7.9ROR 6.5 · calibrated p 0.128
6.2 EB05 5.2 · IC025 +2.3
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 4.2 · ♀ 100% (drug 52%)no trial arm names this drug
Shoulder pain136.4
3.7–11.1ROR 6.4 · calibrated p 0.152
5.3 EB05 3.3 · IC025 +1.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=11no trial arm names this drug
Substance use disorder386.1
4.4–8.3ROR 6.1 · calibrated p 0.156
5.6 EB05 4.3 · IC025 +2.0
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious n=38 · 100% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Pain7,3205.8
5.7–6.0ROR 6.8 · calibrated p 0.106
5.8 EB05 5.7 · IC025 +2.5
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious PRR 5.6 · 75% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Breakthrough pain275.7
3.9–8.3ROR 5.7 · calibrated p 0.187
5.2 EB05 3.7 · IC025 +1.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=8 · 85% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Imprisonment205.5
3.5–8.5ROR 5.5 · calibrated p 0.210
4.9 EB05 3.3 · IC025 +1.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=20no trial arm names this drug
Biliary dyskinesia195.4
3.5–8.5ROR 5.4 · calibrated p 0.214
4.8 EB05 3.3 · IC025 +1.5
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=19no trial arm names this drug
Disability2155.3
4.7–6.1ROR 5.3 · calibrated p 0.202
5.2 EB05 4.7 · IC025 +2.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 3.6 · 94% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Meniscus lesion144.9
2.9–8.2ROR 4.9 · calibrated p 0.281
4.2 EB05 2.7 · IC025 +1.2
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious n=13no trial arm names this drug

Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)

ClinicalTrials.gov returned results-bearing trials mentioning Hydrocodone Bitartrate only as a background or rescue medication (NCT02625181, NCT04452344); no trial listing it as the tested intervention was cached, so no trial cross-check is shown.

Most frequently reported reactions

By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.

ReactionReportsPRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/pEBGM EB05 · IC025Label screenSerious-only & strataTrial cross-check
Death11,9326.8
6.7–6.9ROR 9.0 · calibrated p 0.045 ✓
6.7 EB05 6.6 · IC025 +2.7
3/3 methods agree
Outcome field, not a reaction
boxed warning mentions mortality
serious PRR 4.5 · 94% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Drug dependence10,36433.0
32.4–33.6ROR 43.1 · calibrated p 3e-5 ✓
30.9 EB05 30.4 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 20.9 · 97% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Overdose9,66222.6
22.2–23.0ROR 28.9 · calibrated p 3e-4 ✓
21.7 EB05 21.3 · IC025 +4.4
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 18.1 · 96% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Toxicity to various agents9,51029.1
28.6–29.7ROR 37.1 · calibrated p 8e-5 ✓
27.5 EB05 27.0 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 18.7no trial arm names this drug
Pain7,3205.8
5.7–6.0ROR 6.8 · calibrated p 0.106
5.8 EB05 5.7 · IC025 +2.5
3/3 methods agree
Likely indication confounding
term in indications; also in warnings
serious PRR 5.6 · 75% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Emotional distress6,72128.4
27.8–29.0ROR 33.4 · calibrated p 1e-4 ✓
26.9 EB05 26.3 · IC025 +4.7
3/3 methods agree
Not in label — unassessedserious PRR 19.2 · 86% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Drug withdrawal syndrome5,57832.5
31.7–33.4ROR 37.2 · calibrated p 8e-5 ✓
30.5 EB05 29.9 · IC025 +4.9
3/3 methods agree
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 25.0 · 93% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Drug abuse1,77610.5
10.0–11.0ROR 10.9 · calibrated p 0.024 ✓
10.3 EB05 9.9 · IC025 +3.3
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 6.9 · 84% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Nausea1,0620.7
0.6–0.7ROR 0.6 · calibrated p 0.104
0.7 EB05 0.6 · IC025 -0.7
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 0.4 · 73% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Anxiety9741.7
1.6–1.8ROR 1.7 · calibrated p 0.754
1.7 EB05 1.6 · IC025 +0.6Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 1.2no trial arm names this drug
Drug ineffective (drug did not work)9130.3
0.3–0.4ROR 0.3 · calibrated p 0.010 ✓
0.3 EB05 0.3 · IC025 -1.7
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 0.2 · 82% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Accidental overdose75410.2
9.5–11.0ROR 10.4 · calibrated p 0.029 ✓
10.0 EB05 9.4 · IC025 +3.2
3/3 methods agree
Reporting / coding artifactserious PRR 10.9 · ♀ 25% (drug 52%) · 84% consumerno trial arm names this drug
Depression7501.6
1.5–1.7ROR 1.6 · calibrated p 0.710
1.6 EB05 1.5 · IC025 +0.6Labeled — boxed warning
exact term
serious PRR 1.4no trial arm names this drug
Headache6020.5
0.4–0.5ROR 0.5 · calibrated p 0.037 ✓
0.5 EB05 0.4 · IC025 -1.2
PRR-only: not supported by EBGM or IC
Labeled adverse reaction
exact term
serious PRR 0.3 · 74% consumerno trial arm names this drug

Unlabeled candidate signals

These flagged terms were not found in the FDA label text and do not match an artifact pattern. They are the pairs that would merit a structured assessment (temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across databases, trial or cohort evidence). The screen has not done that; string-matching misses label wording, and a strong PRR can still be stimulated reporting, co-medication, or the disease itself.

✓ A hand-written Bradford Hill causality assessment exists for this drug: Hydrocodone Bitartrate And Acetaminophen ↔ Drug Dependence.

Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.

Common questions

What are the most reported side effects of Hydrocodone Bitartrate?

In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Hydrocodone Bitartrate are toxicity to various agents, pain, emotional distress, drug withdrawal syndrome, drug withdrawal syndrome neonatal, nausea. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.

Does Hydrocodone Bitartrate have an FDA boxed warning?

Yes. The current FDA label carries a boxed warning: SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING RISKS FROM USE OF HYDROCODONE BITARTRATE EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLETS Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse Because the use of hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release tablets exposes patients and othe.

Do FAERS signals prove that Hydrocodone Bitartrate causes these side effects?

No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.

Sources & methods

Page generated 2026-10-14. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.