A brand-name oral medication, Lorcet contains a combination of the narcotic analgesic hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen. Despite its effectiveness at alleviating mild to moderate pain, Lorcet poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Types of Side Effects

Side effects of Lorcet include drowsiness, light-headedness, faintness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and weakness. Although unpleasant, these side effects pose little threat for long-term health complications and may diminish as you become acclimated to the effects of the drug, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Precautions

Because it has the potential to cause dizziness or drowsiness, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how Lorcet affects you.

Drug Interactions

Combining Lorcet with alcohol, barbiturates, other narcotic pain relievers, monoamine oxidase ihibitor (MAOI) drugs or tricyclic antidepressants increases your risk of serious side effects, warns Drugs.com. Taking Lorcet with the antiseizure medication carbamazepine may cause liver damage.

Risks

The hydrocodone bitartrate in Lorcet poses a risk for respiratory depression, a life-threatening condition where your brain is unable to regulate your breathing, warns Drugs.com. The acetaminophen in Lorcet may cause liver inflammation or liver dysfunction.

Considerations

Due to the risk of side effects, doctors avoid prescribing Lorcet for pregnant women or children under the age of two. If you have a history of substance abuse, brain disease, head injury, colitis, convulsions, mental illness, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, enlarged prostate, gallbladder disease, or liver or heart disease, it may not be safe for you to take Lorcet, cautions the Mayo Clinic.

Source:

Mayo Clinic: Narcotic Analgesics and Acetaminophen (Oral Route)

Drugs.com: Hydrocodone Bitartrate/Acetaminophen