hydrocodone and Toothache

The purpose of this prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the effects of a combination dose of 1000 mg acetaminophen/10 mg hydrocodone on cold pulpal testing in patients experiencing symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.. One hundred emergency patients in moderate to severe pain diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of a mandibular posterior tooth randomly received, in a double-blind manner, identical capsules of either a combination of 1000 mg acetaminophen/10 hydrocodone or placebo. Cold testing with Endo-Ice (1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane; Hygenic Corp, Akron, OH) was performed at baseline and every 10 minutes for 60 minutes. Pain to cold testing was recorded by the patient using a Heft-Parker visual analog scale. Patients' reaction to the cold application was also rated.. Cold testing at baseline and at 10 minutes resulted in severe pain for both the acetaminophen/hydrocodone and placebo groups. Although pain ratings decreased from 20-60 minutes, the ratings still resulted in moderate pain. Patient reaction to cold testing showed that 56%-62% had a severe reaction. Although the reactions decreased in severity over the 60 minutes, 20%-34% still had severe reactions at 60 minutes. Regarding pain and patients' reactions to cold testing, there were no significant differences between the combination acetaminophen/hydrocodone and placebo groups at any time period.. A combination dose of 1000 mg of acetaminophen/10 mg of hydrocodone did not statistically affect cold pulpal testing in patients presenting with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Patients experienced moderate to severe pain and reactions to cold testing.

Topics: Acetaminophen; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cold Temperature; Dental Pulp; Dental Pulp Test; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Hydrocodone; Male; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Placebos; Prospective Studies; Pulpitis; Time Factors; Toothache; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of one dose of a common narcotic-based pain reliever (Vicodin) on a battery of oral sensitivity tests across time in women. Fifteen Caucasian women randomly were given an oral dose of 10 mg of hydrocodone/1000 mg of acetaminophen or placebo in a double-blind, cross-over design. At baseline (before drug) and after 2, 4, and 8 h each subject was evaluated for sensitivity thresholds with four tests around an experimental tooth: (a) electric pulp tester applied to exposed root; (b) electric pulp tester on adjacent mucosa; (c) increasing probe pressure (grams) on adjacent mucosa; and (d) decreasing cold probe (degrees C) on the exposed root. The outcomes of all tests were not statistically different between drug and placebo treatments at any time point (p > 0.05). These results suggest that a systemic dose of hydrocodone/acetaminophen has little impact on healthy pulp or mucosa sensitivity in women as measured by common diagnostic tests.

Topics: Acetaminophen; Administration, Oral; Adult; Analgesics, Opioid; Cold Temperature; Cross-Over Studies; Dental Pulp Test; Double-Blind Method; Drug Combinations; Electrodiagnosis; Female; Humans; Hydrocodone; Middle Aged; Pain Threshold; Toothache

Opioid analgesics prescribed for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) by emergency physicians continue to receive attention because of the associated potential for misuse, abuse and addiction. This study examined rates of prescription of opioid analgesics and types of opioid analgesics prescribed for NTDC visits in U.S. emergency departments.. Data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2007 to 2010 were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were performed and adjusted for the survey design.. NTDCs made up 1.7% of all ED visits from 2007 to 2010. The prescription of opioid analgesics was 50.3% for NTDC and 14.8% for non-NTDC visits. The overall rate of opioid analgesics prescribed for NTDCs remained fairly stable from 2007 through 2010. Prescription of opioids was highest among patients aged 19-33 years (56.8%), self-paying (57.1%), and non-Hispanic Whites (53.2%). The probability of being prescribed hydrocodone was highest among uninsured patients (68.7%) and for oxycodone, it was highest among private insurance patients (33.6%). Compared to 34-52 year olds, children 0-4 years were significantly more likely to be prescribed codeine and less likely to be prescribed oxycodone. Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks had significantly higher odds of been prescribed codeine and somewhat lower odds of been prescribed oxycodone, but it was not statistically significant.. There was no significant change in the rates of opioid analgesics prescribed over time for NTDC visits to EDs. Age, payer type and race/ethnicity were significant predictors for the prescription of different opioid analgesics by emergency physicians for NTDC visits.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analgesics, Opioid; Child; Child, Preschool; Codeine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Hydrocodone; Inappropriate Prescribing; Infant; Male; Middle Aged; Oxycodone; Tooth Diseases; Toothache; United States; Young Adult

Pain is still one of the most common reasons given by patients for avoiding dental care. Dental pain was identified as one of the most common pain complaints a national survey of pain in the US population. Although pain associated with dentistry encompasses intraoperative pain and pathologic pain as a result of dental neglect, it is likely that some of the aversion toward dentistry is a result of pain that occurs in the postoperative period.

Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Humans; Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen; Toothache

Topics: Acute Disease; Analgesics, Opioid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Codeine; Dental Pulp Diseases; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen; Patient Care Planning; Periapical Diseases; Toothache