Fake Lortab Pills: How To Identify Them, Side Effects, & Ingredients (2024)

The pill form of Lortab was discontinued, so any pill sold as Lortab is likely fake or long past its expiration date. These pills can be very dangerous.

Lortabis one of several brand name products containing hydrocodone, an opioid pain medication, along with acetaminophen, which is a non-opioid painkiller. The pill form of Lortab was discontinued, so any pill sold as Lortab is likely fake or long past its expiration date. Lortab liquid is still currently available with a doctor’s prescription.

Lortab is a prescription-only pain medicine classified as a Schedule II controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This classification means that it’s only for use under doctor’s care.

Some people may try to sell fake Lortab on the streets, but it is important to know that anything sold as a pill is not truly Lortab. It could be another brand name or generic product containing the same ingredients as Lortab (hydrocodoneand acetaminophen), or it could be entirely fake, containing completely unknown ingredients. Anything purchased on the streets carries the risk of being fake or containing dangerous substances, so it is best to avoid buying illicit substances.

Article at a Glance:

  • Lortab was discontinued as an opioid pain medication in pill form but is still available in liquid form with a prescription.
  • People sell fake Lortab on the streets that contains completely unknown ingredients.
  • Purchasing anything from a street dealer is very dangerous because you don’t know what it contains.
  • The side effects of fake Lortab include decreased breathing, drowsiness, constipation and pinpoint pupils.
  • Only liquid Lortab is a legitimate product today.

Why People Use Fake Lortab

Unfortunately, many people take Lortab recreationally because of the hydrocodone painkiller it contains. When someone takes Lortab recreationally, they may steal it from friends or family members, or they might purchase it illegally off the streets.

When someone takes an opioid, it’s intended to change the way they perceive pain, and with the combination of acetaminophen, it can be a very effective treatment for moderate to severe pain following surgeries or injuries. Unfortunately, opioids also create a euphoric high, which is why they’re commonly abused andbecome addictive.

Opioids like Lortab can create a sense of euphoria, relaxation, well-being, and sedation, particularly when someone takes a high dose. That then creates a cycle of addiction, because your brain is wired to continue seeking out behaviors that bring you pleasure.

When someone abuses Lortab, even when they start out with a legitimate prescription, they’re at a greater risk of becoming addicted. That addiction can then lead them to try and find more of the drug, which can up the likelihood they purchase fake Lortab.

Fake Lortab Pills and Bars

Many people hear warnings of fake pain pills and wonder what fake Lortab pills look like. Because the manufacturing of Lortab pills was discontinued, any tablets purchased as Lortab are either fake or long expired.

When Lortab pills were still being manufactured, theylooked likewhite tablets with small colored flecks or solid pink tablets. Pills today that are being called Lortab may look similar to this, but even if they are real, they are well past their expiration date. Street dealers may try to make fake pills that look similar to old Lortab pills, but these may contain unknown fillers, stronger opioids, likefentanyl, or even poisonous substances.

Purchasing anything from a street dealer is dangerous because you never know what is in the product.

Fake Lortab Ingredients

Fake Lortab may contain unknown fillers with no opioid activity or even poisonous substances. Also, fake Lortab may contain a stronger opioid than hydrocodone, like fentanyl.Methamphetamineorcocainecould be found in fake Lortab too. Sometimes counterfeit opioids are much cheaper to obtain or manufacture, which makes it even easier for dealers to distribute these products.

How To Identify Fake Lortab

Unfortunately, there is no sure way to identify fake Lortab pills, but because this medication is no longer manufactured in tablet form, anyone selling or distributing Lortab is making false claims about their product. The only legitimate Lortab product currently available is the liquid formulation.

Side Effects of Fake Lortab

Side effects related to fake Lortab pills can vary depending on what is contained in the fake product. If the product contains opioids, side effects include standardeffects of opioid use:

  • Drowsiness
  • Decreased breathing
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation

The risk of overdose with fake Lortab is high, especially because many fake opioid products contain fentanyl.Opioid overdosecan be fatal without prompt medical treatment.

Summing Up Fake Lortab

Counterfeit drugs are a major public health concern because many fake opioid pills, including fake Lortab, contain unknown and deadly substances. There is evidence that people selling Lortab and other opioids contain fentanyl, a powerful opioid. Breathing in even a small amount of fentanyl can lead to a fatal overdose. It is important to be aware that taking fake opioid products can be deadly, and that buying street drugs is very risky since it is impossible to know what is contained in the drug.

If you or a loved one living with addiction,call The Recovery Villageto speak to a representative about how individualized treatment can work for you. With treatment plans catering to a patient’s unique needs, the professional staff at The Recovery Village work with the patient to address their addiction and any co-occurring mental health disorders. You deserve a healthier future, call today.

Fake Lortab Pills: How To Identify Them, Side Effects, & Ingredients (1)

Editor – Thomas Christiansen

With over a decade of content experience, Tom produces and edits research articles, news and blog posts produced for Advanced Recovery Systems. Read more

Fake Lortab Pills: How To Identify Them, Side Effects, & Ingredients (2)

Medically Reviewed By – Christina Caplinger, RPh

Christina Caplinger is a licensed pharmacist in both Colorado and Idaho and is also a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist. Read more

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Sources

DailyMed. “Lortab (tablet).” October 20, 2006. Accessed April 10, 2019.

DailyMed. “Lortab (syrup)”. November 8, 2018. Accessed April 10, 2019.

Phillips, JK., et al. “Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic:[…]scription Opioid Use.” National Academies Press, July 13, 2017. Accessed April 10, 2019.

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.

Fake Lortab Pills: How To Identify Them, Side Effects, & Ingredients (2024)

FAQs

Fake Lortab Pills: How To Identify Them, Side Effects, & Ingredients? ›

Fake Lortab Ingredients

What are the ingredients in hydrocodone pain pills? ›

Each VICODIN tablet contains: Hydrocodone Bitartrate 5 mg Acetaminophen 500 mg In addition each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, starch, croscarmellose sodium, dibasic calcium phosphate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and stearic acid.

What are generic Lortabs? ›

Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen Oral Tablet (HYDROCODONE/ACETAMINOPHEN - ORAL) For pain. Brand Name(s): Lorcet, Lortab, Norco. Generic Name: Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen.

What are the characteristics of fake drugs? ›

A medicine is fake if:
  • It contains too much, too little or any different ingredients;
  • Claims to have different properties or side-effects;
  • Has a different shape, size, taste or colour;
  • Is not correctly labelled or not labelled at all;
  • Has an out-of-date or missing expiry date;

What are the 4 categories of falsified medicines? ›

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines 'falsified' medical products as those that deliberately and fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source. Four specific types of falsification of medical products can be distinguished: counterfeiting, tampering, theft and illegal diversion.

What is the strongest pain killer? ›

Opioids, powerful pain medicines that lower the perception of pain, may be given after surgery. Intravenous opioids may include fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone and tramadol.

What is the name of the salt in hydrocodone? ›

Hydrocodone Bitartrate is the bitartrate salt form of hydrocodone, a semisynthetic hydrogenated codeine derivative and opioid agonist with analgesic and antitussive effects.

What is bitartrate? ›

(HY-droh-KOH-done by-TAR-trayt) A drug used to treat moderate to severe pain and cough. Hydrocodone bitartrate is made from codeine and binds to opioid receptors in the central nervous system. It is a type of analgesic agent, a type of antitussive, and a type of opiate.

Does hydrocodone expire? ›

They found that 86 percent of the drugs' ingredients were still present in the concentrations they were supposed to be. The findings suggest that some medications, like acetaminophen and the opioid painkiller hydrocodone, retain their potency “for a long, long time,” he said.

What are the side effects of hydrocodone? ›

The most common adverse effects of hydrocodone include frequent constipation and nausea. Additional adverse effects of hydrocodone include the following: Respiratory: severe respiratory depression, shortness of breath, respiratory tract infection[13][22]

How do I identify an unknown tablet? ›

Who Can I Call to Identify a Pill? If you've mixed up your pills and you need to sort them out, your best option is to call your pharmacist. They should be able to look up the pills by their color, shape, and imprint code. They also have access to your medication records to help.

What website can I use to identify tablets? ›

Medscape's Pill Identifier helps you to ID generic and brand name prescription drugs, OTCs, and supplements. Search from over 10,000 tablets and capsules by imprint, color, shape, form, and scoring. Once a medication is selected, you will be able to: Verify drug name, strength, and detailed pill characteristics.

Is there an app to check for fake medicine? ›

Table 1
NamePlatformAverage user Rating (out of 5)
Drug Search AppAndroid3.6
Drugs.com Medication GuideiOS/Android4.9
EpocratesiOS/Android4.3
IBM Micromedex Drug ReferenceiOS/Android4.3
21 more rows

Can I take a picture of a pill and identify it? ›

FDA's Drug Identification: The Food and Drug Administration will identify a pill if you email them a picture of it. Medscape Pill Identifier: This site is aimed at healthcare professionals, but offers a free online search tool that you can use to find medication based on attributes.

References

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