Drugs of today
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Hydrocodone bitartrate is the most commonly used drug for acute and chronic pain in the U. S. with over 135 million prescriptions in 2012. The U. ⋯ The FDA has rescheduled hydrocodone from Schedule III to Schedule II which went into effect on October 6, 2014, along with a limit on added acetaminophen of 325 mg for each dose of hydrocodone. This review examines the evolution of hydrocodone into a common and yet controversial drug in the U. S. with its pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and efficacy.