What are UCB 903 Pain Killers?

UCB 903 is the pharmaceutical imprint for Lortab 7.5/500, an oral analgesic manufactured by Mikart, Inc. and marketed by UCB Pharma, Inc. Lortab is a controlled substance classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) as a Schedule 3 narcotic and requires a physician's written prescription. Lortab is an oblong white pill, partially scored on one side. The number 903 appears on the scored side, UCB appears on the reverse.

Dosage

• Lortab contains a combination of 7.5mg of hydrocodone and 500 mg of acetaminophen. Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic narcotic that is believed to affect opiate receptors in the central nervous system, effectively relieving pain and coughing. Acetaminophen is a less potent pain medication commonly found in over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers. Acetaminophen is added to Lortab to increase the effectiveness of hydrocodone.

Uses

• Lortab is approved to treat short term, moderate to moderately severe pain. It is often prescribed following injuries, surgery, and dental procedures. Lortab is occasionally prescribed to treat chronic pain caused by cancer, migraines, rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic, long term or recurring medical conditions.

Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Lortab are nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness and lightheadedness. These symptoms usually go away with continued use and nausea symptoms can be prevented by taking Lortab with food. Infrequent, yet severe side effects of Lortab include irregular or slow breathing, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, confusion, fear, anxiety, severe constipation, difficulty passing urine, severe drowsiness and live damage. Signs of liver damage include dark urine, upper right abdominal pain and a yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. If symptoms of severe side effects occur, contact your physician immediately. Signs of an allergic reaction to Lortab include itching, hives, an unexplained rash, wheezing, difficulty breathing or a swelling of the throat and mouth. Contact your physician immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Overdose

• An overdose of Lortab is potentially fatal. Because acetaminophen is found frequently in over the counter medication, it is possible to overdose on Lortab without taking more than the prescribed amount. Symptoms of an acetaminophen overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, sweating, confusion, irritability, bleeding, low blood sugar and liver failure. Taking more than the prescribed amount of Lortab can lead to a hydrocodone overdose, resulting in cold, clammy skin, slow heart rate, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, extreme drowsiness that may lead to coma and cardiac arrest.