Vicodin Effects – Long Term Many people begin to enjoy the euphoric feelings Vicodin produces and ignore the potentially dangerous side effects of the drug. The body’s reward system is responsible for the desire to ignore the dangers of the drug and to seek its effects. Lortab 10/500 (hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen) is a combination pain reliever containing an opiate pain reliever, hydrocodone and the non-narcotic pain reliever acetaminophen, used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Do not stop using Lortab suddenly after long-term use, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine. Short-Term Effects of Xanax Abuse Non-adherence to the prescribed schedule or non-compliance with dosage can lead to unwanted short-term effects. Patients are more likely to experience short-term effects of Xanax use when they stop taking Xanax. Lisa gave you a great explanation of the long term effects. The only thing I would add is the effect of alcohol with the med and your liver. The rule of thumb is, with no present liver problems, a beer once in a while at home shouldn't kill you, but is not advised. Short-Term Side Effects of Acetaminophen: There are no common side effects and although serious side effects are rare, they can cause severe consequences. Among the more serious reported side effects are skin reactions, allergic reaction, and overdose. People who abuse hydrocodone are at risk of various side effects, including short-term consequences like lightheadedness, drowsiness, sleepiness, and nausea and vomiting. When a person “comes down” off the drug, the effects vary based on the amount taken, the person’s weight and height, and the person’s overall body chemistry. Opioid drugs can have many neuropsychological effects, which may be short- and long-term. A recent study found that use of this type of drug caused lower performance in attention, concentration, memory, spatial reasoning, and psychomotor function. Most of the short term effects of the drug use will go away on their own within a short period of time as the drug wears off. If you suffer from chest tightness, irregular breathing or other serious side effects, consult with your doctor immediately. My doctor advised me that Lortab is not recomed for long term use and that it will lose it's effectiveness over time requiring more medication for the same releif.