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Have Hearing Loss. Hurt Back. On Vicoden For Sever Pain. Suffer Severe Coughing. What Is The Cause?

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Posted on Wed, 16 Oct 2013
Question: I am looking for information regarding my 93 year old mother
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You need further investigation and management.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
I have studied your case,

Due to coughing and sudden chocking there can be increase in intra cranial pressure which leads to venous bleeding and stroke.
Vicoden has its own side effect but does not lead to stroke. Side effects of
Vicodin include light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, and vomiting. Other side effects include drowsiness, constipation, and spasm of the ureter, which can lead to difficulty in urinating. Hydrocodone can impair thinking and the physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery. Hydrocodone can depress breathing, and should be used with caution in elderly, debilitated patients, and in patients with serious lung disease.

At age of 93 there is high possibility of stroke with out any known factor.
I will advise you to go for MRI brain and some blood investigation like X XXXXXXX chest, ABG levels, glutamate level, CRP.
Maintain hydration and watch for blood pressure and if required you can hospitalize patient.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (41 minutes later)
Thank you very much for your prompt answer. My mother has slightly elevated blood pressure normally and is also on cumadin for afib. She had a complete physical about one month ago and all blood and ekg were normal.
I know what her wishes are at this point in her life and that it would be difficult at best to get her to go to the hospital. However, I could probably get her to go for an MRI if she thinks it is to investigate the back pain.
FYI she has never smoked or drank in her life but does get these coughing fits frequently. When I bring her to the doctor the next day to have him check it, there is no congestion (yet when she is coughing she sounds very congested). This morning she seemed fairly clear minded, as soon as she took the vicoden the strange behavior started again. So I think it is primarily related to the pain meds. But I am only giving her one pill about every 8 hrs. in between I am giving her advil.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You can hold vicoden .

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

Thats good that all other tests are normal.
If you are sure it occured immediately after taking vicoden you can hold medicine for now.
Continue your other medication.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (2 hours later)
I do not think the vicoden caused the episode, that I contribute to her taking cough medicine and it went down the wrong pipe. That caused the choking and vomiting. She vomited the cough medicine not any of her dinner that she had finished withing 1/2 hour before the cough medicine.
I am simply trying to figure out the probable cause of the decline in her mental state, which became very apparent after the episode was taking the vicoden (she had been taking for 2 days every 8 hrs at the point) or if it is more probably that the episode caused a XXXXXXX stroke?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, sudden chocking can lead to increase pressure.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Yes, sudden chocking can lead to increase intracranial pressure and stroke.

So you may need to investigate further.

Take care.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi

Orthopaedic Surgeon

Practicing since :1998

Answered : 5164 Questions

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Have Hearing Loss. Hurt Back. On Vicoden For Sever Pain. Suffer Severe Coughing. What Is The Cause?

Brief Answer:
You need further investigation and management.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
I have studied your case,

Due to coughing and sudden chocking there can be increase in intra cranial pressure which leads to venous bleeding and stroke.
Vicoden has its own side effect but does not lead to stroke. Side effects of
Vicodin include light-headedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, and vomiting. Other side effects include drowsiness, constipation, and spasm of the ureter, which can lead to difficulty in urinating. Hydrocodone can impair thinking and the physical abilities required for driving or operating machinery. Hydrocodone can depress breathing, and should be used with caution in elderly, debilitated patients, and in patients with serious lung disease.

At age of 93 there is high possibility of stroke with out any known factor.
I will advise you to go for MRI brain and some blood investigation like X XXXXXXX chest, ABG levels, glutamate level, CRP.
Maintain hydration and watch for blood pressure and if required you can hospitalize patient.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Take care