2. Duration of Therapy

When used as an analgesic, there is no basis for limiting hydrocodone therapy duration as hydrocodone may be utilized to manage chronic painful conditions as well as acute pain events. As an antitussive, hydrocodone is prescribed for a limited duration to manage cough and upper respiratory symptoms associated with the common cold or allergies in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older. In isolated cases, hydrocodone may be prescribed for an extended time period in those adult patients requiring nonspecific therapy for a chronic, nonproductive cough, such as advanced cancer ^18,19. In all patients, the smallest effective hydrocodone dose should be administered as infrequently as possible to minimize the development of tolerance and physical dependence^2-10.