What Does Norco Look Like?

Fikret Terzic

Written by: Fikret Terzic MD, MS

What Norco looks like depends on the manufacturer and strength or dosage. But no matter what it looks like, the drug can be habit-forming and addictive if misused.

Norco is the discontinued brand name for hydrocodone-acetaminophen. The prescription drug is a semi-synthetic opioid analgesic and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The hydrocodone combination product can also be found under different brand names such as Lortab, Lorcet, and Vicodin.

The pain reliever can be found in a variety of colors and dosages but is usually oblong in shape. The color, dose, and imprint on each pill depends on the drug manufacturer. 

Knowing what legitimate Norco looks like can help you stay away from counterfeit versions in Ohio.

What Does Norco Look Like?

What Norco looks like primarily depends on who manufactured it. The tablets are likely capsule-shaped and come in a few different colors and strengths.

White Norco

Norco primarily comes as a white oblong or capsule-shaped tablet that consists of 5 mg of hydrocodone and 325 mg of acetaminophen. 

That said, some white Norco tablets contain 325 mg of acetaminophen and 7.5 mg of hydrocodone or 325 mg of acetaminophen and 10 mg of hydrocodone.

Besides the dosage, the major difference between white Norco tablets is the imprint on each pill. Some of the imprints may include:

  • 3604 V
  • G 035
  • H5/325
  • IP 109
  • M365
  • T 257
  • WATSON 913
  • Norco 071
White Norco M365

Yellow Norco

Norco can also be found as a yellow oblong tablet, and it likely consists of 10 mg of hydrocodone and 325 mg of acetaminophen. This yellow norco tablet has “NORCO 539” imprinted on each pill.

Yellow Norco 539

Orange Norco

There are also a few orange oblong Norco tablets that consist of 325 mg of acetaminophen and 7.5 mg of hydrocodone. The main difference between these orange pills is the imprint on each one, which may include WATSON 729 and NORCO 729.

Orange Norco 729

Side Effects Of Norco

The side effects of Norco can range in intensity from mild to severe depending on how much of the drug you take. 

Some of the common side effects may include:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • constipation
  • lightheadedness
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • anxiety
  • dry throat
  • narrowing of pupils

Drug Interactions

There are also several drugs that don’t mix well with Norco. When combined, they can lead to adverse reactions that can be life-threatening. Some of the medications and substances that shouldn’t be taken with Norco include:

  • over-the-counter supplements
  • other prescription opioids like codeine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and oxycodone
  • naltrexone
  • alcohol
  • marijuana
  • benzodiazepines like alprazolam, lorazepam, and zolpidem
  • muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine
  • antihistamines like cetirizine and diphenhydramine

Contraindications

There are also quite a few health conditions that Norco can actually make worse. These medical issues include:

  • brain disorders like head injury, tumors, and seizures
  • breathing problems like asthma, sleep apnea, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • kidney disease
  • liver damage
  • mental health issues like depression
  • personal or family history of a substance use disorder
  • paralytic ileus
  • enlarged prostate
  • gallbladder disease
  • pancreatitis

Norco Abuse Potential

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Norco as a Schedule II controlled substance. 

This means it has a high potential for abuse and can lead to psychological and physical dependence and addiction as well as increase the risk for addiction.

Norco Overdose

Taking high doses of Norco can increase the risk of opioid overdose, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. In Ohio alone, there were 415 unintentional opioid overdose deaths in 2020, and the opioid epidemic is still ongoing in this state.

Some of the signs and symptoms of a Norco overdose may include:

  • chest pain
  • cold, clammy skin
  • difficulty breathing
  • extreme drowsiness
  • sedation
  • irregular heartbeat
  • loss of consciousness
  • low blood pressure
  • bluish lips, fingernails, or skin

If you or a loved one experience any of the symptoms above, call 911 immediately. Additionally, if you know how to administer naloxone (Narcan), now is the time to use it. It can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Norco Withdrawal Symptoms 

If you abuse Norco over a long period of time or take it in high doses, there is a significant risk of building up a dependence on the drug. When this happens and you try to quit, withdrawal symptoms are likely to occur. These symptoms can include:

  • runny nose
  • irritability
  • sweating
  • stomach cramps
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • tremors
  • rapid heart rate
  • trouble sleeping

Because of the severity of some of these withdrawal symptoms, a detox program at a treatment center in Ohio or with your healthcare provider is highly recommended.

If you or a loved one lives with opiate/opioid addiction, you don’t have to go through it alone. Ohio Recovery Center (ORC) is here to help you on your journey. 

At ORC, we offer a variety of addiction treatment options including detox, inpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, and aftercare support. For more information on our treatment programs, please contact us today.

  1. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus — Hydrocodone https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614045.html
  2. WellRx — Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Generic For Norco) https://www.wellrx.com/hydrocodone-acetaminophen/drug-images/

Written by Ohio Recovery Center Editorial Team

Published on: December 26, 2022

© 2024 Ohio Recovery Center | All Rights Reserved

* This page does not provide medical advice.

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