Tiger Woods allegedly had hydrocodone at time of crash. What is it?
A sheriff's deputy allegedly found two small white pills in Tiger Woods' pants pocket, which were later identified as hydrocodone. What is that?
Tiger Woods allegedly had hydrocodone on him at the time of his latest headline-making car crash . But what exactly is it? Hydrocodone is a potent opioid used to treat severe, chronic pain.
The affidavit of the incident, obtained by USA TODAY, also included observations by an arresting officer that Woods' eyes were "bloodshot and glassy" as he performed a variety of field sobriety tests. A sheriff's deputy found two small white pills in Woods' pants pocket, which were later identified as hydrocodone. Here's what to know about the medication, a powerful painkiller that belongs to a group of medicines called opioid analgesics.
How does hydrocodone affect the body? Hydrocodone − frequently prescribed under the brand name Vicodin − is commonly used in opioid-tolerant patients to treat around-the-clock pain, per the Mayo Clinic . "It should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while or 'as needed,'" the Mayo Clinic adds.
The most common side effects are dizziness and lightheadedness. Other possible side effects of hydrocodone, per MedlinePlus , include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, increased sweating, decreased sexual desire and the inability to get or keep an erection. Patients are routinely advised to avoid driving a vehicle or operating dangerous machinery if they are unsure how the medication will affect them.