Ultra-rapid CYP2D6 metabolizers (1–2% of the population) may have an increased response to hydrocodone; however, hydrocodone metabolism in this population has not been studied.Norhydrocodone, the major metabolite of hydrocodone, is predominantly formed by CYP3A4-catalyzed oxidation. In contrast to hydromorphone, it is described as inactive. However, norhydrocodone is actually a MOR agonist with similar potency to hydrocodone, but has been found to produce only minimal analgesia when administered peripherally to animals (likely due to poor blood–brain barrier and thus central nervous system penetration). Inhibition of CYP3A4 in a child who was, in addition, a poor CYP2D6 metabolizer, resulted in a fatal overdose of hydrocodone. Approximately 40% of hydrocodone metabolism is attributed to non-cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions. Elimination
Hydrocodone is excreted in urine, mainly in the form of conjugates. Chemistry
Detection in body fluids
Hydrocodone concentrations are measured in blood, plasma, and urine to seek evidence of misuse, to confirm diagnoses of poisoning, and to assist in investigations into deaths. Many commercial opiate screening tests react indiscriminately with hydrocodone, other opiates, and their metabolites, but chromatographic techniques can easily distinguish hydrocodone uniquely. Blood and plasma hydrocodone concentrations typically fall into the 5–30 µg/L range among people taking the drug therapeutically, 100–200 µg/L among recreational users, and 100–1,600 µg/L in cases of acute, fatal overdosage. Co-administration of the drug with food or alcohol can very significantly increase the resulting plasma hydrocodone concentrations that are subsequently achieved. Synthesis
Hydrocodone is most commonly synthesized from Thebaine, a constituent of opium latex from the dried poppy plant.
Infants from diabetic mothers usually have several blastogenic malformations. Diabetic embryopathy is therefore an etiological subgroup of defects of blastogenesis that present different monotopic and polytopic developmental defects. Abortion and perinatal deaths
Diabetic embryopathy may result in early or late spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. In maternal diabetes, 90% of pregnancy losses happen in the first trimester due to oxidative stress. Diabetic embryopathy abortions in the second-trimester are most likely due to severe birth defect, maternal metabolic derangement, placental insufficiency and fetal hypoxia due to membrane rupture. Pathogenesis
The development of birth defects associated with maternal hyperglycemia is multi-factorial. Environmental factors and genetic predisposition (paternal, maternal and offspring genome) are important in diabetic embryopathy. The diets of diabetic mothers impacts the rate at which malformations form in their offspring. Furthermore, there is evidence that resistance to certain malformations caused by diabetes is genetic. Epigenetics and its relationship with various environmental factors such as metabolism and diet play a significant role in teratogenesis. Hyperglycemia and associated teratogenic mediators influence DNA methylation, non-coding RNA expression, histone modifications and other epigenetic regulation mechanisms. Research is focused on exploring the impact of diabetic embryopathy on methylation signatures, which could potentially serve as a diagnostic biomarker for the condition. Prevention
Preconception
The probability of major birth defects in offspring of mothers with diabetes is 0.7-4.4% for glycohemoglobin levels <7%. For glycohemoglobin levels >10% the probability of major birth defects is 16.1-100% with an average of 26.6%.