Vicodin 10 mg is a pain killer and opioid that is used as a painkiller, in order to ease you from unbearable pain. Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen) is a pain treatment that combines the narcotic (hydrocodone) with the non-narcotic (acetaminophen). Vicodin helps in treating moderate to moderately severe pain. Vicodin is also available as a generic. In addition to increasing usage, the number of overdose deaths related to Vicodin began to rise. The opioid component of the prescription, hydrocodone, decreases the heart and breathing rates. Breathing can become so slow, especially when mixed with alcohol, that not enough oxygen reaches the brain, in some cases resulting in coma, brain damage, and death. At the same time, Vicodin contains a large amount of acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol. If too much of this chemical is consumed at once, it can induce liver damage and acute liver failure. How Does it Work? Vicodin 10 mg is an opioid pain reliever that is prescribed for moderate to severe pain. It is frequently administered to those who have just had oral surgery or other outpatient operations, as well as those patients who suffer from chronic pain or back discomfort. For a period, it was so widely prescribed that it became sold in underground markets and abused all across the world. People were abusing it without a prescription because of its pleasant, soothing effects, and they became addicted to its opioid characteristics.