M366 White Pill and M367 White Oval Pill: Dangers of Addiction

These white, oval-shaped pills might be small, but they pack a big punch. Plus, there’s counterfeit versions of them out there that can be deadly.

Here’s a crash course in the M366 white oval pill and the M367 white oval pill.

What Is the M366 White Pill?

The M366 pill is made by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and is a generic form of Vicodin. Vicodin is an opioid painkiller and is a mix of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It's slightly weaker than the M367 pill as it contains slightly less hydrocodone.

An M366 pill contains 7.5 mg of hydrocodone and 365 mg of acetaminophen.

What Is the M367 White Pill?

These pills have “M366” or “M367” stamped into them. A combination of the opioid painkiller hydrocodone and acetaminophen, these pills can be dangerously addictive. An M367 pill has 10 milligrams of hydrocodone and a total of 325 milligrams of acetaminophen. They’re similar to M365 pills.

These pills are sold under brand names such as:

• Norco

• Lortab

• Vicodin

Slang terms for this pill include vikes, lortabs, and more.

Even though hydrocodone is regarded to be a milder opioid painkiller according to numerous definitions, the overuse and abuse of this medication is as dangerous as abusing stronger opioids like heroin or fentanyl.

What Are These Pills Used For?

Opioids are drugs available only with a doctor's prescription and are used for managing mild to moderate pain. Most doctors are aware of M366 and M367  pills and their potential for abuse, so they will often screen patients carefully before they prescribe them. M367 is prescribed to manage pain in people who may not have responded to other forms of pain management.

Used as directed, these pills are safe to use. However, if abused, the M367 oval pill can be habit-forming and lead to opioid addiction. Also, if a person combines M367 with another drug like alcohol or another opioid, they could potentially overdose.

Again, M367 is often considered one of the milder opioids. That’s not to say it’s harmless, however.

M367: What Is Hydrocodone?

Hydrocodone is a synthetic opioid. These are a class of drugs that are synthesized in a lab and act like organic opioids like morphine. Hydrocodone acts on the same areas of nerve centers other opioids do. Called opioid receptors, these bind with hydrocodone and change the way we perceive pain.

Unfortunately, this is also how the risk of abuse develops. Binding with opioid receptors also causes the body to release dopamine. Dopamine is the body’s “feel-good” neurotransmitter, and it works with the body’s reward system. Normally, the body only releases small amounts of dopamine. Hydrocodone can make the body release much more.

This creates the euphoric “high” many people end up chasing. It’s also easy to build up a tolerance to hydrocodone, meaning a person needs to take more to feel the same effects. This behavior leads to addiction.

M367: What Is Acetaminophen?

Acetaminophen is a very common over-the-counter pain reliever. Used with hydrocodone, it helps amplify the pain-relieving effects of hydrocodone without the user requiring a higher dose of opioids. While not addictive – acetaminophen does not act the same way opioids do – acetaminophen can be very dangerous in its own way.

When people abuse M367, they often end up taking higher and higher doses of the drug. High doses of acetaminophen can cause severe organ damage to the liver, especially when mixed with alcohol.

Is the M367 White Pill Dangerous?

When used as prescribed (and the pill comes from a pharmacy), M367 is safe to use. However, when it’s abused, it’s dangerous. Prescription drug abuse is a serious health issue in the US. Remember, drug abuse isn’t about substances, it’s about behaviors.

Here are some examples of drug abuse:

• Taking a medication that isn’t prescribed to you

• Using medication for recreational purposes

• Taking more prescription medication than directed

• Continuing to take medication after the prescription runs out

• Trying to obtain multiple prescriptions via “doctor shopping” and other methods

As we said, it’s easy to build up a tolerance to opioids. A person who becomes tolerant to the M367 pill will take more and more of it to feel the same effects. This means they both have a higher risk of overdosing on hydrocodone and causing severe injury to themselves from high doses of acetaminophen.

Another Danger of the M367 White Pill: Counterfeit M367 Pills

Someone who is abusing M367 will eventually run into a situation where they can’t get any more M367 pills. This is often where addiction gets far more serious. A person will either move on to more powerful opioids like heroin, or risk purchasing M367 pills from sources like the dark web or street dealers.

This is highly dangerous because it means they have a risk of purchasing fake M367 pills. Counterfeit pills are a constant risk today. They’re often produced in unsafe, unsanitary settings. These pills often contain low-quality and dangerous ingredients. Finally, many counterfeit pain pills contain fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid like hydrocodone, only much stronger. Fentanyl is the chief driver of the overdose epidemic in the US. Many people who overdose and die from fentanyl aren’t even aware they’re taking it.

It’s another reason why M367 abuse should be treated professionally, and quickly.

What Are the Side Effects of M367 Pills?

Most people who use this medication report experiencing adverse symptoms such as:

• Lightheadedness & dizziness

• Sleepiness

• Nausea

• Vomiting

This is why many opioid drugs like M367 come with warnings about not using it while driving or operating heavy machinery.

Other probable adverse reactions include the following:

• Mood swings including anxiety, fear, and dysphoria

• Psychological dependency

• Constipation

• Problems with urination

• Difficulty breathing

• Hearing loss

Withdrawal Symptoms of M367 Pill

Every opioid can potentially create psychological and physiological dependence in the user. When taken for a length of time, the body eventually grows reliant on opioids like hydrocodone.

Withdrawal symptoms happen when a person stops taking an opioid like M367. When the opioid drug is no longer in their system, their body goes into shock as it tries to rebalance itself without the drug. This is why people experience withdrawal symptoms.

Opioid withdrawal can be very unpleasant. Imagine having the worst flu you’ve ever had – that’s what withdrawal is like. Opioid withdrawal symptoms are justifiably infamous. Trying to quit M367 at home, by yourself, with a detox kit, or taking the cold turkey approach is a bad idea. At best, detox is likely to fail. At worst, a person might experience severe medical complications like dehydration or worse.

The following are some of the potential side effects of withdrawal from M367:

• Body aches

• Tremors

• Diarrhea and vomiting

• Sleeplessness

• Dehydration

• Intense drug cravings

Opioid withdrawal is not a life-threatening condition on its own if there are no accompanying issues. However, because of the unpleasant nature of the withdrawal symptoms, many people find themselves returning to the drug again and again.

Going through opioid detox with professional help makes this process much, much easier. While nobody would ever say detoxing from opioids is a good time, having professional help makes this process safer, easier, and more likely to succeed.

What Are Signs of M367 Pill Abuse?

Opioid abuse isn’t always easy to recognize. The M367 pill has no smell, they’re easy to hide, and the effects they have on someone abusing them can be difficult to notice.

It can be easier to recognize the effects of opioid abuse over the long term. Some signs of opioid addiction to look for are:

• Small, constricted pupils

• Occasional flu-like illnesses that seem to come and go away quickly

• Finding drug packaging like bottles and blister packs around the house

• Slowed movements and speech

• Itching

• A sudden loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed

• Sudden neglect of hygiene

• Problems with money, work, and/or school

• Hidden pill stashes

• Evasiveness

If any of these symptoms trouble you, we can help. Call The Forge Recovery Center – we can provide resources about opioid abuse, M367 addiction, and even help you plan an intervention for a loved one.

M367 Pill: Treating a Hydrocodone Overdose

If someone has overdosed on hydrocodone, they should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances of the overdose, there are a few different ways to treat it.

The first line of treatment for an opioid overdose is usually naloxone, also known by its brand name Narcan. Naloxone can be administered through a nasal spray, injection, or auto-injection device and works by blocking the effects of opioids in the brain, reversing an overdose.

In addition to administering naloxone, healthcare providers may provide other treatments such as oxygen therapy and fluids to help restore balance in the body. If necessary, respiratory support (i.e., a breathing tube) may be provided to help the person breathe. Other medications may also be administered depending on the individual’s condition and medical history.

It is important to note that naloxone is not a cure for an opioid overdose, but rather a temporary solution that can reverse the effects of an overdose until further medical attention can be sought.

Furthermore, someone can suffer from another overdose once the naloxone wears off, so they must seek follow-up care from their healthcare provider or addiction treatment center as soon as possible.

Hydrocodone Overdose: 4 Steps To Save Someone

If you don't have Narcan on hand, there are five things you can do to help someone who you think may have overdosed on hydrocodone.

Step One: Recognize the Signs of an Opioid Overdose

Opioid overdoses have distinct signs. Recognizing any of these symptoms can help you decide what to do next:

• Unresponsiveness and/or unconsciousness

• Bluish lips and fingernails

• Slow and shallow breathing

If you see a person with these conditions, take the following steps:

• Call their name to see if they respond

• Grind your knuckles into their breastbone or rub your fist on their upper lip to see if they respond

• If they're struggling to breathe, turn them onto their side to keep their airway clear

Step Two: Call First Responders

Your next step should always be to call 911. In an opioid overdose, minutes matter. The sooner help arrives, the better chance a person has to survive a hydrocodone overdose.

Step Three: Try to Keep Them Awake

If the person is responding, try to keep them awake. Falling asleep can turn into a coma. Remember to keep them on their side, too. This stops them from choking.

Step Four: Wait for First Responders

By letting the first responders know what happened, they'll be able to provide more help.

M367: Treatment for Hydrocodone Addiction

If someone is at risk of or has overdosed on hydrocodone, it’s important for them to receive treatment for their addiction. Treatment can include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), individual counseling, and support groups. Finding help at an addiction center is always a great step.

These types of treatments can help individuals manage their substance use disorder by addressing the underlying causes of addiction and equipping them with the tools and skills needed to abstain from drug use in the future. Additionally, professional medical care can also ensure that any physical or mental health issues related to opioid use are addressed.

By receiving effective treatment, individuals who have overdosed on hydrocodone will have a much better chance of recovering and getting back on track with their recovery journey.

M367 Pills Are Addictive. The Forge Recovery Center Can Help

Like any opioid, M367 white pills can be habit-forming and addictive. When mixed with alcohol or other drugs, they can even be lethal. Opioid addiction is devastating, but with the right help, a happier life is possible.

The Forge Recovery Center uses proven, evidence-based treatment to effectively treat M367 pill addiction. We help our clients explore addiction at the roots, exploring any issues that may be driving opioid abuse. This helps our clients build better lives for themselves, freeing them from the destructive cycle of opioid abuse.

If you’d like to learn more about our opioid addiction programs, please reach out to The Forge Recovery Center today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

June 21, 2023