Vicodin ES is used by doctors to provide alleviation of pain in mostly patients that is moderate or severe and conditions, like lower back pain, and other muscular skeletal pains in the body. Vicodin is also used to act as a cough reliever sometimes according to patient's medical history when needed. Combining hydrocodone, an opioid analgesic Acetaminophen which is a pain reliever, improves the analgesic impact overall in most patients sometimes.