What are the risks of mixing pain medications and alcohol?
Consuming a single Vicodin pill with a small amount of alcohol can result in respiratory depression. A 2017 study published in the journal Anesthesiology found that mixing painkillers and ethanol, the intoxicating ingredient in alcohol, can cause dangerous breathing problems. Alcohol increases the effects of opioids on the central nervous system, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Consuming painkillers and alcohol together produces sedative effects, causing people to feel extremely tired. Many people mix drugs to experience a more intense high or to alleviate the effects of one substance by adding another. Using multiple drugs at the same time is particularly common among high school and college students at parties or other social gatherings.
Patient Care Network
A team of medical professionals ensures that patients stay rested and stabilized. Alcohol abuse can also increase a person’s chance of experiencing a mental illness, such as depression. If you or someone you love is struggling with hydrocodone or alcohol addiction, The Recovery Village Ridgefield is here to help.
Your insurance what percentage of violent crimes involve alcohol plan may cover some or all of the cost of treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. Our online health insurance verification system will estimate your in-network and out-of-network deductibles, coinsurance percentages and out-of-pocket maximums. Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. Alcohol is found in many over-the-counter medicines, including cough syrups. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed.
Risks of Mixing Hydrocodone and Alcohol
Your symptoms may return within a few minutes after you receive naloxone. If your symptoms return, the person should give you another dose of naloxone. Additional doses may be given every 2 to 3 minutes, if symptoms return before medical help arrives. The more alcohol a patient consumes, the greater the risk for alcohol and medication interactions. Universal screening, careful prescribing choices, and patient education can help minimize the risks of combining alcohol with certain medications. The consequences of mixing hydrocodone and alcohol can be severe.
This can depend on a person’s age, weight, gender, and other factors. Regard Healthcare offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs. While opioid withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable, it is not usually life-threatening. However, alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and should always take place in a medically supervised environment. If a person is dependent on either of these drugs, they may need professional help in order to stop using.
What to know about alcohol and opioid use
- You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital.
- We also look at treatment for a person who has taken both alcohol and opioids, treatment options for alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, and how to find these treatment options.
- Hydrocodone is a partially synthetic opioid that closely resembles codeine.
- Combining alcohol with some medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially among older people.
- When a person is addicted to hydrocodone and alcohol, they continue to use the substances despite negative financial, social, or medical consequences.
- Be sure to follow the directions carefully, because continuing constipation can lead to more serious problems.
The risk of overdose and death is increased with the abuse of buprenorphine and alcohol and other substances, including benzodiazepines. Do not stop taking hydrocodone without talking to your doctor. Do not drink alcohol, take prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol, or use street drugs during your treatment.
If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Hydrocodone belongs to the group of medicines called opioid analgesics (pain medicines). Long-term use of opioid medication may affect fertility (ability to have children) in men or women.
Alcohol works by spreading through the body via the bloodstream. Opioids work by binding to and activating opioid receptors on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body. These receptors are a type of protein known as G protein-coupled receptors.
Thousands of Americans are struggling with hydrocodone and alcohol abuse. Fortunately, rehab centers across the U.S. specialize in treating both opioid and alcohol addiction. Some medical detox programs also offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT may include medications that relieve withdrawal symptoms and help to prevent relapse. Taking hydrocodone with alcohol can quickly lead a person down the path of addiction.