Alcohol withdrawal also can become life-threatening in the case of delirium tremens (DTs) which can include seizures, severe confusion, fever, agitation, and hallucinations. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Check with your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, loss of appetite, mental depression, nausea, skin rash, unusual tiredness or weakness, or vomiting. Call your doctor right away if you have worsening of pain, increased sensitivity to pain, or new pain after taking this medicine. These may be symptoms of opioid-induced hyperalgesia and allodynia. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose.
Hydrocodone, a powerful opioid painkiller medication, is prescribed to treat severe pain. It is dispensed as an extended-release format, which means it can be used to control pain around the clock, and as a combination medication for immediate relief. Hydrocodone is also an antitussive medication that can be used to control cough. Vicodin, Lortab and Lorcet contain acetaminophen, a substance used to treat minor aches and pains. When mixed with alcohol, acetaminophen breaks down into a toxic product that can lead to liver damage. Hydrocodone can be found in popular painkiller brands such as Vicodin, Lortab and Lorcet.
What happens if I miss a dose?
To learn more about treatment options for polysubstance use, insurance verification, payment options, and more, contact an admissions navigator at . No matter what substances or mental health conditions you’re battling, AAC can help you take your first steps toward recovery today. Hydrocodone is a highly addictive opioid drug that has earned the reputation of the most prescribed opioid painkiller in America. By any name — Vicodin, Lorcet or Lortab — you may receive hydrocodone for chronic pain, unmanageable coughing or after major surgery.
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But, when the CNS slows too much, overdose and other dangerous health consequences can result. This is especially true when opioids are mixed with alcohol, another CNS depressant. Ultimately, Vicodin or other hydrocodone-based medications should only be treated as short-term solutions. Alcohol and prescription drugs are two of the most common substances in the United States. In the US, it is legal for adults over the age of 21 to consume alcohol within reasonable limits, and with a doctor’s prescription and oversight, it is legal to take opioid painkillers like hydrocodone. However, medical professionals typically recommend, and warning labels on the medications reinforce, to avoid mixing opioid drugs like hydrocodone with other depressant drugs like alcohol.
Each substance releases a neurochemical in the brain called dopamine. Simultaneously using multiple substances exacerbates these problems. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reported that, in 2015, there were more than 16 million people who struggled with just alcohol use disorder (AUD). Even more struggled with binge drinking or heavy drinking, which also cause harmful effects on the body. No matter how long you’ve been taking hydrocodone and alcohol, you’re never far from hope. Call The Recovery Village today to talk with a representative about your options for treatment and start on the path to drug-free living.
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One analysis found that alcohol was involved in 18.5 percent of opioid-caused emergency room admissions and 22.1 percent of opioid overdose deaths. Both hydrocodone and alcohol cause similar effects in the brain, so they can compound each other’s intoxication, making a person feel very high or drunk. When these substances are used in combination, risk of overdose and death is very high.
What Are the Side Effects of Hydrocodone and Alcohol?
- Hydrocodone also stays in the bloodstream and body longer than alcohol does, so it is important to ensure the drug is completely out of the system before drinking any alcohol.
- Swallow the extended-release capsules or extended-release tablets one at a time with plenty of water.
- Never use hydrocodone in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.
- Opioids are considered extremely habit-forming and have a high rate of diversion and abuse, which can lead to fatal overdose, drug dependence, and addiction.
- It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Depressants slow the central nervous system (CNS)—the parts responsible for sending signals across the spinal cord and brain. In simpler words, it moderates breathing, heart rate and brain function. Drugs that inhibit CYP34A in the brain can cause hydrocodone to become more concentrated in blood plasma.
Following your doctor’s instructions for taking it is imperative. This Schedule II drug connects to your brain’s opioid receptors, creating a high that is all too easy to become hooked on. Abusing opioids comes with its own set of problems that are often exacerbated when you add alcohol to the mix. Do not suddenly stop or change your dose without first checking with your doctor. Other drugs may interact with hydrocodone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction.
What Is Vicodin?
Combining hydrocodone with alcohol or other drugs increases the risk for fatal overdose and can fun recovery games for groups also more quickly lead to drug dependence and addiction. Prescription painkillers often contain opioids, and someone can easily misuse legally prescribed medications and become dependent or addicted to them. Many people with opioid use disorders started with a prescription medication for pain management as a result of an injury or health condition.
It is dangerous to operate heavy machinery after consuming alcohol and opioids separately, and it is even more dangerous after consuming them together. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, mixing alcohol with prescription opioids, such as hydrocodone, can also result in overdose. An overdose occurs when someone experiences harmful reactions caused by taking too much of a substance. Sometimes called downers, depressants slow brain activity and reduce anxiety.
Do not take more of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Vicodin is a pharmaceutical drug and a composite mixture of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. It is generally prescribed for pain relief, but can be misused because of its euphoric capabilities.
Administering naloxone may help to stop opioid-caused symptoms, but the person may still suffer due to excessive alcohol can alcoholics eat food cooked with alcohol consumption. Do not drink alcohol, take prescription or nonprescription medications that contain alcohol, or use street drugs during your treatment. Combination hydrocodone medications can lead to additional complications when mixed with other substances that may lead to a toxic buildup in the liver. Hydrocodone is commonly combined with acetaminophen, and significant liver damage can occur if mixed with drugs also metabolized in the liver, such as CYP34A inhibitors and alcohol. Long-term use of a hydrocodone product that is combined with acetaminophen, such as Vicodin, can be toxic to the liver, leading to liver disease and even death. The CDC found that alcohol abuse is common among those who abuse prescription drugs as their primary substance of addiction.
Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it. Before having any laboratory test (especially those that involve methylene blue), tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking hydrocodone. foods that contain alcohol Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Using too much of this medicine may cause infertility (unable to have children).