According to the World Health Organization, about 115,000 people died of an opioid overdose in 2017. RehabCenter.net is intended for educational purposes only and is not designed to provide medical advice of any kind. Any information found on RehabCenter.net should never be used to diagnose a disease or health problem, and in no way replaces or substitutes professional care. In the case of a suspected health problem, please contact your healthcare provider. When a person takes hydrocodone and alcohol, the drugs typically get processed by the liver. Repeatedly exposing the stomach and digestive tract to alcohol (a toxin) can cause conditions such as liver damage, stroke, and cardiovascular disease.
Before taking this medicine
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. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
Other uses for this medicine
Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking this medication and each time you get a refill. Oftentimes, opiate and opioid users will become very isolated and withdrawn from the family. They are often sedated, sleepy, nodding off or confused, and their involvement in activities will prove rather limited as a result.
What Are the Risks of Mixing Alcohol with Vicodin or Other Opioids?
Professionals can also arrange treatment and continuing care to pursue a healthy recovery from addiction to Vicodin, alcohol, opioids or opiates, or any other drug. Other outcomes from mixing opioids with alcohol include extreme sedation, confusion and sleepiness. Any prolonged use will cause severe liver damage, as both alcohol and opioids are processed in the liver.
- Do not use it later for another condition unless your doctor directs you to do so.
- This medicine should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while or “as needed”.
- Tell the doctor right away if your baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing.
- Sometimes, people look for ways to enhance the effects of a medication like hydrocodone and begin to take other substances, such as alcohol.
- Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem including QT prolongation.
When hydrocodone and alcohol are taken together, the side effects of each are magnified. Both of these substances are CNS depressants that slow your breathing and heart rate and reduce your cough reflex. You may experience slowed, difficult breathing and also be at risk of getting foods, fluids and objects stuck in your airway. Alcohol is also a CNS depressant, but it works in a completely different way than opioids like hydrocodone. Using multiple CNS depressants at the same time can cause many adverse side effects, so it’s risky for someone to take hydrocodone and drink alcohol simultaneously.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Medications typically are safe and effective when used appropriately. Your pharmacist or other health care provider can help you determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol.
Never use hydrocodone in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to take more of this medicine. Medicines that interact with hydrocodone may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with hydrocodone. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.
Blood and urine tests may be xanax substitute otc needed to check for unwanted effects. If you miss a dose of Hysingla® ER, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
See also How to Use section for more information about addiction. People who mix two mood-altering substances are at an increased risk for developing an addiction. When a person is addicted to hydrocodone and alcohol, they continue to use the substances despite negative financial, social, or medical consequences. Hydrocodone and alcohol carry a risk of tolerance, abuse and dependence, especially with long-term use.