Is It Safe To Mix Hydrocodone And Alcohol: Safe Timeline Explained
There is a rise in the cases of opioid and Alcohol addiction around the world, and the repercussions are concerning because both opioids and alcohol have dangerous addictive properties. One can have serious side effects if they decide to take alcohol and opioids together. Hydrocodone is the most common opioid drug that can be found on the market to treat pain. Alcohol is obviously available abundantly, as a luxury drink, in some medications like Benadryl and drug products like hand sanitizers. Hydrocodone and Alcohol can be highly abusive, and together they are straight-up dangerous. We must understand how both can affect us negatively.
Hydrocodone and Alcohol: Understanding Their Risks and Effects on The Body
What is Hydrocodone?
Hydrocodone is an opioid painkiller that is semi-synthetic in nature, used to treat moderate and severe types of pain. As a CNS depressant, it works on mu-opioid and delta receptors present in our nervous system, and this never makes one feel any discomfort after using it. Then these receptors release their neurotransmitters into the brain, slowing it down in the process. One can feel relaxed and euphoric after taking the drug, and because of this patient might develop tolerance towards Hydrocodone. As a Schedule II substance, it can only be used under prescription. Overdosing on it can have bad consequences on the overall health of the patient.
What is Alcohol?
In pharmacy, Alcohol is seen as a CNS depressant that brings about similar effects as any opioid after one consumes it. Just like Gabapentin or similar drugs, even Alcohol works by binding with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors and releasing the neurotransmitters to slow down brain activity to bring a calming sensation to the one consuming it. Taking Alcohol in any way leads to issues such as slow decision-making, poor mobility, unclear speech, sedation, and so on. Alcohol addiction is rising day by day among individuals, and it brings with it a lot of bad effects. By damaging the liver and kidneys, it works like a slow poison.
How are Hydrocodone and Alcohol used as medications?
While Hydrocodone is a prescribed medication for pain relief and is available in combinations with many ingredients like Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen, Norco and Vicodin being its popular brand names, Alcohol is used as an antiseptic in skin injuries and disinfectant for medical equipment. As a medication, Alcohol can be found in medicines like Codeine or Benadryl that help in battling cough. Alcohol has also been used as anesthesia in the past in the form of Ethanol, but now that practice does not exist, it is still used in topical rubefacients, which increase blood flow effectively if applied on the skin. It is also a major ingredient in germ protection products like hand sanitizers.
What happens when you mix Hydrocodone and Alcohol?
Mixing Hydrocodone and Alcohol can be extremely dangerous, as both of them are already substances of high potency. One might think taking a medication and Alcohol during the period of dosage would not make a difference, but in the case of Hydrocodone, the risk is not at all worth it. Taking Hydrocodone with Alcohol can make a person unconscious for long durations. Other issues that come along are increased heart rate, slowed breathing, and, in worst cases, coma or even death. For these reasons, not just Hydrocodone, but no medication should be taken with Alcohol. An overdose like this can also cause many social issues.
Hydrocodone and Alcohol Drug Interactions
Alcohol, though, must not interact with any drug; it has a lot of reactions. Hydrocodone also has interactions with other drugs. Here are some of the Hydrocodone and Alcohol interactions with other drugs:-
Hydrocodone Interactions:
Alcohol Interactions:
Side Effects of Hydrocodone and Alcohol
As abusive drugs, Hydrocodone and Alcohol, either taken individually without control, mixed together, or mixed with other drugs, have a good number of side effects. These can be dangerous in the case of Alcohol, as it is a depressant, but the effects of Hydrocodone can be severe too. Here are some of the Hydrocodone and Alcohol side effects:
Hydrocodone Side Effects:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rashes
- Seizures
- Infertility
- Serotonin Syndrome
Alcohol Side Effects:
- Poor Mobility
- Memory Loss
- Unclear Speech.
- Slowed Breathing
- Increased Heart Rate
- Irregular Blood Pressure
- Depression and Anxiety
- Liver and Kidney Damage
- Many Forms of Cancer
Detoxification of Hydrocodone and Alcohol
Both the drugs, Alcohol and Hydrocodone, can be detoxified by certain medications that have properties to deal with one’s addiction effectively. Here are the medications:
Hydrocodone Detoxification:
- Buprenorphine: It works very well for any opioid drug addiction. Buprenorphine helps when one is going through withdrawal symptoms caused by stopping Hydrocodone.
- Naltrexone: It never allows the opioid effects to be felt by the consumer, which automatically reduces the dependence.
- Methadone: It is one of the most effective medications to detoxify Hydrocodone as it reduces opioid craving by nabbing its receptors.
Alcohol Detoxification:
- Benzodiazepines: As Alcohol causes anxiety and depression, benzodiazepines become handy by reducing mental stress and,in turn, reducing dependence on Alcohol.
- Anti-nausea drugs: When one goes through Alcohol withdrawal, they develop a vomiting tendency. Anti-nausea medications help reduce this nausea.
- Acamprosate: It helps when one has been drinking alcohol for years. Acamprosate helps reduce cravings and dependency on alcohol.
- Disulfiram: If one drinks alcohol very comfortably, Disulfiram works like a bad drug, which brings out all the bad effects of alcohol, compelling one to leave alcohol consumption.
Conclusion
Addiction can be countered when one mentally decides to do so. It is a spiritual commitment, not forced advice. Hydrocodone, as a prescribed drug, is as harmful as Alcohol if one consumes it uncontrollably. It can have serious health risks if one does not act readily towards their dependence on such drugs.