Mixing Oxycodone and Alcohol: A Life-Threatening Combination

Do you know that addiction is one of the top concerns for countries these days? People are getting more and more drawn towards trying new and weird combinations to give themselves the feeling of that momentary pleasure. They are not aware that the momentary pleasure from all the Dopamine they receive would later be the reason for all the damage their body has to face. One of the combinations that is getting popular among addicts is mixing Oxycodone and Alcohol. People may not realise how deadly Oxycodone and Alcohol can be until the symptoms start to show.

This blog aims to answer the question regarding can you mix Oxycodone and Alcohol and share all the detailed insights regarding the side effects of the mixture, and the treatments to deal with the addiction.

Mixing Oxycodone and Alcohol: Side Effects, Dependency & Treatment

First, discuss both Oxycodone and alcohol side effects; you have no idea how dangerous it enough to cost a life. It can be imagined from this how deadly the combination will be if both Oxycodone and Alcohol were to be taken together. The mixture of Oxycodone and Alcohol is referred to as polysubstance which is more harmful than the individual substances.

Overview of Oxycodone

Oxycodone, a popular drug, is sold under the brand names Roxicodone and OxyContin. Belonging to the family of Opioids, its primary use is to relieve moderate to severe pain in the body. Oxycodone controls the way our body responds and reacts to pain signals by traveling through the blood and attaching itself to opioid receptors in the brain cells, which helps boost pleasure. The available formulations of Oxycodone are in the form of tablets and capsules.

Side Effects of Using Oxycodone

Oxycodone is classified under the category of Schedule II drugs, making it a controlled substance. Continuous exposure to this drug in larger amounts leads to dependence and addiction, which is primarily due to the high potency of the drug. Various common side effects seen in people are dry mouth, headache, nausea, sweating, and vomiting. Major issues like respiratory problems and allergic reactions are also seen in case of people. In addition to all these effects, constipation is mostly seen in people prescribed Oxycodone because it slows down the water intake to the intestine, resulting in hardening of the stool.

Effects of Alcohol On The Body

Alcohol is widely consumed to relax the mind and body. It boosts Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), which provides a calming effect, along with decreasing Glutamate, which slows down the brain activity. More simply, it increases the production of Dopamine, which boosts pleasure. The euphoric feelings after consuming alcohol do not last long and instead cause long-lasting damage to the body. There can be various short-term and long-term effects noticed in the individuals who become addicted. Withdrawal symptoms are also noticed in people trying to quit all of a sudden.

Side Effects of Using Alcohol

The side effects of alcohol are not uncommon since this beverage has more adverse effects than positive ones. Alcohol affects the body by slowing down brain functions, which leads to impaired judgment, mood changes, along more serious conditions such as damaging important organs of the body. Short-term effects of alcohol involve impaired speech, headache, and dizziness. The long-term effects, such as organ damage, cancer, dependency, and addiction, are hard to get rid of easily.

What Happens When You Combine Oxycodone With Alcohol?

Due to the high potency of both substances, a feeling of satisfaction is felt, which increases more if combined rather than taken individually. The sudden and temporary pleasure is the result of all the dopamine that is released by the brain. People usually abuse these substances by either crushing larger doses of Oxycodone and snorting them, or taking Oxycodone and Alcohol. These temporary pleasures result in greater harm to the body by increasing the tolerance level and leading to addiction.

Side Effects of Mixing Oxycodone And Alcohol

If a person tries to take Oxycodone and Alcohol together, then the result formed is called a polysubstance. This polysubstance is much more harmful than those two individual substances. Let’s discuss in more detail the effects of Oxycodone and Alcohol interaction.

Risk Of Overdose

Both Oxycodone and Alcohol cause dependency and increase the chance of getting addicted to them. Some try to mix these substances to get more higher feeling. This increases the chance of overdosing, which later gives rise to withdrawal syndrome if the person tries to stop the intake.

Liver Damage

Both Oxycodone and Alcohol do a great deal of damage to the liver. If combined, it will only get worse and result in:

• Steatosis
• Liver cancer
• Fibrosis
• Cirrhosis

In addition to all of these overdose can also lessen the oxygen supply to the liver, which can ultimately result in death.

Brain Damage

Continuous release of dopamine causes the brain to become dependent on the pleasurable feeling. This puts the brain in a state of wanting more, and hence, the person starts to increase the dosage level to get that feeling of satisfaction. The mixture of Oxycodone and Alcohol has the same effect on a person’s brain. The symptoms observed in the body due to damage to the brain are:

• Lack of concentration
• Hallucination
• Problem with the vision
• Confusion
• Imbalance
• Memory problems
• Slower reaction time

Cardiovascular Problems

This polysubstance damages the heart by increasing blood pressure, heartbeat, and decreasing the flow of blood to the heart, which ultimately leads to the risk of getting a heart stroke and death. The calories present in alcohol also cause a significant gain in weight, resulting in obesity.

Signs of Dependency

Certain signs of dependency are noticed in the individual taking the mixture of Oxycodone and Alcohol. It’s important to be aware of those signs so you can take appropriate measures. The signs are:

• Loss of appetite
• Blackouts
• Change in appearance
• Losing interest in daily activities
• Finding excuses to be alone
• Mixing with other addicts
• Staying depressed
• Consuming drugs to feel happy

If you or anyone from friends and family shows such symptoms, try to have a conversation with them and ensure they get properly treated.

What Helps To Deal With Addiction?

It is important to get treated if the dependency starts interfering with your daily life. There are several options available to choose from when it comes to dealing with dependency. Choose which works best for you and follow it to get effective results. Let’s discuss those methods.

Joining Rehabilitation Centres

There are several rehabilitation centres available that treat patients dealing with addiction issues. They help the patient through counselling, therapy, and detoxification. Certain free rehab centres can also be an efficient first line of treatment for patients who won’t be able to afford costly facilities.

Psychotherapy

These are also known as talking therapies and have recently been used widely to overcome any stress or any difficulties. Psychotherapy consists of various therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), mindfulness therapy, motivational enhancement therapy (MET), and family therapy. All of these therapies are performed by expert psychologists whose aim is to know you in person and treat you accordingly. These can be the best way of treatment without having to deal with heavy medicines.

Medications

Doctors prescribe medications in cases where the symptoms are very severe. These medicines do not help in controlling addiction; instead, they help to control the cravings. Buprenorphine, Methadone, Naltrexone, and Vivitrol are some of the medicines useful for controlling the urge to take any addictive substances. If the condition persists, then you have to talk to your physician and get admitted to the hospital for more personalized treatment.

Conclusion

After discussing all the adverse effects in detail, it’s better if we do not try any such combination by ourselves for the momentary happiness. Invest your time in doing your favourite hobbies if you feel suffocated, instead of getting addicted to anything. Try to reach out for help if you feel you are beginning to show signs of dependency, and always remember that you are not alone.