Alcohol and Vicodin: Is It Safe to Mix?

However, this drug combination could lead to dependence, addiction, and permanent damage to the body. Each substance releases a neurochemical in the brain called dopamine. Simultaneously using multiple substances exacerbates these problems.

Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen – Uses, Side Effects, and More

Tell your healthcare providers about all the medications you use, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements and herbal products. Fortunately, educating patients about the risks of combining medications with alcohol may help them avoid negative outcomes. Here, we describe briefly how alcohol and medications can interact, and we provide a few examples of common medications that could interact negatively with alcohol.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Make sure lab personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug. Children may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially slow/shallow breathing. Pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well. If you are using a liquid form of this medication, use a medication measuring device to carefully measure the prescribed dose.

Consequences of Hydrocodone And Alcohol Abuse

1. Hydrocodone/acetaminophen has a risk for abuse and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death.
2. This may include counseling, medication for the treatment of addiction, and regular visits to a treatment facility or support groups.
3. Even some herbal remedies can have harmful effects when combined with alcohol.
4. If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming (causing mental or physical dependence) or cause an overdose.

Do not use with any other drug containing acetaminophen without asking your doctor or pharmacist first. Acetaminophen is in many nonprescription and prescription medications (such as pain/fever drugs or cough-and-cold products). Check the labels on all your medicines to see if they contain acetaminophen, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.

Narcotic analgesic combinations contain a narcotic analgesic, such as hydrocodone or codeine, with one or more other analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, or ibuprofen (NSAIDs). They are used to treat moderate-to-severe pain when other less potent analgesics are not effective. If the person has had a seizure, collapsed, does not wake up immediately, or has trouble breathing, immediately call emergency services. The study found that when a person combines alcohol with oxycodone, the number of times they temporarily stop breathing increases significantly, especially in elderly participants. When a person drinks alcohol, their bloodstream quickly distributes it to the brain, liver, kidneys, and lungs. It takes, on average, 1 hour for the body to break down one unit of alcohol.

Treatment For Hydrocodone And Alcohol Abuse

You must tharros house immediately dispose of any medication that is outdated or no longer needed through a medicine take-back program.. If you do not have a take-back program nearby or one that you can access promptly, flush any hydrocodone tablets or capsules that are outdated or no longer needed down the toilet. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication. Hydrocodone comes as an extended-release (long-acting) capsule and an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. The extended-release capsule is usually taken once every 12 hours. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

Hydrocodone can be found in popular painkiller brands such as Vicodin, Lortab and Lorcet. Do not drink alcohol while using these medications, and ask your doctor about other substances that may interact with hydrocodone. Other medications can affect the removal of hydrocodone/acetaminophen from your body, which may affect how it works. Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur.