While taking oxycodone, you should talk to your doctor about having a rescue medication called naloxone readily available (e.g., home, office). Naloxone is used to reverse the life-threatening effects of an overdose. It works by blocking the effects of opiates to relieve dangerous symptoms caused by high levels of opiates in the blood. Your doctor may also prescribe you naloxone if you are living in a household where there are small children or someone who has abused street or prescription drugs. You should make sure that you and your family members, caregivers, or the people who spend time with you know how to recognize an overdose, how to use naloxone, and what to do until emergency medical help arrives.
Alcohol is a CNS depressant, meaning that it depresses or suppresses the actions of the neurons (nerves) in the CNS. While opioids don’t work in the same way, they do have effects that slow down the central nervous system. Although the exact mechanism of how oxycodone works is not entirely understood, it attaches to receptors in the brain that are specialized for neurotransmitters like endorphins and enkephalins. If you’re prescribed oxycodone, you should always be sure to follow your doctor or pharmacist’s directions carefully, and take it only as prescribed. Approximately 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). About 130 people in the United States die each day from overdosing on opioid drugs, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
- This means that it has medical value yet poses high risks for addiction and abuse.
- In fact, mixing the two substances, even accidentally, may cost someone their life.
- This means that after prolonged abuse of either substance, addicts develop a physical need for it and they will do whatever is necessary to obtain it.
- These programs are best for individuals who have very serious substance use disorders who need additional support to get and stay sober.
- Ask your doctor how you should take the medication and follow these directions carefully.
However, because of the way alcohol and oxycodone interact, even small amounts could cause dangerous side effects. Mixing them together may provide a more intense experience, tharros house but it could also cause drowsiness or loss of consciousness. When an opioid overdose is suspected, naloxone hydrochloride should be administered as soon as possible. Naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray is currently available both over-the-counter and by prescription, under different brand names.
Oxycodone and Alcohol: Is There a Safe Way to Mix Them?
Detox, medication, and therapy at a rehab facility are some great ways to start a successful recovery from mixing alcohol and suboxone alcohol and oxycodone addiction. It is possible for someone to be addicted to alcohol and to also have an addiction to oxycodone. Someone who lives with addiction to two or more substances suffers from co-occurring disorders. In many cases, co-occurring alcoholism and drug addiction may exist for years and inflict major consequences on someone’s health and wellbeing.
Combining oxycodone with alcohol can have unwanted, unpredictable, and dangerous consequences. Both drugs can both make you drowsy, light-headed, and impair judgment. Even small amounts of alcohol combined with the drug can be harmful. Obviously, if combining two drugs enhances their effects, the potential for overdosing on either drug is enhanced, even if one uses relatively small amounts of both drugs in combinations. Individuals who are prescribed medications containing oxycodone will notice the instructions for the medication very explicitly state that it should not be taken in conjunction with alcoholic beverages.
It is common in the United States to abuse substances like oxycodone and alcohol together. There is no doubt that alcohol is one of mesculin the most popular recreational drugs in the world. The country also has an extremely high rate of opioid prescriptions. The United States saw 43 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in 2020.
Oxycodone and Alcohol: A Potentially Lethal Combination
After his death, his family revealed that he had been struggling with addiction for several years. In fact, mixing the two substances, even accidentally, may cost someone their life. Fortunately, there are options for rehab available to anyone who is struggling with co-occurring addiction to alcohol and oxycodone. If left untreated, respiratory depression can quickly cause brain damage and ultimately cause someone to die. Researchers have found that drinking even a moderate amount of alcohol along with taking just one oxycodone pill is enough to risk respiratory depression.
Lifestyle Quizzes
The extended-release tablets (Oxycontin) are taken every 12 hours with or without food. The extended-release capsules (Xtampza ER) are taken every 12 hours with food; eat the same amount of food with each dose. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. When opioids such as oxycodone and alcohol are combined, it can have devastating effects. Drinking alcohol while using opioids comes with many risks, including slower breathing, impaired judgment, and potentially overdose and death.
By Lindsay CurtisCurtis is a writer with over 20 years of experience focused on mental health, sexual health, cancer care, and spinal health. That’s why individuals who drink too much alcohol often slur their speech or stumble around a bit. These effects are generally temporary and do not cause permanent damage. These pills come in many shapes, sizes and doses, depending on the brand. It is used either alone (OxyContin, Roxicodone, Oxaydo, Xtampza ER) or in combination with other non-narcotic analgesics such as aspirin (Percodan) or acetaminophen (Percocet). However, it’s crucial to be sure that your medication isn’t extended-release.
Treatment providers are available 24/7 to answer your questions about rehab, whether it’s for you or a loved one. Submit your number and receive a free call today from a treatment provider. Outpatient treatment is offered in health clinics, community mental health providers, counselors offices, hospital clinics, and residential programs.
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