Home Addiction Mixing Drugs & AlcoholHydrocodone and Alcohol

Hydrocodone and Alcohol

10 Minutes

Edited & medically reviewed by THE BALANCE Team

Fact checked

CONTENTS

A painful sensation is a relatively common sign when you are suffering from an ailment. The severity of the pain fluctuates depending upon the illness. Several medications can cure this discomfort. However, professionals prescribe the medication as per the level of discomfort. Hydrocodone is one of those drugs that are potent pain relievers. But as an opioid, this drug has a strong potential for addiction and abuse.

Furthermore, the mixing of hydrocodone with alcohol can be a deadly combination. This combination can cost you your life. Professionals prescribe caution while recommending these opioids against drinking. Moreover, you should seek medical guidance if you fall victim to addiction. And you should also know that; what happens when you mix hydrocodone with alcohol?

Hydrocode is an exceptionally potent painkiller that belongs to a group of drugs called opioids. This drug has the potential to relieve moderate to severe pain. Other than that, it also contains antitussive properties and helps you in alleviating troublesome coughs. The pain after major surgery or dental surgery can also be alleviated.

Painkillers Abuse Symptoms and Side Effects

The addiction potential of hydrocodone can lead to abusive use. To avoid abuse of hydrocodone, professionals prescribe it for short-term use only. Regular use of hydrocodone can be habitual. This habit of yours will provoke different impacts on your body.

Effects of hydrocodone abuse:

The most typical effects of hydrocodone include:

Blurred vision
Euphoria
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Dry mouth
Sleepiness
Lightheartedness
Itchy and flushed skin
Slurred speech
Confusion

Hydrocodone is generally in combination with other drugs. This combination comprises an opioid and a non-opioid drug. The most common combination drug is acetaminophen. Medications having hydrocodone and acetaminophen are:

Lortab
Lorcet
Lorcet Plus
Hycet
Norco
Vicodin
Vicodin ES
Xodol
Zolvit
Zydone
Liquicet

Other combination drugs are:

Vicoprofen
Ibudone
Rezira
Panasal
Reprexain

Hydrocodone is a painkiller that gives relief from chronic pain. This opiate origin drug can cause addiction which can be fatal for you. On the other hand, alcohol induces euphoria (feelings of extreme happiness). Daily use of alcohol produces a high that hooks you up to it. Their addiction alone is destructive. But, combining these two will create a dangerous wave of havoc. Therefore, professionals do not recommend the use of alcohol and hydrocodone together. You must know the dangers or side effects of mixing these two to avoid life-threatening situations.

Mixing two types of drugs certainly end up at two conclusions. Either they suppress the actions of one another or incites the effects of one another. Here, the mixing of hydrocodone and alcohol exacerbates the effects of one another. They depress the nervous system of the body to a dangerous level leading to several side effects or dangers.

What are the Effects of Alcohol on Brain?

Side effects of hydrocodone and alcohol:

Mixing side effects are short-term and long-lasting. These include:

Drowsiness
Impaired judgment
Slow heartbeat
Seizures
Shallow breathing
Hearing loss
Hydrocodone overdose
Liver damage
Coma

Dangers of mixing alcohol and hydrocodone:

At first, mixing them will produce euphoric effects. But eventually, this will damage your body in irreplaceable manners. The dangers associated with it are:

Internal bleeding
Ulcers
Respiratory arrest
Irregular heartbeat
Unconsciousness
Extreme slow heartbeat
Coma
Impaired motor control
Memory loss

If you are drinking hydrocodone, you should not drink alcohol at the same time to avoid the terrible outcome as well as let the drug metabolize in the body.

Metabolism of any drug depends upon the mechanism of action of the drug on the body and takes some time to be completely absorbed in the body. Alcoholics usually do not wait for that long time to achieve that high on which they are hooked up. In that case, they should at least drink alcohol after four hours of drinking hydrocodone.

Professionals do not suggest mixing hydrocodone combination drugs with alcohol. These two exacerbate the effects of one another resulting in a deadly union. This blend can cast hazardous effects on the body. They both together slow down the body by depressing the central nervous system. Extremely slow breathing and heartbeat can put you at the risk of coma and eventually death. Their effects are long-lasting and cannot be reversed.

Effects on the body:

Effects of hydrocodone combination drugs and alcohol include:

Loss of coordination
Nausea
Vomiting
Slurred speech
Irregular rhythms
Decreased heart rate
Dehydration
Cardiovascular instability
Loss of consciousness
Disinhibition
Respiratory arrest
Coma
Death

Vicodin, a prescription drug, is a combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone that alleviates moderate to severe pain. Vincodine alone gives the best possible outcomes. On combining with other drugs, especially with alcohol, both drugs will exaggerate the effects of one another. Potential reactions will occur resulting in confusion, liver damage, and breathing problems.

You should consult your doctor and tell him about these potential reactions occurring due to the conjunction of these drugs. However, the best possible way is to avoid the combination that can be fatal.

Can you drink alcohol with Vicodin?

Doctors strictly condemn the drinking of alcohol with other drugs. The conjunction of alcohol with Vicodin is also prohibited. Vicodin as well as alcohol at first enhances the effects. Secondly, these both act as depressants. They extremely depress the respiratory system. Their combination will cast negative effects on the body. Addiction can also develop leading to an overdose. Therefore, you should not drink alcohol and Vicodin together or you will meet the worst of their side effects.

Side effects of Vicodin and Alcohol

Amplification of effects and risk of overdose occur with the combination. Two drugs acting in the same way, when taken together will definitely make a deadly blend. The outcome effects of this mixture will also be hazardous. The same goes for the combination of Vicodin and alcohol. They will cast deleterious effects on the body. These effects include:

Dizziness
Breathing problems
Loss of motor function
Drowsiness
Constipation
Slurred speech
Liver damage
Difficulty in urination
Pinpoint pupil
Memory problems
Impaired judgment
Sexual dysfunction
Uncontrolled movement of eyes

Vicodin and alcohol overdose

Alcohol and Vicodin together create extreme euphoric feelings at the start. You eventually start ingesting them together and more than the usual dose. That will end up at the risk of overdose that can be fatal. But how will you come to know that you are taking an overdose? Here are some signs that predict you are overdosing on these drugs.

Signs of overdose:

Sign of overdose includes:

Cold skin
More urge of taking drugs
Extreme confusion
Weak pulse
Irregular breathing and heartbeat
Stupor
Nausea and vomiting
Seizure
Excessive dizziness

Alcohol and Vicodin withdrawal

If you or your loved ones are sick of taking alcohol and Vicodin, you should consult a doctor or a rehab center. That will give you a proper approach to a healthy lifestyle over time. But, if you stop taking them at once on your own, you will definitely experience withdrawal symptoms. These may vary from moderate to severe.

Withdrawal symptoms:

Withdrawal symptoms include:

Nausea and vomiting
Muscle aching
Fever
Insomnia
Yawning
Hallucinations
Anxiety
Hand tremors
Diarrhea
Sweating
Slow movement

Before taking any medication, you should know about its adverse effects. Also, your doctor should be aware of your medical history. If you are an alcoholic, you should inform your doctor about it. Taking any medicine with alcohol can be fatal for you.

Norco is also one of those medications that give reactions to alcohol. By nature, it is a hydrocodone combination drug having traces of acetaminophen. Norco, when mixed with other substances, gives potential side effects. Moreover, if you develop tolerance against Norco, this can lead to abuse.

Can you mix Norco and alcohol?

Norco has some side effects. Mixing Norco with alcohol will exaggerate those side effects. The intense effects of this combination will heavily damage your body, especially your liver. Therefore, you should not take them together at all.

Norco Addiction and Abuse Side Effects

Alcohol and Norco both are CNS depressants. The depressing action of these drugs will lead to different and massive problems including impaired judgment, muscle weakness, confusion, and breathing problems. They can induce powerful sedation leading to coma.

Side effects of mixing Norco and Alcohol

Norco and alcohol mixture can impart some deleterious side effects. These side effects vary from short-term effects to long-lasting. Also, these effects can be hazardous for your life. These effects include:

Overdose
Drowsiness
Alcohol poisoning
Slow heart rate
Depressed breathing
Dizziness
Poor coordination
Loss of consciousness

Hydrocodone and alcohol should not be mixed. These substances will badly affect vital organs of the body and will lessen the body’s efficiency. Especially, their target will be the respiratory system. The probability of brain damage will also be there leading to coma or death.

Lortab is a blend of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. The main ingredient is hydrocodone which contributes to addiction. Also, it is a potent painkiller used to treat moderate to severe pain. Acetaminophen itself is also an over-the-counter painkiller. The primary purpose of adding acetaminophen into the hydrocodone is to amplify the effects of hydrocodone.

Lortab itself does not cause serious side effects. But, consumption of Lortab with alcohol will escalate the negative effects of Lortab. This combo can heavily damage the body. You should avoid mixing these two substances for a healthy recovery.

Dangers of mixing Lortab and alcohol

Drinking alcohol in daily routine is a common thing worldwide. But, when you are taking Lortab to cure the pain, the best possible way to escape the negative side effects of Lortab is to avoid alcohol consumption. Taking them together is certainly havoc. The dangers of mixing alcohol and Lortab include:

Memory loss
Dizziness
Weakness
Heart palpitations
Slurred speech
Constipation
Drowsiness
Difficulty in breathing
Loss of consciousness
Poor coordination
Liver damage
Anxiety
Itching sensations all over the body

Hydrocodone and alcohol should not be mixed. These substances will badly affect vital organs of the body and will lessen the body’s efficiency. Particularly, their target will be the respiratory system. The probability of brain damage will also be there leading to coma or death.

FAQs

Can you mix Vicodin and beer?

The use of Vicodin and beer can damage your organs. The liver metabolizes the alcohol. But too much consumption of beer will put a massive strain on the liver. This strain can damage the liver with time. Moreover, it will increase the negative effects of Vicodin that may include respiratory depression, confusion, loss of motor control, and memory problems. Therefore, you should avoid mixing these two substances to get rid of the negative side effects.u003cbru003e

Is Vicodin bad for your liver?

Vicodin is a potent painkiller. Although, the side effect profile is not that much harmful. But, taking a dose more than prescribed can cause an overdose. This overdose harms the body in many aspects. It can damage the liver that can ultimately cause acute liver failure. Therefore, you should avoid the overdose of Vicodin.u003cbru003e

What will happen when you mix Lortab and alcohol?

Doctors do not prescribe mixing Lortab and alcohol. The negative effects of Lortab will increase with alcohol consumption. These effects may include memory loss, drowsiness, constipation, slurred speech, poor coordination, and liver damage. You should resist taking Lortab with alcohol.u003cbru003e

HOW THE BALANCE CAN HELP WITH Mixing Drugs & Alcohol

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