The Risks of Combining Oxycodone and Alcohol

The acetaminophen found alongside oxycodone in Percocet can have negative effects on your liver. Using the drug long-term or taking high doses puts excess stress on the liver. Using an opiate with alcohol would formally qualify as misuse of the drug due to the instructions on the label prohibiting the use of it in conjunction with alcohol.

1. This means the effect of each substance is stronger when taken together than when taken separately.
2. Because of the intoxicating effects of both drugs, people may forget that they took a Percocet dose and take another.
3. Depressants work with gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that’s important for sleep, relaxation, and anxiety relief.
4. The potential for harm is not limited to the direct effects of the drugs themselves.
5. The drug reaches peach concentrations in the body within 1-2 hours following ingestion.

Anyone who obtains, sells, or possesses such a product without a written prescription from a physician violates state and federal laws. Oxycodone is the primary active ingredient in several medications, including Percocet and OxyContin. It is primarily prescribed in pill form, and it is most often prescribed to treat chronic or postoperative pain. It also global news: busting myths on alcohol and covid-19 indicates oxycodone can only be used for specific purposes and according to a physician’s instructions. Oxycodone is highly addictive, so you should be aware of the symptoms of addiction in yourself or a loved one. In the event of opioid or alcohol dependence, there are a variety of treatments and support groups available to help overcome addiction.

Depending on your individual situation, your treatment plan could be either outpatient or inpatient. You stay at your home during outpatient treatment while you stay at a rehabilitation facility during inpatient treatment. Your healthcare provider will work with you to discuss your options, the pros and cons of each, and how much they may cost. Since these symptoms can be severe, you may need to detox in a medical setting under the supervision of medical professionals to help ensure your safety.

Do Not Mix Alcohol and Opioids

For this reason, oxycodone is federally classified as a Schedule II drug, meaning its use may potentially lead to addiction as well as severe psychological or physical dependence. The risk of harm increases with the amount of alcohol consumed, but for people who use opioids, there is no safe level of alcohol to consume. Mixing prescription drugs with other substances, such as alcohol, is incredibly dangerous.

Opioids like oxycodone are technically not central nervous system depressants like alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines. Depressants work with gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical addiction relapse that’s important for sleep, relaxation, and anxiety relief. Alcohol is a CNS depressant, meaning that it depresses or suppresses the actions of the neurons (nerves) in the CNS.

Some health officials have reported that 37% of overdose deaths caused by the combined use of alcohol and drugs involve opioids like oxycodone. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when a doctor prescribes them, and a person takes them for a short amount of time. However, opioids can become addictive, as they produce a euphoric “high” feeling. drug addiction articles This can lead to overdose and death if a person takes them regularly for nonmedical reasons. According to the World Health Organization, about 115,000 people died of an opioid overdose in 2017. If a person combines opioids and alcohol, the effects of each can become stronger than they would be alone, which can have dangerous side effects.

When taken together, they can increase the risk of addiction, overdose, or liver damage. They can also amplify the intoxicating effects of both, leading to impaired coordination and judgment and, in turn, an increased risk of injury to yourself and others. An opioid overdose occurs when cellular receptors in the brain, called opioid receptors, are overstimulated by excessive amounts of opioid drugs. The depressive effects of the drugs cause many vital functions to slow down, most especially breathing.

How to find treatment or support for addiction

The most serious potential side effect is depressed breathing, which can result in death. If someone has mixed alcohol and opioids and appears to be at risk of complications, a person should call emergency services. 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. The side effects of mixing alcohol and Percocet can be dire and should be avoided.

Alcohol interferes with communication between nerve cells in the body, which can lead to permanent damage to the nervous system and even cause a permanent imbalance in the body. Alcohol acts as a depressant to the nervous system, meaning it slows down the neurotransmitters in the brain that communicate with the rest of the nerves in the body. In the short term, this can lead to impaired judgment and vision, as well as slowed coordination and reaction time. Oxycodone acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to deliver pain relief. Because oxycodone works in the pleasure centers of the brain, it has a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Do not mix alcohol with prescription medications, particularly opioids, as this can lead to slowed breathing, impaired judgement, overdose, and/or death. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, combining oxycodone with alcohol can lead to respiratory depression (slowed breathing or cessation of breathing). Lack or loss of oxygen can lead to paralysis, nerve damage, kidney failure, fluid build-up in the lungs, pneumonia, or death. It is common in the United States to abuse substances like oxycodone and alcohol together. There is no doubt that alcohol is one of the most popular recreational drugs in the world. The United States saw 43 opioid prescriptions for every 100 people in 2020.

Outpatient Treatment

Oxycodone is a potent pain-relieving medicine that should be reserved for mainly cancer-related pain. It carries a high potential for addiction and common side effects include sedation and constipation. Inpatient treatment centers often have phases of treatment, with different expectations and activities during each phase.

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. This can depend on a person’s age, weight, gender, and other factors. Medical intervention—such as naloxone treatment—is required in case of overdose to avoid death. Oxycodone is a highly potent opiate medication that is processed from the opium in the Asian poppy plant. Opiates are drugs that have long been identified as significant drugs of abuse worldwide.

When taken at the prescribed dose, acetaminophen found in Percocet is only mildly toxic to the liver. But when alcohol is added to the mix, the potential for hepatotoxicity (liver poisoning) increases. Most people feel the effects of the immediate-release formulas of oxy within minutes of consumption.

These programs are best for individuals who have very serious substance use disorders who need additional support to get and stay sober. If you or your loved one are battling an alcohol and/or oxycodone addiction, it is important to seek out treatment. There are different treatment options, depending on the situation and individual’s needs. 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.

Regulatory agencies have long been concerned by just how addictive it is. As far back as the 1960’s, organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime classified it as a dangerous drug. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use oxycodone only for the indication prescribed.