Continued use will also cause reoccurring stress to the lungs and long-term damage. Any prolonged use will cause severe liver damage, as both alcohol and opioids are processed in the liver. Other outcomes from mixing opioids with alcohol include extreme sedation, confusion and sleepiness. Wheezing, which indicates constricted air passages.Changing color of the skin, usually causing blue coloration around the mouth and fingertips.The mixture can also cause respiratory distress, with symptoms that include: When mixed, alcohol and Vicodin can slow the CNS to the point where the brain fails to send signals to the body to breathe, which can lead to death. Opioids and alcohol are both depressants and both slow the central nervous system (CNS), which is responsible for breathing. Mixing alcohol with any opiate like Vicodin is extremely dangerous. What Are the Risks of Mixing Alcohol with Vicodin or Other Opioids? If you experience any unusual thoughts, a slow heartbeat, fainting or confusion, you should consult your doctor immediately. What Are the Side Effects of Vicodin or Other Hydrocodone-Based Medications? Ultimately, Vicodin or other hydrocodone-based medications should only be treated as short-term solutions. This is especially true when opioids are mixed with alcohol, another CNS depressant. But, when the CNS slows too much, overdose and other dangerous health consequences can result. This will present itself as feelings of calm or sleepiness. With Vicodin or hydrocodone, the opioid depresses or slows the brain's functioning which results in slower breathing and heart rate. In simpler words, it moderates breathing, heart rate and brain function. Depressants slow the central nervous system (CNS)-the parts responsible for sending signals across the spinal cord and brain. It's generally prescribed for moderate to severe short-term pain. How Does Vicodin Work?Īs mentioned above, the hydrocodone found in Vicodin is an opioid, which is classified as a depressant. The same or similar combinations of hydrocodone and acetaminophen can also be found in other drugs, including but not limited to:Īny prescription painkillers that include hydrocodone present a possibility for dependence or addiction, and any descriptions or dangerous mixtures we describe further down on this page also apply to other brand names that include hydrocodone. With its inclusion of hydrocodone, Vicodin is classified as an opioid medication and poses serious risk of dependence. It is generally prescribed for pain relief, but can be misused because of its euphoric capabilities. Vicodin is a pharmaceutical drug and a composite mixture of hydrocodone and acetaminophen. In the event of drug dependence or addiction, recovery is always possible: many have and will continue to recover from addiction and lead lives of health and hope. So Vicodin and hydrocodone use needs to be very carefully managed. Not to mention, mixing painkillers with alcohol can create an overdose and prove fatal. Many people with opioid use disorders started with a prescription medication for pain management as a result of an injury or health condition. Prescription painkillers often contain opioids, and someone can easily misuse legally prescribed medications and become dependent or addicted to them. Heroin is not the only opioid, and it's not the only danger. But many still misunderstand the epidemic, or point to heroin or illegal drugs as the primary contributors. It's a public health crisis: opioids damage our loved ones, our health care systems and our communities. Tragically, opioid misuse has swept the nation and has garnered the well-deserved status of an epidemic.
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