However, hydrocodone affects other parts of the brain including the medullary respiratory center. Hydrocodone inhibits the respiratory center in the brain, causing slow and ineffective breathing. Hydrocodone is a highly addictive opioid drug that has earned the reputation of the most prescribed opioid painkiller in America. By any name —Vicodin, Lorcet orLortab— you may receive hydrocodone for chronic pain, unmanageable coughing or after major surgery. This Schedule II drug connects to your brain’s opioid receptors, creating a high that is all too easy to become hooked on. Abusing opioids comes with its own set of problems that areoftenexacerbated when you add alcohol to the mix.
- It’s imperative that you seek medically assisted treatment to fully detox from these substances and cope with the withdrawal symptoms.
- The FDA recommends a maximum daily dose of 3,000 mg of acetaminophen, which is the equivalent of nine Norco tablets.
- Together, they can increase the risk of stomach ulcers, bleeding and other gastrointestinal issues.
- Consuming large amounts of acetaminophen, especially when combined with alcohol, can overwhelm the liver’s ability to process the substances, leading to liver toxicity or failure.
- Located in the Pacific Northwest, The Recovery Village Ridgefield provides various treatment levels designed to meet your specific needs.
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The rate of respiratory depression, or slow and ineffective breathing, is dramatically higher when alcohol and Norco are combined. A recent study shows that as little as one tablet of an opioid medication combined with modest alcohol intake can increase the risk of respiratory depression. The hydrocodone component of Norco is a semi-synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain. The pain-relieving effects of Norco are primarily due to how the drug binds to opioid receptors in the brain.
However, opioids also carry a high risk of dependence and addiction, particularly with prolonged use. The body’s tolerance can develop quickly, meaning a person needs higher or more frequent doses to achieve the same effects. Opioids are a class of drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain to provide pain relief. They are derived from or synthesized to mimic compounds naturally found in the opium poppy plant. Opioids are commonly prescribed for the short-term management of moderate to severe pain, but they can also be produced and sold illegally (such as in the case of heroin). Upon mixing hydrocodone and alcohol, a person may feel peaceful or relaxed.
The combination can also impair judgment and motor skills, increasing the risk of accidents. The immediate danger of combining Norco and alcohol lies in the heightened risk of overdose, which can rapidly escalate to life-threatening conditions. Signs of overdose may include severe respiratory depression, profound sedation, loss of consciousness, and even death if not promptly addressed. We understand that reaching out for help with an addiction to hydrocodone and alcohol can be difficult. We are here to help you through every step of the process from help detoxifying to getting intense one-on-one help with inpatient addiction treatment. Mixing hydrocodone with alcohol can have extremely dangerous, potentially deadly consequences.
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Even with previous use with no problems, tolerance, and reaction become unpredictable. Any of these combinations is a risk for severe effects, so it is important to know about these risks. The brain cells can sustain damage from lack of oxygen almost immediately, leading to lasting neurological issues or life-threatening conditions. When deeply sedated, a person may lose consciousness and cannot respond quickly in critical moments.
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- When taken together, each drug exacerbates the effects of the other, and you will likely lose control of your motor skills and judgment faster than you thought possible.
- It can make it hard to breathe, which can damage your brain and other organs.
- While it is not an opioid, large doses of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.
- With opioids, overdose typically results from severe respiratory depression.
- Wellness Retreat specializes in drug and alcohol detox and residential treatment, providing a holistic approach to recovery that addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological facets of addiction.
It’s imperative that you seek medically assisted treatment to fully detox from these substances and cope with the withdrawal symptoms. Knowing this valuable information could save your life or that of a friend. We can help you explore your substance abuse treatment options and get you started on your journey to sobriety and drug-free living.
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However, there are several combinations of hydrocodone and ibuprofen currently in use, such as Ibudone, Reprexain, and Vicoprofen. Openly discussing these risks could prevent an avoidable tragedy and perhaps save someone’s life. Getting mixed up can cause us to get lost, creating a sense of overwhelm. Losing coordination can complicate simple movements; in worst-case scenarios, you might abruptly lose consciousness. Causes uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, and visual disturbances such as double or blurred vision.
Many opioids are also metabolized by the liver, which can place added stress on this vital organ. Over time, mixing the two can increase the risk of liver disease and other health complications. Polysubstance use (using more than one drug simultaneously) can increase the likelihood of developing dependence or addiction. People who regularly mix alcohol and opioids may find they experience cravings for both substances and struggle with controlling their use. Understanding why someone would want to mix hydrocodone with alcohol is extremely complex.
If you are struggling from addiction to Norco or alcohol, you are not alone. Contact a representative of The Recovery Village today to begin your path to recovery. Unfortunately, if you take hydrocodone too long, it can become difficult to create that euphoric feeling.
However, its potential to induce euphoria makes it susceptible to misuse. The allure of Norco and alcohol recreational use can lead individuals down a path of increased tolerance, where higher doses are required to achieve the same effects, eventually spiraling into dependence and addiction. If you have found yourself unable to quit a drug habit, don’t try to go it alone.
Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Combining alcohol with opioids amplifies the drowsiness and sedation caused by each substance individually. This can make activities like driving or operating machinery extremely unsafe, even deadly. Opioids work by binding to receptors in the brain and throughout the body, reducing the perception of pain and producing feelings of euphoria.
No, this is because Tylenol is a branded form of acetaminophen, one of Norco’s components. Therefore taking them together means you will be taking more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen, which may lead to liver damage. Founded in 2014, Addiction Resource provides free support and guidance for addiction recovery. Take hydrocodone exactly as prescribed, never adjusting timing or dosage independently. Avoid increasing dosage, even if the pain worsens, without direct medical consultation and supervision.
If left untreated, the side effects of mixing hydrocodone with alcohol can be deadly. Central nervous system depressants are dangerous to our health on their own, but when they are combined with other substances that are also CNS depressants, the effect can be deadly. This is because the central nervous system controls all vital functions of the body, including keeping the heart pumping and the lungs breathing.
