There are many dangers of mixing oxycodone and alcohol, including life-threatening side effects like overdose.
Both oxycodone and alcohol can have serious side effects on their own; together they may intensify these symptoms in unpredictable ways. Health care providers and physicians strongly advise against mixing prescription drugs like oxycodone and other opioids with alcohol. Despite the warnings, however, many people continue to experiment with polydrug abuse and combining different substances in order to experience an intense high.
At our drug and alcohol treatment center in Gilman, we’re aware of how often people combine their medications with alcohol. We offer a variety of addiction services to help those struggling to quit substance abuse. Our doors are always open.
What Is Oxycodone and What Does It Do?
Oxycodone is a prescription opioid that’s used to treat pain. Depending on the dosage and tablet, its effects may be continuously released over a long period of time rather than all at once. Like other opioids, oxycodone has a high potential for abuse because of its high potency. Oxycodone works by targeting opioid receptors in the central nervous system, blocking pain and producing euphoric side effects. These feelings of pleasure are what usually hook people and feed addictions. Without an opiate detox, it can be difficult to stop abusing oxycodone.
In addition to pain relief, oxycodone side effects include:
- Decreased heart rate
- Slowed breathing
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Euphoria
People who develop an oxycodone addiction and fail to receive opioid addiction treatment are at risk of developing other health conditions like hyperalgesia and liver disease. We offer a variety of substance-specific treatments and more at Banyan Heartland.
What Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Oxycodone?
People usually drink to feel calm and relaxed. Alcohol is a depressant that targets the central nervous system by slowing down various functions. Common side effects of alcohol include slowed reflexes, reduced heart rate and breathing, and poor coordination. On its own, alcohol can be dangerous, so imagine how predictable the dangers of mixing oxycodone and alcohol can be.
Both alcohol and oxycodone produce feelings of relaxation, which can make them a tempting pair. When you mix alcohol and oxycodone, the former may increase the sedative effects of the latter, which can be highly dangerous. The effects of mixing oxycodone and alcohol can not only affect motor coordination and balance, it can also lead to overdose. The worst of the alcohol and oxycodone side effects is respiratory failure. Because both substances relax the individual, they may struggle to breathe, causing oxygen deprivation, brain damage, and even death.
Especially now that the opioid epidemic in Illinois and other parts of the United States is becoming difficult to manage as the struggle with opioid abuse rates continues, it’s important to ask for help.
If you or a loved one is battling an addiction and need help, call Banyan Treatment Centers Heartland now at 888-280-4763 for more information about our rehab facility in Illinois and the levels of care we offer.
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