Many individuals take pain pills daily. Whether they are taking over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or prescription pain pills like hydrocodone, pain pills are a part of many people’s lives. When someone routinely takes pain medications, they may not consider how pain pills interact with other substances. One example of this is mixing pain pills and alcohol.
Pain pills (of any kind) should never be mixed with alcohol. However, many people fail to realize the dangers of this mixture due to the normalization of pain pills and alcohol use in our society. Unfortunately, this causes many individuals to suffer from adverse health effects and overdoses as a result of mixing pain pills and alcohol.
To learn more about the dangers of mixing pain pills and alcohol as well as how a drug recovery coach can help, continue reading.
How Does Alcohol Interact With Pain Pills?
While many people view alcohol as a harmless substance, this chemical can cause an array of health issues - including addiction and overdose. When alcohol is mixed with other substances, individuals may experience deadly consequences. This is especially true for the mixture of pain pills and alcohol.
Let’s take a look at how alcohol interacts with various types of pain pills.
Opioids
Opioid pain pills are only available by prescription. However, some individuals obtain opioid pain medication illegally. Regardless of how opioids are obtained, mixing these pills with alcohol is never a good idea. The combination of alcohol and opioid pain medication has the potential to cause lethal consequences. While some individuals become drowsy and face memory problems, others experience respiratory failure and lethal overdoses.
The side effects of mixing opioid pain pills and alcohol include:
● Nausea and vomiting
● Dehydration
● Increased or decreased blood pressure
● Irregular heart rate and rhythm
● Cardiovascular complications
● Extreme dizziness
● Problems with coordination
● Disinhibition
● Abnormal behavior
● Prescription pill addiction
● Loss of consciousness
● Respiratory arrest
● Coma
● Life-threatening overdose
NSAIDs
NSAIDs are the pain pills available to purchase over-the-counter, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen. Mixing NSAIDs and alcohol does not cause an immediate health concern. However, if someone does this repeatedly over a long time, adverse health effects will occur. For example, the mixture of NSAIDs and alcohol is known to cause the development of stomach ulcers or significant liver damage over time.
The risks of mixing NSAIDs and alcohol include:
● Stomach ulcers
● Liver damage
● Kidney damage
● Increased drowsiness
Muscle Relaxants
Muscle relaxants are a type of pain pill used in the treatment of conditions such as chronic back pain or injuries such as slipped discs. When someone mixes muscle relaxants and alcohol, they are at a high risk of developing an array of adverse health effects. One of these effects includes alcohol and prescription pill addiction.
The risks of mixing muscle relaxants with alcohol include:
● Slowed breathing
● Increased drowsiness and fatigue
● Extreme confusion
● Dizziness and loss of coordination
● Impaired motor control
● Erratic or unusual behavior
● Issues with memory
● Passing out due to low blood pressure
● Blurred vision
● Urine retention
● Liver damage
● Seizure
● Overdose
● Addiction
Why Would Someone Mix Pain Pills and Alcohol?
One of the main reasons an individual would mix pain pills with alcohol is their susceptibility to substance abuse. If an individual is an alcoholic and receives a prescription for pain pills, they are likely to continue drinking while they are on their medication. On the other hand, some individuals who abuse pain pills might decide to mix them with alcohol to enhance their “high”.
Individuals who are addicted to their prescription pain pills will exhibit the common drug abuse symptoms. The symptoms of addiction vary from person to person, however, there are common drug abuse symptoms of prescription pill addiction to be aware of.
The symptoms of prescription pain pill addiction include:
● Constipation
● Nausea
● Feelings of euphoria
● Slowed breathing rate
● Drowsiness and confusion
● Poor coordination
● Increasing their dosage frequently
● Increased sensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia)
● Attending multiple doctors to receive more pills
● Being unable to function without the substance
● Attempting to cut down or quit their use but being unsuccessful
● The presence of withdrawal symptoms
Mixing pain pills and alcohol for any reason is extremely dangerous. If someone you know is displaying the symptoms of addiction, it may be time to consider an intervention.
Getting Help for Alcohol and Pain Pill Abuse
Drug recovery coaches can help the family members of addicted individuals perform an intervention. Interventions allow the family to address their concerns and show their support to the addicted individual. Overall, the goal of an intervention is to convince the struggling individual to attend professional addiction treatment.
Michael Herbert, The Recovery Guide, has more than 30 years of experience working closely with individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery issues. He is a seasoned drug recovery coach and can help you and your family establish long-term goals and access the tools you need for continued abstinence and recovery for the entire family. Get in touch with Michael today at 561-221-7677 to schedule an appointment.
