Alcohol and Norco is one drug combination that should always be avoided.
Norco is the brand name of the combination of hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen and is a commonly prescribedopioid pain reliever. This drug combination was the most frequently prescribed drug inten American statesin 2017.
Given how commonly Norco is used, many people wonder if Norco can be combined with alcohol. In short, mixing Norco and alcohol is not safe and should be avoided.
Article at a Glance:
Important points to remember about Norco and alcohol use include:
- Mixing Norco and alcohol can dangerously lower breathing rate, causing coma, brain failure or death
- Mixing Norco and alcohol can also cause liver damage
- Signs of an overdose of Norco and alcohol include loss of consciousness, erratic breathing, choking and blue fingertips or lips
- Contact help immediately if an overdose is suspected
Mixing Norco and Alcohol
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that the manufacturer of Norco includes aboxed warning, the most serious type of warning on a drug label, noting that use of Norco with alcohol can cause respiratory depression, coma or death.
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How Norco and Alcohol Affect the Brain
The hydrocodone component of Norco is a semi-synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain. The pain-relieving effects of Norco are primarily due tohow the drug binds to opioid receptors in the brain. 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.
Alcohol affects the brainin a slightly different way than Norco does. It mimics the effects of gamma-Aminobutyric acid, or GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Mimicking GABA at the GABA receptor is how alcohol causes relaxation and sedation.
Alcohol also inhibits the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, glutamate. Both GABA and glutamate help control the body’s breathing. By increasing the inhibitory effects of GABA and decreasing the excitatory effects of glutamate, alcohol can slow down breathing.
Alcohol and Norco Can Lead to Respiratory Depression
Because both alcohol and Norco affect breathing rate on their own, they have a strong anddangerous effectwhen mixed. The rate of respiratory depression, or slow and ineffective breathing, is dramatically higher when alcohol and Norco are combined. Arecent studyshows that as little as one tablet of an opioid medication combined with modest alcohol intake can increase the risk of respiratory depression.
Alcohol and Norco Can Lead to Liver Damage
While respiratory depression is the main danger of combining Norco and alcohol, this drug combination can also affect the liver. Each Norco tablet contains 325 mg of acetaminophen. The FDA recommends amaximum daily doseof 3,000 mg of acetaminophen, which is the equivalent of nine Norco tablets.
However, the daily maximum is even lower if alcohol is consumed at the same time. Too much acetaminophen, or the combination of alcohol and acetaminophen, can cause liver failure.
Side Effects of Mixing Norco and Alcohol
Short-termside effectsof mixing Norco and alcohol include:
- Sedation
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lightheadedness
Long-term effects of using both Norco and alcohol include:
- Liver damage or failure
- Brain damage
- Increased overdose risk
- Irritability
- Potential for withdrawal effects
The combination of Norco and alcohol can also lead to a drug overdose. An overdose can occur soon after ingesting the two substances.
Signs of a Norco and alcohol overdose may include:
- Inability to walk
- Excessive sedation
- Unconscious
- Slow or erratic breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Blue fingertips or lips
An overdose with Norco and alcohol is a medical emergency. Medical help should be contacted immediately if an overdose is suspected.
Treatment for Norco and Alcohol Addiction
Norco and alcohol are highly addictive substances. Due to the nature of these two drugs, it is best to treat addiction to both substances at the same time.
When stopping one or both of these substances, a person may experience withdrawal symptoms. These are potentially dangerous and should be supervised by a health care provider or under the management of a doctor in amedical detox program.
Medication is available to help with opioid and alcohol addiction, as well as reversing an opioid overdose, but the most comprehensive care will come from anaddiction treatment program.
Treatment methods, managed by both medical andmental healthcare providers, should follow aprotocolthat includes the following:
- Medically assisted detox care
- Individual or group counseling
- Behavioral therapy
- Medications for mental health issues or physical conditions, if necessary
- Post-detox treatment consideration, including transitioning to inpatient or outpatient programs
If you are struggling from addiction to Norco or alcohol, you are not alone. Help is available. Contact a representative of The Recovery Village today to begin your path to recovery.
Norco and alcohol are both addictive substances. If you struggle with these substances, you may need professional help. The Recovery Village offerstreatment programsthat can help you or a loved one overcome addiction in a safe, supportive setting. To learn more about treatment at one of our accredited facilities,call The Recovery Villagetoday.
