Mixing Percocet and Alcohol: Realities and Risks
A Dangerous Duo: Mixing Percocet and Alcohol: Realities and Risks | Purpose Healing
The Side Effects and Risks of Drinking Alcohol With Oxycodone
Mixing Percocet and alcohol creates a far more dangerous situation than most people understand.
Percocet contains oxycodone, a powerful opioid drug that slows breathing, while alcohol suppresses the central nervous system. What starts as an effort to relax or feel a little pain relief can lead to serious health risks, including loss of consciousness, overdose, and other long-term harm.
The Purpose Healing Center team has seen the impact of an Opioid Use Disorder on clients and their loved ones. And the staff at our JCAHO-accredited rehab facilities have helped thousands of Arizona residents recover from abuse of opioids, alcohol, and other substance use disorders and enjoy a better life again.
While Percocet is commonly prescribed and alcohol is a legal substance, mixing them is extremely dangerous and can lead to a variety of physical and mental health conditions.
What Percocet Is and Why Combining It With Alcohol Is Dangerous
Percocet is a prescription drug that combines oxycodone and acetaminophen to treat moderate to severe pain. It’s usually used only when other prescription medications have failed to manage the pain.
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies it as a Schedule II drug because it has a high potential for abuse and dependence. They come in immediate- or controlled-release forms and are effective for managing chronic pain.
While it has legal use, the opioid component of Percocet can cause tolerance, leading to the need for larger doses to achieve the same effect.
Taking this opioid drug more often or in greater doses than prescribed can cause serious, life-threatening breathing problems. Mixing Percocet with alcohol is a high-risk gamble, which increases the risk of severe side effects or overdose.
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How Oxycodone and Alcohol Affect the Body When Taken Together
Polysubstance use, or using a combination of two or more substances, often means higher rates of overdose and other adverse health outcomes.
In the case of mixing alcohol and Percocet, alcohol intensifies the respiratory depression effects of opioids, leading to a higher rate of lethal overdoses. That happens because both substances depress the respiratory system, leading to breathing difficulties or even stopping respiration altogether.
The Danger of Mixing Alcohol With Oxycodone and Other Drugs
Mixing alcohol with Percocet is even more dangerous if other drugs are involved. Alcohol and oxycodone can interact with many substances, including other medications. The risk of overdose increases if the other substances also contribute to the sedative effects.
Alcohol also intensifies the effects of medications that act on the central nervous system, such as prescription stimulants. A fact sheet by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns that:
“Mixing alcohol with other drugs can increase your risk of overdose and serious damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.” – CDC
Taking alcohol with other medications, such as anxiety medications, sleep aids, or prescription stimulants, can set up a dangerous situation. Certain drug classes, like monoamine oxidase inhibitors can interfere with opiod metabolism, raising the risk of overdose.
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How Combining Percocet With Other Substances Intensifies Side Effects
Mixing Percocet and alcohol with other substances can lead to damaging side effects. Oxycodone works by binding to the brain’s opioid receptors, while alcohol depresses the nervous system, creating a synergistic effect that increases the intensity of each.
When additional substances are present, the body may experience profound sedation, dangerously low energy levels, or slow responses.
The impact is even more dangerous at high doses, or when substances are taken close together, like shortly after the last dose or too soon for the next dose. These patterns of use indicate increased tolerance and an increased overdose risk.
What are the Signs of Problematic Percocet and Alcohol Use?
Some of the common signs of escalating drug abuse involving alcohol and oxycodone include:
Physical signs:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea
- Early withdrawal symptoms before the next dose
Psychological signs:
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Loss of daily function
If you or someone you love exhibits these signs, call Purpose Healing Center for a free consultation.
Over-the-Counter Medications and Polysubstance Risk
Clients are often surprised that over-the-counter medications can influence overdose risk. For instance, Percocet already contains acetaminophen, and taking it with alcohol can lead to an acetaminophen overdose.
According to information provided by the National Institute of Health (NIH), acetaminophen is generally safe, but misuse can cause severe liver damage. That happens because alcohol interferes with normal liver function and reduces the body’s ability to metabolize medications normally. The risk of this is higher for older adults.
Short-Term Side Effects of Drinking Alcohol While Taking Percocet
Alcohol adds to Percocet’s sedation and leads to an increased risk of opioid-related death. Here are some of the warning signs:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Impaired coordination
- Blood pressure changes
- Low or irregular heart rate
- Shallow breathing (a sign of severe respiratory depression)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Extreme drowsiness
- Loss of consciousness
These are urgent signs; reach out for immediate medical attention. Once they are stable, reach out to a professional behavioral health care center for help with the addiction.
Long-Term Health Consequences of Ongoing Drug Use With Opioids
Long-term use of Percocet and alcohol increases the chances of damage not only to the liver but also to the heart (including heart attack) and the respiratory system. Long-term misuse leads to higher doses and greater danger of an opioid overdose.
The overdose threat is real. Arizona Human Services public health data reveals that 1,927 Arizonans died of opioid overdoses in 2022. Of those, 93% involved were accidental and usually involved prescription opioids.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Warnings
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Drug Awareness Network (DAWN) reports that the two leading substances leading to emergency departments in 2021 were alcohol (39.33%) and opioids (14.07%).
The opioid numbers included heroin, fentanyl, naturally-derived opioids, and prescription opioid medications in the category. The data also shows that 21.2% of ED visits result from polysubstance abuse.
Recovery Programs for Percocet or Other Opioids and Alcohol Abuse
Getting professional help is critical for anyone struggling with Percocet and alcohol abuse. Purpose Healing Center provides inpatient or outpatient recovery programs, depending on the client’s needs.
Those struggling with long-term addictions or considering self-harm or suicide attempts benefit from the structured 24/7 environment of our inpatient treatment center.
Clients who still have good daily function and need to balance recovery with career or family obligations find the outpatient recovery center options most beneficial.
Treatment for polysubstance use is customized to meet each person’s needs but often includes:
- Medical detox
- Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Medication management
- Individual and group therapy
- Stress or anger management and life skills training
- Aftercare planning
Our team strives to devise a recovery plan that will help you live a healthy, long-term sober life.
Get Support for Lasting Recovery Success at Purpose Today
Don’t wait to get help if you need help to stop abusing oxycontin, alcohol, or other substances. You will find licensed, experienced mental healthcare providers at Purpose Healing Center’s locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale, as well as our expanding locations across the state.
At all our locations, our team follows the latest research and uses evidence-based tools to guide you out of addiction and into a place of well-being.
And our programs accept nearly all forms of AHCCCS insurance, as well as most commercial insurances in-network, which allows many clients to receive care without out-of-pocket costs.
Call us today to learn more about customized recovery options. Speaking with an admissions representative is free and confidential, so please reach out for support now.
References Cited
- Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Oxycodone. U.S. Department of Justice.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). The dangers of polysubstance use.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Acetaminophen. In StatPearls.
- Arizona Department of Health Services. (n.d.). Arizona’s ongoing fight against fentanyl and overdose fatalities.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Preliminary findings from drug-related emergency department visits, 2021: Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) (HHS Publication No. PEP22-07-03-001).
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