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For people who are searching for ways to potentiate hydrocodone, it’s important to understand the risks and dangers of hydrocodone potentiators. Hydrocodone abuse on its own is dangerous, but when you potentiate hydrocodone, you raise the risks even more.
Hydrocodone can be prescribed as a single-ingredient medication. However, it’s more commonly given to patients in combination drugs such as Vicodin. Hydrocodone is combined with acetaminophen and ibuprofen in these combination drugs to improve its effectiveness.
Because of how hydrocodone interacts with the central nervous systems’ opioid receptors, people can feel high when they use this and other opioids, particularly when they take high doses. An opioid high from prescription pain medicines can include euphoria, relaxation and feelings of well-being. These pleasurable effects can trigger a cycle of addiction in some individuals, and they may find other ways to abuse the drug once they’ve developed a tolerance and no longer feel the effects as strongly. For example, people may abuse extended-release hydrocodone by crushing it and dissolving it so they can inject it and feel its effects faster. Hydrocodone can also be abused by crushing and snorting it.
Abusing hydrocodone can lead to an overdose because of respiratory depression. If hydrocodone is included in medication with acetaminophen, it can cause liver damage or acute liver failure when taken in large amounts.
Other indicators that you or someone close to you could be abusing hydrocodone include chewing hydrocodone tablets, taking larger doses than prescribed, taking hydrocodone more frequently than prescribed, or continuing to take hydrocodone even after you’re no longer experiencing pain.
The reason grapefruit juice is a possible hydrocodone potentiator is that it makes hydrocodone harder to break down, allowing its effects to be felt for longer. Not everyone is going to experience the same reaction with grapefruit juice and hydrocodone, but it is possible that combining the two can increase the drug’s effects and increase the likelihood of negative or dangerous side effects.
Along with possibly feeling more of a high from using a hydrocodone potentiator like grapefruit juice, you’re also more likely to experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth and other side effects of hydrocodone.
Benadryl is another substance that some people use as a hydrocodone potentiator because it also acts as a depressant in the body, amplifying the effects of hydrocodone. However, this also increases the associated risks, including overdose. Benzodiazepines, alcohol and other psychoactive substances can also be considered hydrocodone potentiators because they can amplify the effects of the drug.
Unfortunately, there are entire tutorials online that instruct people how to follow hydrocodone potentiator protocols to maximize their high. It’s important to keep in mind that many risks come with using potentiators, including the higher likelihood of experiencing an overdose.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
