Mixing Oxymorphone Hydrochloride with Alcohol

Alcohol should not be consumed while taking oxymorphone hydrochloride. Mixing the two substances can increase the risk of complications and overdose, including blackouts, loss of consciousness, and death. One of the primary effects oxymorphone hydrochloride is the suppression of central nervous system activity -particularly respiration. Combining oxymorphone hydrochloride with central nervous system depressants like alcohol can cause breathing to become inadequate.

Common side effects of oxymorphone hydrochloride use include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and constipation. Side effects can become more severe when oxymorphone hydrochloride is mixed with other substances.

Share with your doctor if you’re taking other opioid pain relievers, cough suppressants, sleep medications, muscle relaxants, or antihistamines. Alcohol and marijuana use should be disclosed as well.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride is an opioid pain reliever that’s commonly prescribed for pain management following invasive surgery. It’s particularly effective at reducing the pain from dyspnea associated with pulmonary edema and heart failure. Oxymorphone hydrochloride is also given before surgery to relieve patient anxiety and as an obstetric analgesic to maintain anesthesia.

Oxymorphone is ten times more powerful than morphine and can be highly addictive for many patients. Extended-release versions are currently the only variety of oxymorphone available by prescription in the US. Extended-release tablets have a higher drug content that’s designed to be released gradually over an extended period. Crushing up the pill bypasses this extended-release feature and increases the chance of overdose.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride should never be mix with alcohol. Combining oxymorphone with alcohol alters the ratio of oxymorphone that enters blood circulation. This increases concentrations of oxymorphone hydrochloride in blood plasma and lengthens the drug’s half-life. Alcohol can increase plasma concentrations of oxymorphone hydrochloride by between 70% and 270%. Higher percentage alcohols cause a more dramatic rise in plasma concentrations than lower percentage alcohols.

The primary risk associated with drinking alcohol while taking oxymorphone hydrochloride is severe respiratory depression. Both alcohol and oxymorphone hydrochloride act as central nervous system depressants. Their combined effects can cause breathing to become insufficient and deprive the brain and heart of oxygen.

Oxymorphone hydrochloride should only be administered when other less addictive painkillers are inadequate. Patients should be monitored closely when they are given the initial dose of oxymorphone hydrochloride. In cases of hypersensitivity to the drug, even moderate doses can result in severe respiratory depression. Individuals should be on close watch for the first 24 hours following the initial treatment for signs of inadequate breathing.

Any substance that acts as a central nervous system depressant can have compounding effects on the respiratory drive. Combining alcohol consumption with oxymorphone hydrochloride use can lead to respiratory failure. In such cases, an opioid antagonist will need to be administered in order to reverse the effects of oxymorphone.

If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, The Recovery Village is available to answer any questions you may have.