The Dangers of Mixing Ultracet and Alcohol

Ultracet is a prescription pain reliever recommended to patients experiencing short-term moderate to severe pain. Ultracet should not be mixed with alcohol due to the risk of potentially life-threatening respiratory depression and liver toxicity. Ultracet is highly addictive and has a high rate of overdose.

Ultracet is not indicated for use for more than five continuous days due to the high risk of liver toxicity. Serious side effects of Ultracet may include seizures, blistering skin rash, respiratory depression (shallow breathing), and cardiovascular depression (weak pulse).

Other potential serious side effects of Ultracet include nausea, vomiting, constipation, fainting, fever, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, loss of coordination, and agitation. Mild side effects may include dizziness, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, dry mouth, anxiety, blurred vision, constipation, stomach pain, excessive sweating, insomnia, and loss of appetite.

Prolonged treatment with Ultracet or other opioids for a month or longer is known to cause adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is the result of the adrenal gland not being able to produce enough of the stress hormone cortisol to keep up with the body’s demands. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include chronic fatigue, mood swings, and brain fog.

Ultracet is a combination medication of the synthetic opioid tramadol and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Ultracet is manufactured as oral tablets. Tablets contain 37.5 mg of tramadol and 325 mg of acetaminophen. 325 mg is the maximum single dose of acetaminophen allowed by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) due to the risk of liver toxicity.

Tramadol is a centrally acting opioid agonist. It is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol achieves its effects by binding to opioid receptors and inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. By binding to opioid receptors, tramadol reduces the patient’s perception of pain. Acetaminophen is a mild over-the-counter pain reliever that is known to significantly increase the pain-relieving effects of tramadol.

Mixing alcohol with Ultracet dramatically increases the risk of serious complications. The combination of alcohol and tramadol contributes to alcohol toxicity and opioid toxicity in the blood and liver. Alcohol and tramadol conflict in the liver, resulting in extended clearance times and elevated plasma concentrations of both substances. This increases the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression, coma, and death. The presence of acetaminophen amplifies these risks by further taxing the metabolic processes of the liver. Necrosis of the liver is the primary risk factor of the combined use of acetaminophen and alcohol.

Ultracet should not be mixed with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants due to the increased risk of potentially life-threatening respiratory depression and liver toxicity. Substances to be avoided include tranquilizers, other opioids, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines, and non-benzodiazepine sedative/hypnotics.

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