Many people don’t realize that common over-the-counter medication negatively interacts with other drugs. If you aren’t careful about recreational or prescription use, you may experience the consequences of the 5 most common drug interactions.
Pharmacists and doctors attempt to control potentially dangerous drug combinations by monitoring medications. However, if you’re using illegal substances, you may experience difficult side effects. When combining certain chemicals, even alcohol is dangerous. Thus, it’s important to be careful when using various drugs to treat multiple conditions.
Vicodin and Xanax
When combining Vicodin and Xanax, side effects are serious. Vicodin is a blend of acetaminophen and hydrocodone. Whereas Xanax is alprazolam, which is a benzo.
Overall, Xanax enhances the effects of Vicodin. The primary concern when combining them is shallow breathing and increased sedation. The combination also increases the potential for abuse and overdose.
Sometimes, different doctors may prescribe both medications. A primary care provider could prescribe someone with chronic pain and anxiety Vicodin while a psychiatrist prescribes Xanax. It’s important to your well being to understand the consequences of combining the two.
Opiates and Alcohol
Opiates slow down brain and organ functionality. Overall, alcohol is the most common depressant. Often, people use it recreationally to take the edge off. Unfortunately, it causes more deaths than any other drug.
Furthermore, when combining alcohol and opiates, the sedative effects of both increase. When consuming them together, Alcohol and prescription painkillers are deadly. You can pass out, lose coordination, have severe dehydration, or experience seizures.
Benzos and Alcohol
When taking benzos with alcohol, you’re doubling the effects of both. You might also experience hallucinations. Most importantly, you could lose consciousness or even die. It’s best never to combine these.
Suboxone and Other Prescriptions
Suboxone increases the effects of other drugs. If you take it with stimulants, it can cause a dangerous heart rate and blood pressure spike.
Unfortunately, mixing Suboxone with benzos is becoming increasingly common. This is because people often take prescription Suboxone to recover from opioid addiction.
Additionally, doctors prescribe benzos during bouts of anxiety. Unfortunately, use may cause coma or death as well. The likelihood of overdose increases when taking two substances at once.
Opioids and Potentiators
Some people mix opioids with over-the-counter substances to produce feel-good endorphins. Even orange and grapefruit juice may increase oxycodone concentration.
Many people take Antihistamines, sleeping and nausea medications with opioids to increase their high. Even the herb St. John’s wort enhances the effects of opiates.
Taking opioids with potentiators leads to unpredictable side effects. It can also increase drug abuse potential. Above all, it’s best not to try combining these.
Professional Help for the 5 Most Common Drug Interactions
Overall, opioid overdoses are dangerously increasing. However, anyone can quickly become physically dependent on any substance. Fortunately, therapists at a professional drug addiction rehab facility are familiar with the 5 most common drug interactions and can safely guide you to lasting recovery. We offer a number of effective, comprehensive addiction treatment programs including:
Call Steps to Recovery in Levittown, Pennsylvania at 866-488-8684 to get the necessary help in a supportive, caring environment.
