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Taking Endone with alcohol can have dangerous consequences. Since both substances are central nervous system depressants, combined Endone and alcohol side effects can be life-threatening. From respiratory depression to overdose, keep reading to learn more about the effects of mixing alcohol with oxycodone.

What Is Endone Used For and How Does It Work?

Endone is the brand name for oxycodone, which is a narcotic drug that’s used to treat moderate to severe pain. As part of the opioid drug class, Endone has a high risk for addiction and dependence.

Strong prescription medications like oxycodone (Endone) are synthesized from different opiate alkaloid precursor substances, which are originally derived from the opium poppy plant. These medications can help treat pain after surgery or caused by an injury, as well as chronic pain.

Oxycodone works like other opioids by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain and nervous system. When bound to these receptors, Endone or oxycodone blocks pain signals from the body, alleviating the person’s symptoms.

The potency of oxycodone or Endone has been compared to morphine. It works in the central nervous system to alter our perception of and response to pain. In addition to pain reduction, Endone side effects also include:

• Slowed heart rate
• Sedation
• Low blood pressure
• Nausea and/or vomiting

However, oxycodone and other opioid drugs pose a high risk for dependence and addiction. Endone is addictive because of its effects on dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control mood and reward in the brain.

When dopamine is activated and its levels elevated, a rush of euphoria and a sense of well-being and pleasure can occur. This high or sensation encourages further drug-taking behavior, which leads to physical dependence and eventually addiction.

How Does Alcohol Work?

Alcohol is not used for medicinal purposes but is rather a substance that’s available for purchase and use to adults who are 21 years and older in the United States. People usually drink alcohol for recreational purposes.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, meaning it works in the brain and spinal cord to produce sedation, relaxation, and calm. When you drink alcohol, the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA is activated and elevated, which in turn slows down functions like thinking, concentration, and breathing.

When you drink more alcohol than your body can process, the extra builds up in your bloodstream and travels to the brain, which can lead to various side effects. The most common effects of alcohol on the body include:

• Drowsiness
• Slowed reflexes
• Impaired judgment
• Reduced breathing and heart rate
• Impaired decision making
• Poor coordination and motor skills
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Loss of consciousness

Due to its effects on the nervous system, doctors usually advise against alcohol use when taking most if not all medications. What’s more, alcohol is also addictive, and drinking on oxycodone can increase the risk of addiction, among other dangers.

What Happens When You Mix Alcohol and Oxycodone (Endone)?

Combining oxycodone with alcohol can have some serious, unwanted, and unpredictable repercussions. Both drugs depress the central nervous system, which can make you drowsy, light-headed, and impair your judgment.

Even oxycontin and drinking small amounts of alcohol can lead to serious consequences. The most common oxycodone (Endone) and alcohol side effects include:

• Respiratory depression (slowed breathing or cessation of breathing)
• Paralysis
• Nerve damage
• Kidney failure
• Fluid build-up in the lungs
• Pneumonia
• Lowered blood pressure and heart rate
• Liver and/or kidney damage
• Memory impairment
• Heart failure
• Increased risk of cancer

The most dangerous of oxycodone with alcohol side effects are respiratory depression, which is when someone’s breathing slows or stops. This lack of oxygen can eventually lead to loss of consciousness, brain damage, coma, and more.

Combining Endone or oxycodone with alcohol can also lead to an overdose. Symptoms of an oxycodone and alcohol overdose include:

• Loss of consciousness or fainting
• Confusion and disorientation
• Impaired motor control and function
• Cold and clammy skin
• Bluish tint in the fingernails and lips
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slowed breathing and heart rate

An Endone and alcohol overdose can be life-threatening. If you recognize the signs of an overdose in yourself or someone else, seek medical attention immediately.

Oxycodone and Alcohol Addiction Help

Oxycodone (Endone) and alcohol abuse can have severe repercussions on a person’s physical and mental health, relationships, finances, jobs, and more. Unfortunately, it can be tough to help people with drug or alcohol addictions because they often don’t realize they even have a problem.

If you know someone who’s struggling with substance abuse but is in denial, Brandon Novak can help. As a certified intervention specialist (CIP), Brandon has helped numerous families find treatment for a loved one with a drug or drinking problem.

If you require a drug or alcohol abuse intervention for someone you care about, call Brandon today at (610) 314-6747 for more information about his drug intervention services and sober living facility, Novak’s House.