The dangers of mixing co-codamol and alcohol

The majority of people who abuse co-codamol do so because it is easily obtainable from any high street pharmacy or supermarket, yet it contains the powerful painkiller, codeine. Combining co-codamol with alcohol intensifies the effect of both substances, making them highly toxic and extremely dangerous. Alcohol speeds up the release of the codeine within co-codamol which increases the risk of overdose and long-term health problems. If you suspect someone you know is abusing alcohol and co-codamol, it’s worth being aware of some of the main side effects to get them the professional help they need.

Side effects of mixing co-codamol and alcohol

Nausea. Headaches. Drowsiness. All medications carry warnings of possible side effects when taken with alcohol. But mixing co-codamol with alcohol can compound these reactions, leading to potentially life-threatening issues. Both co-codamol and alcohol act on functions of the central nervous system, slowing down breathing and altering a person’s state of mind. When the two are mixed in excess, users may experience dizziness, delayed reactions, low blood pressure, confusion, respiratory problems and, in the worse cases, coma and even death.

The risks of mixing co-codamol and alcohol

Co-codamol and alcohol both have a sedative effect which can make you feel drowsier. In small doses this makes people less able to concentrate and slows down reaction times. In higher amounts, this lethal combination can severely impair judgement, leading to the user putting themselves and others in dangerous situations which could result in accidents, injury or death. It’s important that you only ever take co-codamol at the recommended dose and ensure it is completely out of your system before you drink alcohol, which could be up to 15 hours. Always talk to a medical professional if you have been mixing co-codamol and alcohol.

Co-codamol and alcohol-related deaths

Co-codamol is an opioid (a synthetic form of opiate) which contains codeine – one of the constituents that makes it highly addictive. The ONS reported a 25% increase in the number of codeine-related deaths in 2020 and found that over half of all drug poisoning deaths involved an opiate. During the same period, deaths that were directly attributable to alcohol-use increased by 18.6%. (1) When these two addictive substances are combined, the results can be catastrophic.

Withdrawal from co-codamol and alcohol

When people deliberately take co-codamol and alcohol together to achieve a high, they may not realise that they’re increasing the risk of overdosing. If you become addicted to painkillers as well as abusing alcohol you will also suffer unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop. This is because the body has become physically and psychologically dependent on two substances – double the effect. Withdrawal symptoms include sweating, shivering, extreme agitation, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

It can take even longer to overcome the psychological effects of double dependence. But there is help available. If you know someone who is trying to cope with co-codamol addiction and alcohol addiction we have a team of experts at Delamere who can help them withdraw safely in comfortable surroundings.