NutriStack
Alcohol and Hydrocodone, contraindicated.
Alcohol can dangerously amplify hydrocodone's sedating and breathing-slowing effects. The combination increases the risk of profound sleepiness, impaired coordination, loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, overdose, and death. Risk is higher with higher opioid doses, older age, sleep apnea, lung disease, or any additional sedatives.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Substances
- Alcohol and Hydrocodone
- Pair type
- Contraindicated
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Contraindicated · Strong evidence
Contraindicated
What is happening. Alcohol can dangerously amplify hydrocodone's sedating and breathing-slowing effects. The combination increases the risk of profound sleepiness, impaired coordination, loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, overdose, and death. Risk is higher with higher opioid doses, older age, sleep apnea, lung disease, or any additional sedatives.
Mechanism. Hydrocodone is a mu-opioid receptor agonist that suppresses brainstem ventilatory drive and reduces arousal responses to rising carbon dioxide. Alcohol adds central nervous system depression through GABAergic and other inhibitory pathways, reducing alertness and airway protective reflexes while opioid respiratory drive is already impaired.
Recommendation. Do not drink alcohol while taking hydrocodone. If alcohol was used recently, skip non-urgent opioid dosing and contact your prescriber or pharmacist for individualized guidance. Seek emergency help for extreme sleepiness, slow breathing, blue lips, or inability to wake.
Sources (2)
- Jones CM, Paulozzi LJ, Mack KA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol involvement in opioid pain reliever and benzodiazepine drug abuse-related emergency department visits and drug-related deaths - United States, 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(40):881-885. PMID 25299603
- Boom M, Niesters M, Sarton E, Aarts L, Smith TW, Dahan A. Non-analgesic effects of opioids: opioid-induced respiratory depression. Curr Pharm Des. 2012;18(37):5994-6004. PMID 22747535
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alcohol and Hydrocodone are in the same stack, this pair applies −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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