Selected Extended-Release Narcotics/Alcohol
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Severe. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Your pain medicine is designed to release your medicine throughout the day. Alcohol may speed up how quickly the medicine is released and may result in all of the medicine being released at one time.
What might happen:
The amount of pain medicine in your blood may increase rapidly. This may cause a fatal overdose.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking Avinza, Nucynta, or Opana. You should not consume any alcoholic beverages or use any medicines (prescription or over-the-counter) that contain alcohol. Your healthcare professional can help you find an alternative medicine that does not contain alcohol.If any slow, troubled, shallow, or labored breathing; severe drowsiness or inability to awaken; unusually slow heartbeat, or cold/clammy skin occurs, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Avinza (morphine extended-release capsules) US prescribing information. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated July, 2012.
2.Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) US prescribing information. Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. January, 2013.
3.Nucynta ER (tapentadol) US prescribing information. PriCara July, 2012.
