Methadone is a strong pain reliever related to morphine. It is also prescribed to ease addiction withdrawal symptoms. Since methadone is a narcotic, any history of addiction may increase the risk of abuse. Moreover, methadone has several contraindications, and all prescription directions should be strictly adhered to. Using methadone to ease withdrawal symptoms should only be attempted under medical supervision. There are serious implications to altering prescription directions, and alcohol should never be consumed while taking methadone.
Slow Reactions
Methadone's effectiveness at reducing pain and easing withdrawal symptoms is accomplished by dulling the nervous system's response to internal and external stimuli. Drugs.com indicates that a drowsy, dragging feeling may be increased if any alcohol is consumed. Thus, driving a vehicle or ingesting any alcohol while on methadone may be dangerous. All food and drug labels should be examined in detail to ensure that accidental alcohol ingestion does not occur.
Irregular Breathing
Similar to other narcotics, methadone can slow breathing for up to a day after a dose, according to Drugs.com. Alcohol can also have a sedative effect that slows breathing. Thus, combining methadone with alcohol can exacerbate these effects and cause extremely slow breathing. Even though slow breathing can minimize the body's response to pain, according to a report published in the journal "Pain," the probability that breathing will decrease low enough to deprive the brain of oxygen and cause a blackout is increased when alcohol is consumed while on methadone.
Cardiac Irregularities
MayoClinic.com reports that alcohol can cause high blood pressure and exacerbate the threat of stroke or heart failure. Methadone and alcohol individually may instigate a slow, irregular heartbeat; when combined, the likelihood of irregular heartbeats that result in death are elevated.
References
- Drugs.com: Methadone
- "Pain"; The effects of slow breathing on affective responses to pain stimuli: an experimental study; A.J. Zautra, et al.; April 2010
- Mayo Clinic: Alcoholism
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