If you’re taking benzodiazepines, it’s vital to be very careful about other substances you put in your body. Likewise, if you drink on occasion and you get a prescription for benzos, you have to be diligent about not combining the two because mixing alcohol and benzos can be extremely dangerous and perhaps even deadly.
You may be tempted to believe combining benzodiazepines and alcohol will result in the ultimate calm and relaxed state. But you’d be very wrong. Combining Xanax, Ativan, or any other benzo with alcohol is never a good idea.
In this article, we’ll explore why and discuss what to look for in others if this dangerous combination occurs.
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Understanding the Risks and Dangers
Benzodiazepines and alcohol are both central nervous system antidepressants. That means they both work to slow down your brain activity and induce a calming effect. While it may seem like a harmless combination, the risks associated with mixing alcohol and benzos are far more severe than you may realize.
When you take benzodiazepines and alcohol together, the effects of both substances are amplified. This could lead to a potentially life-threatening situation. Not only does it cause extreme drowsiness, impaired coordination, and slowed breathing, but it could lead to overdose.
It’s also crucial to understand that the dangers of combining alcohol and benzos are not limited to the immediate effects. The long-term consequences can be equally devastating. Along with having a significant impact on your mental and physical well-being, long-term benzo use can lead to:
- addiction
- cognitive impairment
- increased risk of dementia
- suicidal thoughts
- impaired motor coordination
- increased tolerance, which could lead to an overdose
For this reason, benzos are typically not prescribed for long-term use unless closely monitored by a healthcare provider.
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Effects of Combining Benzodiazepines and Alcohol
Benzodiazepines, like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin, are often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health issues. These drugs boost GABA, a neurotransmitter, calming the brain and promoting relaxation.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a depressant that also acts on the GABA receptors in the brain, producing a similar calming effect. Combining these two substances amplifies their results, leading to deep sedation and impairment.
Mixing benzodiazepines and alcohol can cause dangerous side effects. These include extreme drowsiness, slurred speech, poor coordination, and even blackouts. In severe cases, the combination can lead to respiratory depression, which can be life-threatening. The risk of overdose is also significantly increased when you use these substances together, as your body is unable to process the combined effects effectively.
Immediate Side Effects of Combining Alcohol and Benzos
The immediate side effects of mixing benzodiazepines and alcohol can be severe. They include:
- extreme drowsiness and fatigue
- slurred speech and impaired coordination
- difficulty concentrating and memory problems
- dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea
- impaired judgment and decision-making
- respiratory depression and slowed breathing
These side effects can be dangerous and raise the risk of accidents, falls, and injuries. Combining benzodiazepines and alcohol can also cause blackouts. When this happens, you forget your actions and experiences during the intoxication.
Mixing Alcohol and Benzos: The Impact on Mental and Physical Health
Using benzodiazepines and alcohol can cause increased anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. The sedative effects of the combination can reduce focus, decision-making, and memory.
The combination can have devastating physical consequences as well. Severely depressing your central nervous system can slow down vital functions like breathing and heart rate. This can lead to respiratory failure or even death. Additionally, mixing alcohol and benzos can cause liver damage, stomach problems, and other physical health issues.
As previously mentioned, the continued use of benzodiazepines and alcohol together can lead to a host of other health problems. Addiction, organ failure, and even permanent brain damage can occur. It’s crucial to understand the situation’s gravity and seek help if you or someone you know is engaging in this dangerous behavior.
Another Mention of the Risks of Alcohol and Benzos
We’ve talked about the potential risks. But we want to ensure you genuinely understand that combining alcohol and benzos is a bad idea. Additional dangers include:
- Impaired judgment: Drinking alcohol and taking benzos can significantly impact your ability to make sound judgments. Even if you “only” have one drink while taking benzos, you could be putting your life and others in danger.
- Accident risks: The sedative effects of this dangerous combination can cause impaired coordination, slowed reaction times, and decreased awareness of your surroundings. Combining the two substances increases the risk of accidents. This deadly cocktail makes driving and operating machinery much more dangerous.
- Increased fall risk: Combining benzodiazepine and alcohol severely compromises your ability to perceive and respond to your environment. This increases your risk of falls, drowning, and other accidents.
Recognizing and Dealing with Addiction
Addiction to benzodiazepines and alcohol can be a complex and challenging issue to address. The combination of these substances can lead to a powerful dependence. If you struggle with addiction, you may experience a range of physical and psychological symptoms.
Recognizing the signs of addiction is the first step in addressing this problem. Some common indicators include:
- increased tolerance to the effects of benzodiazepines and alcohol
- continued use despite negative consequences
- difficulty or inability to cut back or quit
- spending a significant amount of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of these substances
- neglecting important responsibilities or activities in favor of using benzodiazepines and alcohol
If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to benzodiazepines and alcohol, get help. Our addiction experts at BOLD Health can help you break the vicious addiction cycle and regain control of your life.
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Whether this article resonates with you or about someone you love, getting professional help is the best thing you can do for yourself. Addiction is incredibly complex and powerful, so it’s challenging to overcome on your own.
At BOLD Health, we offer high-quality addiction and alcohol treatment in San Diego explicitly catered to your needs. When you partner with us, we’ll get to know what makes you tick and what brought you to our door. From there, we will curate the ideal outpatient addiction treatment in San Diego, which may include:
- individual therapy
- group therapy
- family therapy
- medication management
- intensive outpatient program (IOP)
Whether you’re seeking alcohol treatment in San Diego or are looking for help overcoming any addiction, we’ve got your back. We understand that with addiction, there is often a great deal of shame. But you don’t have to be ashamed. You just need to put yourself first and reach out for help to reclaim your life. And we’re here to help you do that.