We tailor our treatment model around you to make sure you get the best possible care. Even if you’ve been using Xanax for a while with no problems, adding alcohol can trigger unpredictable side effects. This can make muscle control, coordination, and balance more challenging.
For further information about alcohol-medication interactions
Benzodiazepines’ mechanism of action ultimately slows the activity of the central nervous system and produces a subjective calming effect. When alprazolam is taken as prescribed, it can be a safe and effective anxiolytic. When it’s misused or abused, dangerous detrimental side effects may occur and addiction may develop. Another one of the dangers of mixing xanax and alcohol is the uncertain nature of the exact effect that the two substances will have. While some individuals may not see any fatal outcomes, another person may experience severe consequences.
Xanax and Alcohol Overdose
Alprazolam is part of a class of drug called benzodiazepines, which have the potential to be addictive. The reason the medical community agrees about Xanax and its dangers is the risk of developing a tolerance and dependence on the drug. Even when using it as prescribed, Xanax can have disastrous consequences. Even worse, when you mix the drug with other depressants like alcohol, it could be fatal.
Mixing Xanax and Alcohol: Dangers, Effects & Interactions
The drug can cause side effects, especially if people combine it with other CNS depressants, such as antihistamines, opioids, and alcohol. If a person has been taking Xanax for a long time and wants to come off it, they should speak with a healthcare professional to work out a safe method for discontinuing the drug. Individuals with a history of addiction or substance use disorder are particularly at risk.
Overdose Risks & Symptoms: Xanax and Alcohol
- When Xanax and alcohol are combined, they increase each other’s effects.
- Weight changes may also be a symptom of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, the conditions Xanax is used to treat.
- Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
- Universal screening, careful prescribing choices, and patient education can help minimize the risks of combining alcohol with certain medications.
Drug overdoses are, unfortunately, a common reality in the United States. As of 2019, the fatal drug overdose rate was 21.6 ecstasy mdma or molly uses, effects, risks per 100,000 people. In 2020, 12,290 overdose deaths in the United States involved benzodiazepines, including Xanax.
Tapered doses of benzodiazepine sedatives, such as chlordiazepoxide and valium, may also help patients detox safely. These sedatives minimize the risks of severe withdrawal symptoms. In rarer cases, anticonvulsant treatments may be used instead. Misusing Xanax can cause addiction, overdose, and possibly death. If you are struggling with ecstasy withdrawal addiction or know someone who is, Avenues Recovery is here for you. At Avenues, a trained professional can help you to halt the addiction in its tracks before it grows any more severe.
This risk of death occurs whenever someone takes Xanax in combination with alcohol, other sedatives, opioid prescription drugs, or illicit opiates. Entering an inpatient addiction treatment program may seem overwhelming, but it gives you the best chance at success. Not only will you be monitored by a team of medical professionals around the clock, but you’ll also receive after the high the dea long-term care that will provide you with tools to stay healthy and clean. You should avoid taking Xanax too close to the time you last drank alcohol. It is important to consult a medical professional about any medications you may be taking and the risk of side effects with alcohol. You should wait until most of the Xanax has cleared your system before drinking alcohol.
Other serious complications from overdose include pneumonia, muscle damage, brain damage, and even death. Though tapering off Xanax may help with the intensity of withdrawal, certain symptoms are still common when you discontinue Xanax. Patients who experienced anxiety prior to starting Xanax may feel more anxious after stopping it.
The treatment usually combines medical supervision and medication. This keeps patients safe and comfortable while dealing with the symptoms of withdrawal. Serious withdrawal symptoms can quickly become dangerous and life-threatening for some people. Because of this, alcohol detox usually involves close medical supervision.