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What happens when you mix benzodiazepine and alcohol
Side effects of mixing alcohol and benzodiazepine can include
Dizziness
Sluggishness
Drowsiness
Shortness of breath
Itching
Hives
Palpitations
Respiratory Depression
Cardiac Arrest
Coma
Seizures
Death
Interestingly, it is impossible to tell what effect benzodiazepine and alcohol will have on an individual due to their own unique genetic make up and tolerance. It is never advisable to mix benzodiazepine and alcohol due to the chances of mild, moderate and severe side effects. If you are having an adverse reaction from mixing benzodiazepine and Alcohol it’s imperative that you head to your local emergency room.
Alcohol and benzodiazepine
Alcohol and benzodiazepine creates a that has different effects depending on the dose: many people feel stimulated and strengthened at low doses of alcohol and benzodiazepine and even mixing a small amount of benzodiazepine and alcohol is not recommended.
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Mixing alcohol and benzodiazepine
The primary effect of alcohol is influenced by an increase in the concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which is found in the spinal cord and brain stem, and by a reduction in its effect on neuronal transmitters that are excitatory. When alcohol is combined with benzodiazepine this primary effect is exaggerated, increasing the strain on the body with unpredictable results.
Alcohol and benzodiazepine affects dopamine levels in the brain, causing the body both mental and physical distress. Larger amounts of benzodiazepine and alcohol have a greater adverse effect yet leading medic al recommendation is that smaller does can be just as harmful and there is no way of knowing exactly how benzodiazepine and alcohol is going to affect an individual before they take it.
Taking benzodiazepine and alcohol together
People who take alcohol and benzodiazepine together will experience the effects of both substances. Technically, the specific effects and reactions that occur due to frequent use of benzodiazepine and alcohol depend on whether you consume more alcohol in relation to benzodiazepine or more benzodiazepine in relation to alcohol.
The use of significantly more benzodiazepine with alcohol will lead to sedation and lethargy, as well as the synergistic effects resulting from a mixture of the two medications.
People who take both alcohol and benzodiazepine may experience effects such as:
reduced motor reflexes from alcohol and benzodiazepine
dizziness from alcohol and benzodiazepine
nausea and vomiting of the benzodiazepine
Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of alcohol and benzodiazepine leads to significantly more lethargy which can easily tip over into coma, respiratory depression seizures and death. Be cautious about continuing on with your daily life as a functioning alcoholic as it can disguise some of the more serious health impacts.
Alcohol Vs benzodiazepine
Taking benzodiazepine in sufficient quantities increases the risk of a heart failure. Additionally, people under the influence of benzodiazepine and alcohol may have difficulty forming new memories. With alcohol vs benzodiazepine in an individual’s system they become confused and do not understand their environment. Due to the synergistic properties of benzodiazepine when mixed with alcohol it can lead to confusion, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Chronic use of benzodiazepine and alcohol can lead to permanent changes in the brain. Stopping Alcohol Consumption can cause alcohol withdrawals while stopping benzodiazepine can also cause withdrawals.
benzodiazepine Vs alcohol
Studies investigating the effects of drugs such as benzodiazepine and alcohol have shown that the potential for parasomnia (performing tasks in sleep) is dramatically increased when benzodiazepine and alcohol are combined. Severe and dangerous side effects can occur when medications are mixed in the system, and sleep disorders are a common side effect of taking alcohol and benzodiazepine together.
When a small to medium amount of alcohol is combined with benzodiazepine, sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can occur. According to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most ER visits and hospitalizations caused by too much alcohol were associated with other substances such as benzodiazepine.
benzodiazepine and alcohol
Benzodiazepines (BZD, BDZ, BZs), colloquially called “benzos“, are a class of depressant drugs whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as anxiety disorders, insomnia, and seizures. The first benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), was discovered accidentally by Leo Sternbach in 1955 and was made available in 1960 by Hoffmann–La Roche, who soon followed with diazepam (Valium) in 1963. By 1977, benzodiazepines were the most prescribed medications globally; the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), among other factors, decreased rates of prescription, but they remain frequently used worldwide.
Benzodiazepines are depressants that enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABAA receptor, resulting in sedative, hypnotic (sleep-inducing), anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties. High doses of many shorter-acting benzodiazepines may also cause anterograde amnesia and dissociation. These properties make benzodiazepines useful in treating anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, agitation, seizures, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal and as a premedication for medical or dental procedures. Benzodiazepines are categorized as short, intermediate, or long-acting. Short- and intermediate-acting benzodiazepines are preferred for the treatment of insomnia; longer-acting benzodiazepines are recommended for the treatment of anxiety.
How long after taking benzodiazepine can I drink alcohol
To avoid any residual toxicity it is advisable to wait until the benzodiazepine has totally cleared your system before drinking alcohol, even in small quantities.
Overdose on benzodiazepine and alcohol
Overdose on benzodiazepine and alcohol is alarmingly common and can often be fatal. In the case of Overdose on benzodiazepine or if you are worried after mixing benzodiazepine and alcohol call a first responder or proceed to the nearest Emergency Room immediately.
If you are worried about someone who has taken too much benzodiazepine or mixed alcohol with benzodiazepine then call a first responder or take them to get immediate medical help. The best place for you or someone you care about in the case of a medical emergency is under medical supervision. Be sure to tell the medical team that there is a mix of benzodiazepine and alcohol. The combination of alcohol and benzodiazepine increases the likelihood that a person would be transferred to intensive care.
If you are drinking too much alcohol it may be worth understanding if you are suffering from alcoholism. If you are please consider reaching out for help.
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Better Help ticks a lot of boxes for individuals seeking counseling and therapy to restore the right balance in their lives. All too often we fail to live our best life to our full potential because of things like drinking too much alcohol too regularly, mixing alcohol and benzodiazepine, sadness, grief, stress and burnout. The Betterhelp platform allows users to connect with therapists that can help with a variety of wellbeing concerns.
