carbamazepine and Alcohol

Authored by Philippa Gold Edited by Hugh Soames Reviewed by Michael Por, MD
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What happens when you mix carbamazepine and alcohol

Side effects of mixing alcohol and carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine and alcohol will have on an individual due to their own unique genetic make up and tolerance. It is never advisable to mix carbamazepine and alcohol due to the chances of mild, moderate and severe side effects. If you are having an adverse reaction from mixing carbamazepine and Alcohol it’s imperative that you head to your local emergency room.

Alcohol and carbamazepine

Alcohol and carbamazepine creates a that has different effects depending on the dose: many people feel stimulated and strengthened at low doses of alcohol and carbamazepine and even mixing a small amount of carbamazepine and alcohol is not recommended.

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Mixing alcohol and carbamazepine

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 carbamazepine this primary effect is exaggerated, increasing the strain on the body with unpredictable results.

Alcohol and carbamazepine affects dopamine levels in the brain, causing the body both mental and physical distress. Larger amounts of carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine and alcohol is going to affect an individual before they take it.

Taking carbamazepine and alcohol together

People who take alcohol and carbamazepine together will experience the effects of both substances. Technically, the specific effects and reactions that occur due to frequent use of carbamazepine and alcohol depend on whether you consume more alcohol in relation to carbamazepine or more carbamazepine in relation to alcohol.

The use of significantly more carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine may experience effects such as:

reduced motor reflexes from alcohol and carbamazepine
dizziness from alcohol and carbamazepine
nausea and vomiting of the carbamazepine

Some people may also experience more euphoria, depression, irritability or all three. A combination of alcohol and carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine

Taking carbamazepine in sufficient quantities increases the risk of a heart failure. Additionally, people under the influence of carbamazepine and alcohol may have difficulty forming new memories. With alcohol vs carbamazepine in an individual’s system they become confused and do not understand their environment. Due to the synergistic properties of carbamazepine when mixed with alcohol it can lead to confusion, anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Chronic use of carbamazepine and alcohol can lead to permanent changes in the brain. Stopping Alcohol Consumption can cause alcohol withdrawals while stopping carbamazepine can also cause withdrawals.

carbamazepine Vs alcohol

Studies investigating the effects of drugs such as carbamazepine and alcohol have shown that the potential for parasomnia (performing tasks in sleep) is dramatically increased when carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine together.

When a small to medium amount of alcohol is combined with carbamazepine, 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 carbamazepine.

carbamazepine and alcohol

Carbamazepine, sold under the brand name Tegretol among others, is an anticonvulsant medication used in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain. It is used as an adjunctive treatment in schizophrenia along with other medications and as a second-line agent in bipolar disorder. Carbamazepine appears to work as well as phenytoin and valproate for focal and generalized seizures. It is not effective for absence or myoclonic seizures.

Carbamazepine was discovered in 1953 by Swiss chemist Walter Schindler. It was first marketed in 1962. It is available as a generic medication. It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines. In 2020, it was the 185th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2 million prescriptions.

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How long after taking carbamazepine can I drink alcohol

To avoid any residual toxicity it is advisable to wait until the carbamazepine has totally cleared your system before drinking alcohol, even in small quantities.

Overdose on carbamazepine and alcohol

Overdose on carbamazepine and alcohol is alarmingly common and can often be fatal. In the case of Overdose on carbamazepine or if you are worried after mixing carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine or mixed alcohol with carbamazepine 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 carbamazepine and alcohol. The combination of alcohol and carbamazepine increases the likelihood that a person would be transferred to intensive care.

If you take carbamazepine, and also smoke weed or take MDMA, you can research the effects of carbamazepine and weed , carbamazepine and Cocaine as well as carbamazepine and MDMA here.

To find the effects of other drugs and weed refer to our Weed and Other Drugs Index A to L or our Weed and Other Drugs Index M-Z

Or you could find what you are looking for in our Alcohol and Other Drugs index A to L or Alcohol and Other Drugs index M to Z or our MDMA and Other Drugs Index A to L or MDMA and Other Drugs Index M to Z. or Cocaine and Other Drugs index A to L or Cocaine and Other Drugs index M to Z

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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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carbamazepine and Alcohol

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