Whether you are taking prescription medication, over-the-counter drugs, or recreational substances, combining them with alcohol significantly increases risks to your health and well-being. So, it’s important for people to know that taking drugs in combination can be far more dangerous than taking each of those substances by themselves. So, an example of this would be if a person were to take opioids at the same time as they took a stimulant such as methamphetamine or amphetamine or cocaine. So, opioids are nervous system depressants, and they slow down your nervous system, they slow down your breathing https://outsource-point.com/2021/09/28/alcohol-withdrawal-symptoms-detox-and-treatment/ rate. Whilst stimulants speed up your body’s need for oxygen, so that can make it more likely that you would have an overdose and potentially die.
- Mixing Trazodone and alcohol can lead to severe side effects that affect a person’s overall health.
- It is important to pay attention to these changes and seek medical advice if they persist or worsen.
- We even have aftercare programs to provide the support you need on an ongoing basis.
- Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium, Ativan) and opioids (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine) are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, pain, and sleep disorders.
Interactions with Medications
Alcohol may change how a medicine works, and some medications may change the way in which alcohol affects you. Drinking while taking a seizure medication like Keppra or Dilantin can leave you feeling drowsy or dizzy, and can actually increase the risk of a seizure. When alcohol use is combined with multiple medications, it may Why is it dangerous to mix pescriptions with alcohol magnify these problems. Older adults don’t metabolize alcohol as quickly as younger adults do, so alcohol stays in their systems longer and has a greater potential to interact with medications.
- Alcohol is a depressant, while stimulants are drugs that increase alertness and energy levels.
- Keys Behavioral Health is here to support you through your recovery journey and help you reclaim a healthier, happier life.
- Regardless of whether a drug is an illicit drug, prescription, over-the-counter, or even a supplement, there may be dangerous interactions with alcohol.
- Additionally, addiction to prescription drugs can cause severe long-term consequences, including mental illness and physical injury while also affecting personal and professional relationships.
Opioids and Benzodiazepines
The combination of prescription drugs and alcohol also weakens the desired effects of the medication, Twelve-step program often prompting people to ingest more substances in response. This increased consumption can lead to alcohol poisoning or overdose. Call 911 immediately if you or a loved one is experiencing alcohol poisoning. Scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse answer common questions teens ask about drug use and addiction.
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This may make a person want to drink more alcohol than they can handle, leading to dire consequences. Mixing alcohol with methamphetamine can be life-threatening, as the combination puts extreme pressure on the heart and dramatically raises blood pressure. Amphetamines and other stimulants increase heart rate and breathing, resulting in excessive sweating and the inability to relax or sleep. Additionally, a person may become aggressive, easily agitated, hostile, or psychotic.
