Recent studies and statistics have shown that Antidepressant prescription was up 6% in the last 3 months in 2020. Trazodone and alcohol are just one of those substances frequently abused by individuals together. Join Transcend Recovery Community as we unravel more about this addiction and how abuse of two or more substances can negatively impact your life.
Is It Safe to Take Trazodone with Alcohol?
Suppose you mix Trazodone and alcohol, you'll surely put yourself and other people in danger. There is a reason why medical professionals advocate not drinking alcohol with Trazodone.
As Trazodone is a central nervous system depressant, it acts on different areas of your brain, including GABA, an inhibitory transmitter blocking neurons in the brain which increases relaxation, calmness, and sedation. When taken with alcohol, this may not end well as it may trigger slower reaction times or induce severe sedative properties.
It will affect your day-to-day life and can impair you in many ways you can think of, including functioning properly at work or in school.
With these in mind, it's safer to either wait for alcohol's effects on your body to disappear before taking Trazodone or vice versa. It ensures that it won't interfere with how Trazodone works in your body. It also doesn't put you at higher risk of experiencing a fatal Trazodone and alcohol overdose or even worsening central nervous system depression.
What is Trazodone?
Trazodone is an antidepressant medication commonly used to treat major depressive disorder issues. On rare occasions, physicians prescribe it not only to treat depression but alcohol use disorder (AUD), insomnia, and even Alzheimer's disease.
It comes in various forms but is mostly taken orally. The available dosages include:
- 25 mg
- 50 mg
- 100 mg
- 150 mg
- 300 mg
The mental health specialist dictates how an individual must take these depending on the need or severity of their case. While Trazodone is considered generally safe. However, it may bring forth side effects. These side effects include the following:
- weight loss
- sweating
- sexual dysfunction
- tiredness
- elevated heart rate
- skin rashes
- feeling like passing out
- low sodium levels in the body
What Are the Risks of Drinking while on Trazodone?
Similar to the effects of mixing Flexeril & alcohol, taking Trazodone and alcohol together may also cause adverse effects that could impact a person's overall system, worsening depressive symptoms or resulting in a major depressive disorder if not properly taken care of.
As alcohol and Trazodone both have sedative effects, this may result in dangerous consequences. Most injuries and accidents are caused by the combination of these substances, especially in the workplace or in public, where extra focus is needed at all times.
Long-term organ problems can also be expected with chronic Trazodone and alcohol use. As the human body is forced to metabolize more than one substance, this may overwhelm your kidney and liver thereby forcing them to rapidly deteriorate. Having kidney or liver failure would decrease your body's ability to eliminate toxins and metabolize substances unlike before.
Alcohol consumption with central nervous system depressants also puts an individual at risk of developing more behavioral health issues, such as worsening your mood and inducing chemical imbalance in the brain. Co-occurring diseases may manifest themselves later on making treatment and rehabilitation even harder to achieve.
To fully understand how mixing Trazodone and alcohol may put your body at risk, it's always best to consult with a counselor or a licensed mental health professional, so they can expound on how this will impact your body and mental health in further detail.
Side Effects of Trazodone with Alcohol
Whether they're mild or severe, side effects of Trazodone and alcohol use shouldn't be taken lightly as it may worsen your overall mental health, and bring harm to your overall wellbeing. Here are some side effects of Trazodone that you should pay close attention to.
- Dramatic mood swings
- Impaired judgment
- Blurred vision
- Serotonin syndrome
- Confusion
- Poor sleep quality
- Decreased alertness
- Dry mouth
- Increased anxiety/alcohol dependence
Should you feel these effects worsening or taking a toll on your behavioral health, you should seek medical assistance or call your doctor immediately.
Is Overdose and Death Possible?
There are only little to a few studies surveying the possibility of drug or alcohol death and overdose with Trazodone and alcohol. However, it is a known fact that when taken in dangerously excessive amounts, a person may be at higher risk of alcohol death and overdose or development of further physical disability.
Both Trazodone and alcohol are known to cause central nervous system depression. With that in mind, it can lead to bigger problems, such as the development of alcohol withdrawal syndrome too and other major mental health problems.
Is There Trazodone and Polysubstance Abuse?
Trazodone is mainly considered for long-term use. With that, it's not necessarily regarded as dangerous for more extended periods, especially for months and years. That said, taking Trazodone regularly may also lead to physical dependence and abuse.
When an individual has the urge to take Trazodone to function normally or if they manifest withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug, they will understandably grow more dependent and even develop tolerance. A person who uses the medication must understand the effects of Trazodone—especially if it is adversely affecting them in any way or form.
A huge factor for an individual to develop medication abuse is their ability to fight off withdrawal symptoms, most notably during the crucial first months when they are weaned off from drug dependence. Therefore, they must communicate their treatment options with their medical professional to ensure that dependence and further substance abuse is avoided at all costs.
Should drug abuse arise, and there is no other recourse, inpatient and outpatient treatment programs may help with a person suffering from Trazodone abuse. Additionally, working with sober companions enables an individual to have someone to motivate them during the crucial phase of recovery and empower them in making sound decisions that would affect their long-term sobriety.
Can Transcend Recovery Help with Trazodone and Alcohol Abuse?
The path to getting better is never an easy one. It takes courage and acceptance to help you come to terms with your drug addiction or alcohol withdrawal problem. Transcend Recovery Community understands this and does its best to provide supplementary services to its affiliate addiction treatment programs while an individual goes through their recovery.
We take pride in giving sober living residences, with a special emphasis on gender-specific options such as women's sober living. It gives people a sense of security and a safe space for them to work on their sobriety goals.
If you're interested to find out more, contact us and let us guide you on your path toward a purpose-driven and drug-free life.
