Mixing Xanax and alcohol has led to the worsening rate of overdose on prescription drugs in the US. 12,290 overdose cases were attributed to Benzodiazepine (Xanax) use alone. Let Transcend Recovery Community help you with what you should know about this fatal combination and how you can seek help for addiction recovery. Read on to find out more.
Is It Safe to Take Xanax with Alcohol?
As any mental health or medical professional would often advise, it is never safe mixing Xanax with both alcohol and other drugs.
The reason behind it is pretty simple. Xanax is a fast-acting tranquilizer that has sedative effects. If you mix alcohol with it, your body will not be able to function correctly. It's also dangerous as it may interfere with the drug's efficacy.
Mixing Xanax and alcohol also burdens your system of processing multiple substances that can cause long-term health issues, such as hepatic and renal problems. People who need extra focus and attention to their work, such as those working with heavy machinery or driving for a living, will find themselves in serious danger wng alcohol and Xanax.
Both Xanax and alcohol's tranquilizing effects can affect motor skills that may lead to accidents and injuries, and ultimately death.
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a brand of a generic drug called Alprazolam that falls under a classification of narcotic drugs called Benzodiazepine. Drugs like Xanax treat anxiety and other related conditions. It's one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for these conditions as drugs like Xanax act by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Unfortunately, some individuals use it recreationally and would often be mixing Xanax with alcohol. These two substances often produce desired effects that may help an individual achieve a "high." It's crucial to know that the drug is dangerous. Once Xanax intensifies, there may be side effects that can cause major damage to a person's body longer-term.
How Long After Drinking Can I Take Xanax?
Alcohol has an average half-life of 4 to 5 hours. It refers to the amount of time that our body can rid half of the substance. Therefore, it may take 4 to 5 half-lives to clear up to 97% of the body off alcohol. To be safe, it's best to wait until 1 or 2 days after drinking alcohol before taking Xanax.
How Long After Taking Xanax Can I Drink?
As Xanax has an average half-life of almost half a day (12 hours), most individuals (particularly healthy and active ones) would take at least 4 to 5 lives to clear Xanax from their systems with a clearance rate of around least 94% to 97%.
What Are the Risks of Drinking while on Xanax?
Similar to drug combinations like Lexapro & alcohol, Xanax and alcohol may bring dangerous risks that may not only affect the individual taking Xanax and alcohol, but also the people around them.
Here are some of the perceived risks when taking alcohol and Xanax that you should watch out for, especially long-term:
- Impaired judgment - As earlier mentioned, drinking alcohol while taking Xanax can lead to faulty reasoning and impaired judgment that may likely cause accidents, or worse, deaths when left unattended
- Isolation - people who mix Xanax and alcohol may not function properly putting a dent in their social life. It may lead them to disconnect from their friends and family, putting a strain further on their relationships.
- Poor performance in school and at work - Continued drug abuse with alcohol use will have a huge impact at work and school, leading to failing grades and ultimately, termination. It's important for tThese people's loved ones need to noticewith alcohol/Xanax early on.
- Long-term health conditions - Individuals who are regularly abusing alcohol and multiple drugs, such as Xanax, may develop irreparable health damages that may lead to organ failure.
Xanax and alcohol Side effects
There are many physical and mental health issues that may arise from constant Xanax and alcohol addiction. Here are the common side effects of chronic Xanax and alcohol abuse:
- Dizziness
- Increased risk of overdose
- Respiratory depression
- Impaired motor skills
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Elevated panic disorder
- Poor muscle control
- Induced hostility
Is There Xanax Abuse?
Xanax addiction happens when an individual takes their prescription medication past their prescribed period or takes more prescription medications than deemed necessary. As this habit continues to form, they may develop drug dependence and tolerance.
What happens is that they may feel immune to the effects of the drug, accounting for the worsening of their mental state, and the development of other mental health issues, such as panic disorders.
As their behavior worsens, they may be more careless about their actions, leading to polysubstance abuse, and even worse, a fatal overdose. Combining drugs also affects the lives of people around them, and will understandably decrease their quality of life.
People suffering from addiction to Xanax may benefit from a comprehensive outpatient mental health that covers all aspects of rehabilitation while receiving support from a team of mental health specialists and caregivers from an addiction treatment center.
Can Transcend Recovery Help with Xanax and Alcohol Abuse?
It's hard to quit cold turkey, especially if you have succumbed to abuse by mixing Xanax and alcohol. As these two drugs or substances worsen a person's mental health, it may take them some time to fully recover.
Transcend Recovery's supplemental services, such as sober living through its recovery homes help people to focus on their rehabilitation by getting all the support they need through fellow residents and qualified staff and professionals ready to assist them with their every need.
If you're interested to know more about how Transcend can help you, contact us right away and let our Recovery Specialists orient you with the first step toward recovery.
