What Happens If you Mix Diazepam And Alcohol?

While there are times when diazepam might be used to help safely stop drinking, taking both together can lead to serious risks. An overdose happens when the person consumes more than the recommended dose of either substance, putting their body at risk of damage. If you combine alcohol and diazepam, you will likely experience a series of uncomfortable side effects that can quickly lead to alcohol poisoning or a diazepam overdose. As long as central nervous system depressants like diazepam and alcohol are in the system, they dampen the brain fun by suppressing certain nerve firings.

It can also be used as light anesthesia and radiology premedication for those worried about a procedure. Some people may also have prescriptions for similar medications, such as Klonopin or Xanax. While Diazepam may be beneficial for many, it is not recommended for everyone. The risk of acquiring addiction doubles, and sometimes triples for some who tends to combine diazepam with alcohol more regularly. Once addiction sets in, it can take a toll on several aspects of life, including personal relationships, career, academics, and physical health.

This article will explore the effects of combining Valium with alcohol and other drugs, the symptoms of overdose from mixing these substances, and how polysubstance addiction is treated. The British Journal of General Practice recommends short-term (2-4 weeks) use of diazepam at the lowest possible dosage if being used for severe anxiety, insomnia, or panic disorder. However, it is documented that in reality, large numbers of patients have been prescribed diazepam on a long-term basis at a high dose for less than severe anxiety. This can cause issues because diazepam is known to require a higher dose over time to maintain its effects. It is critical to avoid drinking any type of alcohol, even if it is a one-off, as long as you take diazepam. Both substances act as sedatives and may lead to unpleasant, dangerous side effects, such as confusion and drowsiness.

So, after a long history of constant exposure, the brain undergoes a rebound effect when these substances are suddenly not there anymore. This rebound effect results from the brain attempting to restore its balance too quickly, leading to significant emotional and physical ramifications. You should avoid drinking any alcohol, including beer, while you are taking diazepam. You may have accidentally been mixing Valium and alcohol for a little while, without being privy to the dangers of doing so. The National Institute on Alcohol Misuse and Alcoholism warns that drugs like Valium can boost the sedative effect of alcohol, making you confused, sleepy, and at risk of accidents and injuries.

However, that shouldn’t be the reason you turn to drugs like alcohol or Valium to cope. Fortunately, addiction treatment can help you overcome this rough patch and give you control of your life. One of the best ways to ensure your safety is to take an active approach towards recovery.

Doctors prescribe it for conditions such as anxiety, depression, alcohol withdrawal, and muscle stiffness. Withdrawal symptoms begin to occur when you are addicted to alcohol or diazepam. This comes after you build up a tolerance to the drug, become dependent, and start to believe, and act, as if you cannot go without it. You can easily build up a tolerance if you use either substances for too long. You should avoid drinking any alcohol, including one glass of wine, while you are taking diazepam.

What Happens When You Take Diazepam and Alcohol?

Diazepam could exacerbate these issues, so you should always let your doctor know of any medical history like this so they can monitor you more closely. In extreme cases, mixing alcohol and diazepam can even cause brain damage, coma or death, so it is extremely important to heed the warning of not mixing these two substances. Our evidence-based treatment programs can help you regain control of your life. Our physician-led treatment team will personalize your treatment plan by offering a full range of treatment programs, including inpatient, outpatient and teletherapy.

• You will work with a therapist to understand where your addiction came from and develop some new coping strategies to help you avoid a relapse.
• Either way, it is vital to becoming aware of the downsides of mixing the two.
• Your body needs about an hour to process one standard drink, though someone with a slower metabolism may need a bit more time.
• Abusing the two substances can also result in various behavioral or social problems, such as depression and alienation from family.
• Combining Valium with alcoholcan causedrowsiness, dizziness, impaired motor control, memory problems and difficulty breathing, including loss of consciousness and brain damage.
• Consult your doctor for personalized advice if you have any concerns or questions.

Here you might also engage with other treatment options, from support groups to yoga, all aimed at equipping you with the skills to aid your recovery and prevent a relapse. If you choose to do this as a patient you will stay at the treatment centre for the duration, this has the benefit of removing any of the major triggers involved in your addiction. When you combine alcohol and diazepam, you will intensify the effects of the alcohol on your system, but it will not stop you from experiencing withdrawal. You are also even more likely to experience the negative side effects of alcohol such as slowed breathing, loss of memory, increased drowsiness, nausea, and increased dependence. You will develop a higher tolerance more quickly, which could easily lead to addiction. And the combination, if either drug is taken in excess, may lead to unconsciousness, coma, and death.

EATING DISORDERS

Our trained team can personalize a treatment plan for someone who combines alcohol and Valium and provide them with the resources they deserve for successful recovery. People should only take Valium under the supervision of a medical professional. However, this drug is susceptible to abuse and often taken without a prescription. When that happens, someone might take too much of the substance or continue to take it for longer than recommended. In these scenarios, a person can become dependent on Valium or develop an addiction problem. Valium, or diazepam, is a type of drug called a benzodiazepine that enhances neurotransmitters in the brain.

Mixing Valium & Alcohol — Side Effects & Risks

Fortunately, those effects don’t last long, but if you keep putting your body through that, eventually, it’ll wear it down. Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Valium and alcohol both have relaxing effects, but they also have various negative side effects if they’re abused. These effects vary for each person and are dependent on the dose taken and the user’s overall health. If you have a prescription for Valium, take only the prescribed dosage, and follow your doctor’s instructions.

Mixing Valium and Alcohol: What Happens?

With over 150 years of collective recovery time, our team of psychologists, therapists, counselors, and support workers support those who need a helping hand. If you have developed a dependence on alcohol and Valium, addiction is a potential consequence. An addition means that you are no longer able to control your use of these substances. It’s often easier to develop an addiction when two or more substances are involved. Because both Valium (also known as diazepam) and alcohol are sedatives that depress the nervous system, taking them together will intensify the effects of both. Both substances are also capable of causing addiction, and this is even more likely when they are abused together.

Those with tolerance to either drug may tolerate it better than others, but it’s unpredictable and should be avoided. Since both are depressants, both substances will intensify the effects of one another. The higher the dose of either substance, the higher the odds of something can you drink on diazepam bad happening, including an overdose. Valium is the most common brand name of diazepam, which belongs to a drug class called benzodiazepines.

• Once medical professionals arise, tell them everything that has been ingested, including drugs and alcohol, and any allergies.
• So we customize our treatment solutions based on someone’s unique circumstances and experiences.
• It works by increasing the activity of a calming chemical in the brain called GABA.
• A lot of people start using depressants like Valium or alcohol to feel normal.

Mixing Diazepam and Alcohol: Potential Long-Term Consequences

Both substances are potent enough to individually impact your cognitive functions. When taken together, the effects will likely intensify and mess with your cognitive function and judgment, making driving risky. Hence, never drive if you have taken diazepam, alcohol, or both of them together. Diazepam typically has a long half-life, meaning it may stay in the blood much longer than most regular drugs. Its elimination period can extend up to two days; however, this may depend on factors like age, weight, gender, and other medication use. Experts generally advise waiting for two days after the last dose of diazepam before consuming any alcohol.

How Windward Way Recovery Helps

Valium has a long-half life, which means it stays in the body for much longer than you might think. It has an elimination phase of 1-2 days, but various factors can impact this such as age, weight, and other medications. On average, diazepam has a half-life of approximately 43 hours, which means it can take several days to be completely eliminated from your body.4.

In this case, you should also monitor yourself for symptoms and seek medical care at the first sign of any. If you have difficulty abstaining from that, you may have developed an addiction and you should get some support to help you detox if it is safe for you to do so. Combining diazepam and alcohol can increase the risk of dependence and addiction to either substance, as well as lead to more severe withdrawal symptoms.

That said, there is a strong potential for overdose when using diazepam in combination with opioids, alcohol or other centrally acting agents. Diazepam can be taken orally, as an intravenous injection, a liquid nasal spray, or a rectal gel, and it works by increasing the activity of something called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This chemical in the body sends signals to the nervous system, and without enough of it, the body can be in an excited state that causes anxiety, muscle spasms, or even seizures.