ARTICLE OVERVIEW: This article introduces you to the top ten drugs NEVER to mix with alcohol. We invite you to ask further questions at the end.
Table of Contents:
- Mixing Alcohol With Other Drugs
- #10: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- #9: Pain Medication
- #8: Antidepressants and Anxiety Medication
- #7: Mood Stabilizers
- #6: Attention/Concentration Medication
- #5: Marijuana
- #4: LSD, Psilocybin, and Other Psychedelics
- #3: Crystal Meth
- #2: Heroin
- #1: Cocaine/Crack
- Drug and Alcohol Treatment
- What About Withdrawal?
- Where to Find Help
- Your Questions
Mixing Alcohol With Other Drugs
So, why does the body have this reaction?
To understand why mixing alcohol with drugs is dangerous, we must first understand how alcohol affects the brain and body. When alcohol enters your body, it almost immediately slows down communication in your brain. It depresses your central nervous system, which is responsible for communication between your brain and body. In turn, there are major functions of your body which are affected:
- Breathing
- Movement
- Speech
- Thought
This commonly leads to alcohol-induced experiences such as:
- Blurred vision
- Complications with memory
- Difficulty walking
- Slower reaction time
- Slurred speech
These effects can be dangerous in their own regard, especially when someone drinks too much alcohol. The brain often lacks judgement or practicality, and can even give people the idea that they’re invincible.
When you add drugs to this, new problems begin to arise. By adding alcohol to certain drugs, you can amplify the effects and, in turn, cause the drug to become a toxin in your body. In some cases, depressant effects are amplified many times more than effects of drinking and taking the drug separately. Different drugs work at different levels. Therefore, it’s important to educate yourself on which drugs are the most dangerous.
The following list is compiled of research which is meant to inform you of the most dangerous drugs to mix with alcohol. Please note that this list in NOT INCLUSIVE. Many different drugs are known to mix dangerously with alcohol. We’ve chosen those that are popular drugs-of-choice, and drugs that we cover here at Addiction Blog.
#10, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Bleeding
- Liver damage (especially with Tylenol)
- Rapid heartbeat
- Ulcers
- Upset stomach
#9 – Pain Medication
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- Drowsiness
- Higher risk of overdose
- Impacted motor functioning
- Memory complications
- Strange Conduct
#8 – Antidepressants and Anxiety Medications
Common antidepressants and anxiety medications include:
- Ativan
- BuSpar
- Celexa
- Klonopin
- Lexapro
- Luvox
- Prozac
- Valium
- Xanax
- Zoloft
Common effects from drinking on antidepressants and anxiety medication include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Higher chance of overdose
- Increase in depression
- Impaired motor functioning
- Liver damage
- Memory complications
- Slowed breathing
- Strange conduct
It’s important to understand that substance abuse worsens mental health. There are number of people who find themselves in this position who had hoped to get be cured of their mental disorders and, ultimately, ended up worsening it. If you or anyone you love has been mixing alcohol with antidepressants or anxiety medications, it’s important you seek out help immediately. Below, we’ve provided a list of resources for you to look into which will provide solutions.
#7 – Mood Stabilizers
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Impaired motor functioning
- Irregular bowel movements
- Joint pain
- Liver damage
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle pain
- Restlessness
- Tremors
- Upset stomach and nausea
Again, as with antidepressants and anxiety medication, people who mix their mood stabilizers with alcohol are not just increasing their chance of physical danger, they are also worsening their mental health condition. If you or a loved one is currently in this position, it’s important to consult a doctor and seek help.
#6 – Attention/Concentration Medications
- Adderall
- Concerta
- Ritalin
- Strattera
- Vyvanse
Still, just because many college students claim they’re using this medication with their schoolwork doesn’t mean that cognitive enhancement doesn’t comes with a price.
Often, alcohol finds a way into the mix. The primary danger of this is these are two very different substances. Alcohol is a depressant while attention/concentration medication is a stimulant. Therefore, those who mix the two are causing their body’s to react in two entirely different ways. In turn, this can have negative consequences on the heart.
Other side effects of mixing alcohol with attention/concentration medication include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Increased risk of heart problems
- Liver damage
#5 – Marijuana
Marijuana and alcohol also enhance one another in terms of effects. Therefore, your ability to drive becomes a bigger issue and your nausea levels will increase. Other symptoms of mixing weed and booze include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Paleness
- Severe illness
- Sweating
- Vomiting
#4 – LSD, Psilocybin, and Other Psychedelics
Psychedelics are very unpredictable drugs. Those who take them never truly know where their mind is going to go. Alcohol only increases this uncertainty. Alcohol is well-known for impeding judgement and decreasing self-consciousness. Additionally, alcohol can increase raise likelihood of reckless conduct and self-danger psychedelics can bring. Furthermore, this kind of combination holds the potential of putting those around in harm.
Side effects for combining psychedelics and alcohol are:
- Blackouts
- Changes in mood
- Decreased perception and coordination
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Hallucinations
- Impaired judgement
- Loss of appetite
- Restlessness
- Slurred speech
- Vomiting
#3 – Crystal Meth
As can be imagined, this kind of behavior comes at great physical and mental costs. These include:
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Increased chance of accidents.
- Increased in chance of birth defect.
- Increased in chance of contracting HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C.
- Increased in chance of suicide.
- Increased heart rate.
- High blood pressure.
- Seizures.
If you or someone you love has an addiction to both alcohol and crystal meth, it’s important you try to seek help as this can be a deadly concoction.
#2 – Heroin
Side effects from alcohol and heroin use include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Impaired coordination
- Shallow breathing
- Slowed heart rate
- Tremors
A heroin addiction is very serious and can even cause alcohol addiction long after it’s treated. If you or a loved one is currently struggling with a heroin addiction, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible in order to avoid the worst consequence.
#1 – Cocaine/Crack
Cocaethylene fastens to the liver and, over time, can build up to create many medical complications. Furthermore, there’s a high risk of heart attack due to cocaethylene – even in individuals under 40 years old. The biggest thing is this new formed chemical has an impact on the body and brain which can last a long period of time even after they reached sobriety.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment
But what does treatment look like?
Usually, drug and alcohol treatment is like a combo of adult ed and summer camp. Through treatment, you’ll detox from the substances and then enter therapies and counseling. So, first, you rid your body of the chemical concoctions and, then, you learn how to handle day-to-day living and life stressors without the use of drugs.
When going through treatment, you can expect to be offered:
- A medical assessment which will inform doctors of your current condition.
- The medical detox mentioned above.
- Psychotherapies to teach you how to treat underlying issues, how to handle emotions, and how to reduce cravings.
- Pharmacotherapy as a means of easing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
- Educational sessions which will inform you of how to prevent relapse.
- Aftercare services to provide support while you maintain sobriety.
What About Withdrawal?
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Disorientation
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Heightened
- Irritability
- Jumpiness or shakiness
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Nightmares
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Vomiting
Due to the fact that there are dangers involved, such as dehydration, it’s important you seek medical supervision ANYTIME YOU THINK YOU’LL TRIGGER WITHDRAWAL. This will ensure the safest, most comfortable detox, and offer you the best outcome for your overall health. Detox clinics can prescribe you medications – when appropriate – for withdrawal symptoms. They’ll also supervise side effects and prevent complications. 24-7 medical supervision can also help support you and prevent relapse!
Furthermore, you’ll need to start thinking over the long-term. After initial detox, some symptoms can linger for weeks or months. In some cases, you may experience post-acute or protracted withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). This is when you experience withdrawal symptoms after the usual timeline (which is around a week). These symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Increased blood pressure and pulse
- Increased body temperature
- Increased breathing rate
- Sleep disruption
- Tremor
Where to Find Help
- An alcohol and addictions counselor
- A licensed clinical social worker
- A licensed clinical psychologist
- A psychiatrist
- A professional interventionist
Here are some other suggestions:
- Contact your family doctor or a general physician to get the best references for addiction treatment centers that are near your living area.
- Call the SAMHSA Hotline at 1-800- 662-HELP (4357). Check different types of treatment programs and their requirements, so you can choose which one best suits your needs.
- Search for detox clinics or treatment centers of SAMHSA’s Treatment Locator.
- Seek a referral from close friends or family.
- Look for support groups that will be part of your treatment program.
For a more concise internet search, you can check out these options:
- Addiction doctors (Find an ABAM specialist)
- Psychotherapists or counselors (Find an APA psychologist near you)
- Psychiatrists (Find an APA psychiatrist near you)
If you’re looking to talk to someone immediately, you can check out the following Helplines:
- Drug Hotline 877-736-9802
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence HopeLine 1-800-475-HOPE (4673)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse – Drug and Treatment Information 1-800-622-4357
- National Suicide Prevention Helpline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
- Substance Abuse Helpline (available 24/7) 1-800-923-4327
Furthermore, you can always call us on the phone number listed on this page. The telephone number listed on this page will connect you to by American Addiction Centers (AAC). Caring admissions consultants are standing by to discuss your treatment options, which can include family intervention specialists. The helpline is offered at no cost and with no obligation to enter treatment.
We’re happy to help!
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