Substance abusers mix alcohol and Xanax for a greater sense of relaxation and euphoria. As both drugs act as depressants, they affect the brain in the same way. Depressants have the ability to slow down the activity of the brain resulting in a state of relaxation and calmness. (1)
However, there are more reasons for people to combine these Xanax and alcohol. It can sometimes be due to simple curiosity. Experimenting with different substances, both dangerous or not, is not entirely new. It could even be by mistake. Sometimes, people make the wrong assumption that the body has already cleared the alcohol in their system, so they take their Xanax.
There are times that it can also be intentional. There have been numerous cases of taking very high dosages of the Xanax and alcohol to attempt suicide. No matter if you know the side effects or not, what is clear is people should not mix these two depressants.
Xanax And Alcohol Interactions
Listed below are some of the known side effects of the combination of Xanax and alcohol in your body: (2)
- Aggression: One of the possible effects of consuming either is aggression. Mixing the two, the person under its influence becomes more prone to this.
- Allergic reactions: Although only a few are allergic to either Xanax or alcohol. If you happen to be one of the unlucky few, you may find yourself suffering from something as mild as dizziness to something as severe as difficulty breathing.
- Anger: Both Xanax and alcohol can decrease mental clarity, which is possible to lead to violence.
- Balance and coordination problems: Both substances exhibit this side effect, but combining the two will further heighten this sensation.
- Brain fog: It is the lack of mental focus and clarity.
- Drug-induced psychosis: Although rare, individuals who consume a copious amount of alcohol relative to Xanax may be more vulnerable to this.
- Severe stomach aches: Large doses of Xanax combined with alcohol will greatly inflame your stomach lining. Stomach aches may show itself in the form of diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, and flatulence.
- Vomiting: While we can point to many reasons behind vomiting, what is sure is Xanax and alcohol are the culprits. It can be a result of high levels of either Xanax or alcohol in the blood, gastrointestinal distress, and even shifts in activity within various brain regions.
- Respiratory depression: This will make it hard for you to inhale enough oxygen for your body. In extreme cases, your respiratory system may fail.
- Memory impairment: Xanax and alcohol share the side effect of impairs memory, preventing you to form or to retain new memories.
Variables That Can Affect Alcohol And Xanax Interaction(1)
- Amount of alcohol and Xanax Taken
- Xanax to alcohol ratio
- Water intake
- Age
- Genetics
- Medical conditions
- Body Size
- Body Composition
- Sex
It may feel nice to take Xanax and alcohol together; however, the high offered by this unique combination is not worth the dangerous side effects that it would inflict. Remember to use any drug only and only for what they were prescribed for.
