What happens if you take anxiolytics and alcohol?

Mixing drugs and alcohol is always a bad idea, and this case is no exception.

More and more people are taking anxiolytics every day. The consumption of drugs for anxiety disorders has been growing, motivated by the belief that anxiolytics are the quick and effective solution to these problems.

But the consumption of another substance, alcohol, has long been well established in our society. Whether its consumption is linked to a psychological disorder or not, the fact is that this substance is an integral part of social life, an indispensable part for many.

So, taking into account that both substances are currently widely consumed, many people ask themselves what happens if you take anxiolytics and alcoholWhat is their danger and what problems can they cause. Below we will solve these doubts.

What happens if you take anxiolytics and alcohol?

Consuming alcohol and anxiolytics at the same time entails many risks.. Regardless of why anxiolytics have been prescribed, it is very important to understand that most of them turn out to be a very bad combination with alcohol. In fact, alcohol consumption is the main contraindication for most drugs, both those prescribed for psychopathology and for medical conditions. Drinks can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorder and cause medical problems.

In all drugs, and in particular anxiolytics, their main contraindications are indicated in their prescription, as well as their therapeutic effect, side effects and indications. Although each drug has in its prescription a very detailed explanation of why it should not be taken with alcohol, basically most of them agree on the following reasons.

1. More accidents

Drinking alcohol while under anxiolytic treatment can increase the risk of accidents, both domestic and traffic.both domestic and traffic accidents. The combination of the two substances can cause the person to fall, accidentally cut or hit himself or herself and manifest injuries that he or she does not know how they occurred.

This effect is quite distinctive of benzodiazepines, which are the main group of tranquilizers and hypnotics most commonly consumed. These drugs taken with alcohol can impair coordination, especially in the elderly.especially in the elderly, which is why more accidents would occur.

It also leads to impaired breathing during sleep and affects cognitive abilities such as concentration, memory and learning.

2. Behavioral disturbance

Anxiolytics are prescribed for people who suffer from an emotional disorder, which in itself can cause behavioral problems. It is a very bad idea for people diagnosed with these disorders to drink alcohol, as it can further aggravate their behavioral problems.

The prescription of anxiolytics focuses on reducing the symptoms caused by the anxiety disorder. However, taking only the drug without seeing a psychologist, who will teach the patient strategies to control their anxiety and know how to cope with their problems, is not a good option.

In the psychologist's therapy the patient will learn to modify the behaviors that may have led him/her to be in this state.The consumption of alcohol, far from helping in the resolution of these conflicts, makes them worse.

The consumption of alcohol, far from helping in the resolution of these conflicts, makes them worse. It is possible that, having drunk alcohol and taking anxiolytics, you will be even more anxious, having more arguments with your family or being unable to control your studies and work, generating even more anxiety and entering a vicious circle.

3. Potentiation of its effects

When alcohol is taken together with anxiolytics, the effect generated is greater than the sum of these substances. That is to say, combined, the effect of alcohol and anxiolytics is potentiated..

To understand this, if we drink a beer and also take a diazepam, the effects of these substances will be equivalent to having taken two of each. This increased potentiation of effects is the first step on the road to a potential danger: overdose intoxication. making combining a beer with a diazepam like taking two of each.

4. Rebound effect

It is clear that the consumption of anxiolytics has as its main objective the reduction of anxiety, in addition to being prescribed to sleep better. Alcohol, without combining it with other substances, is also usually consumed for this purpose, that is, to reduce anxiety and worry, although it is not the best option for this purpose.

Also, based on this, there are many people who think that the sedative effect of alcohol is therapeutic.They believe that having a drink at night before going to sleep is a good way to induce sleep.

The problem with this, if you are already taking anxiolytics, is that it does not really induce a better sleep, rather the opposite: it produces a rebound effect. Alcohol and anxiolytics together cause nervousness and anguish after a few hours and, even if I manage to fall asleep, it will be of poorer quality.

If I take anxiolytics, should I say goodbye to alcohol?

As we have already said, alcohol is contraindicated if you are taking anxiolytics. However, this does not mean that if you are under pharmacological treatment you should completely avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. There are several factors that make it possible to drink alcohol even in moderation and in small quantities.

First of all, it should be understood that the consumption of anxiolytics does not serve to cure the anxiety disorder or sleep problems, but rather to reduce the intensity of its symptoms. These problems are psychological disorders, with a cause that must be worked on and, in the psychologist's office, strategies must be learned to cope with the events that generate anxiety. Since these drugs can even hide the symptoms of the disorder, it is advisable not to leave the recovery only in the hands of the drugs.

At the psychiatrist's office, he will give us information about the prescribed drug, how it should be taken, in what quantity and how often it should be taken.. While there, you can ask him about what you can and cannot take during the treatment, including substances such as alcohol and tobacco. It is to be expected that the psychiatrist will not recommend taking addictive substances, however, he/she should indicate the differences of anxiolytics with respect to their interaction with alcohol.

As we were saying, alcohol is a very important socializing element in our culture. We are accustomed to going out with friends and having a beer.

During the treatment of an anxiety or mood disorder, socializing with family and friends is a fundamental aspect of recovery. This is why completely banishing alcohol from our lives may have more cons than pros, running the risk of isolating ourselves by avoiding going out in situations where alcohol is indispensable and, thus, worsening the anxiety disorder.

Although alcohol is still a drug, and its consumption is a risk factor for addiction and medical problems, drinking it in small amounts is not a problem. Moderation and what has been specified by the psychiatrist are fundamental aspects when under psychopharmacological treatment.In addition to being responsible and avoid consuming alcohol immediately after or before taking the anxiolytic.

However, every precaution is too little. As we have already mentioned, combining alcohol with anxiolytics enhances the effect of both, running the risk of causing intoxication due to overdose. Alcohol can also be abused progressively, turning what was initially a social consumption into an addiction, and that is the last thing a person with an anxiety disorder would want.

Bibliographic references:

• Gómez-Jarabo, G. (1999). Pharmacology of behavior. Basic manual for psychotherapists and clinicians. Madrid: Síntesis psicología.
• Morón, F.G.; Borroto,R.; Calvo, D.M.; Cires, M.; Cruz, M.A. and Fernández, A. (2009). Clinical pharmacology. Havana: Editorial Ciencias Médicas; 1-30.
• Stevens, J.C. & Pollack, M.H. (2005). Benzodiazepines in clinical practice: consideration of their long-term use and alternative agents. J Clin Psychiatry; 66 (Suppl 2):21-7.