Although this is mentioned frequently in this text, it must be reiterated to remind you of the dangers. Taking alcohol with benzos may cause alcohol’s depressant qualities to work faster because both substances are downers. Because both drugs slow down your central nervous system, taking benzos with alcohol makes it easier to go into cardiac or respiratory arrest. The risk of alcohol poisoning also increases with this mixture, especially if taking an extended-release version of benzodiazepines. In fact, they have considered the best treatment when dealing with mild-to-severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Taking Ativan with other drugs that slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death.
Healthy habits, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep, may help improve overall physical and mental health. These lifestyle changes may be beneficial for relieving anxiety or hangover symptoms. Taking Ativan (lorazepam) for an alcohol hangover is not recommended.
Never share Ativan with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. The loss of coordination and slowed movements can cause falls and other accidents. The sedation can be so powerful as to cause household accidents, such as falling asleep with the stove on, falling asleep while smoking or sleeping through a substance abuse group activities for adults fire alarm. If you suspect that you or a loved one is overdosing on Ativan, alcohol or any other substance, it’s crucial that you call 911 as soon as possible. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox. When there’s not enough GABA, neurons fire quickly, increasing the risk of epilepsy in people with seizure disorders.
Increased Risk of Injury
The body gets rid intermediate familial subtype of it through urine after it has been metabolized (chemically altered or broken down). Ativan’s most potent effects occur within two hours of taking it in the liquid or tablet form. If receiving an injection instead, it will take between 15 minutes and 30 minutes to start feeling the drug’s effects.
The side effects of Ativan are magnified when it is used with alcohol and are often more prominent in the elderly. The side effects of Ativan and alcohol are very similar due to their similar mechanism of action on the brain, making their combination dangerous. Ativan and alcohol both act on the same brain chemicals — the neurotransmitters known as GABA and glutamate — and slow brain functions. Therefore, mixing Ativan and alcohol results in slowed cognition, impaired reaction times, slowed speech and whats an enabler movements and reduced level of consciousness. When the alcohol intake is more than low-level (a drink or two), this inhibition is total. Alternatively, outpatient rehab provides counseling and therapy for drug abuse on a “part-time” basis.
- Brain cells use a mixture of “go” and “stop” signals to regulate messages, and GABA is the “stop” signal.
- It is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs used to treat various conditions, such as anxiety, seizures, and insomnia.
- The NIH states that “interactions should be expected from combining alcohol with benzodiazepines” and advises against it.
- Combining these substances can cause minutes or hours where you “black out’ and have no memory of events.
Treatment for Ativan and Alcohol Misuse (Polydrug Abuse)
Central nervous system depressants slow down breathing and heart rate. Taken on its own, Ativan has a relatively low rate of slowed breathing and heart rate; however, this can dramatically increase when combined with alcohol. However, Ativan is also a Schedule IV controlled substance due to its misuse potential. The restrictions for alcohol and lorazepam consumption are strict and for good reason.
Ativan is also used to help patients relax before an operation or medical treatment. Ativan can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing. After all, battling addiction and substance use disorder is a lifelong commitment.
Side Effects of Mixing Ativan and Alcohol
You should refer to the prescribing information for Ativan for a complete list of interactions. Combining alcohol and Ativan can enhance the effects of either substance, but it also has the potential for serious interactions that can be deadly. The liver and kidneys help you metabolize everything you put into your body. Health issues with any of these organs make it hard to get rid of Ativan or alcohol.
Considering this risk, many people have questions related to the timing of using alcohol and benzodiazepines and whether they can be mixed at all. Aftercare programs hold you accountable, provide resources to support your mental health and fight urges, and offer a community of people to lean on who know exactly what you’re going through. If you have taken Ativan in any form and you are wondering about when it is safe to drink, speak to your healthcare provider for direct guidance. Ativan can be ingested in tablet form or injected in an intravenous (IV) injection. The injectable form of Ativan is absorbed into your system much faster, which puts you at an increased risk of toxicity, especially if you take too large of a dose or combine it with alcohol.
Exactly how long it takes to leave your system will depend on physical factors like your weight and the type of Ativan you take. It belongs to the same family as other anti-anxiety prescription medications, such as Klonopin, Valium and Xanax. Although it may not be as well-known as some of its cousins, it is still a federally controlled substance with a high risk for abuse and addiction.
If you take Ativan with alcohol, you are at a heightened risk of overdose. Confronting a substance use disorder on your own is challenging, but the beginning of your recovery journey is only a phone call away. Ativan is not likely to be toxic to the liver on its own, but it is metabolized by the liver. This means that damage from alcohol can increase blood levels of lorazepam. No, you should not drink alcohol while taking Ativan or other benzodiazepines. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The liver is responsible for filtering the drugs from the system simultaneously, meaning the risk of overdose increases. The only way to avoid a potentially fatal overdose is to abstain from using these drugs together. Even if you survive an overdose, it can lead to permanent and irreversible consequences. All of these side effects can be worsened due to the depressant effects of alcohol. The most detrimental side effects of drinking alcohol with Ativan usage revolve around slowing brain activities, breathing, and heart rate. This is because both substances are central nervous system (CNS) depressants.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. Ativan is usually taken one to three times per day, depending on what it’s being prescribed for. For example, Ativan is typically taken at bedtime for people experiencing insomnia. If Ativan is prescribed as an anxiety medication, it might be taken two to three times per day to relieve symptoms. The half-life — or time it takes for roughly one-half of a substance to be cleared from the body — of Ativan is about 14 hours.
When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment. If eligible, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. If The Recovery Village is not the right fit for you or your loved one, we will help refer you to a facility that is.
