Ashwin Lewis
Mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can lead to a range of negative side effects, from excessive drowsiness to slowed breathing and heart rate, and even fatal overdoses. Both substances are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which slow brain activity and can be deadly when combined. The side effects of each substance are magnified when taken together, and the risk of overdose increases. Mixing alcohol with certain prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as melatonin, doxylamine, and diphenhydramine, can also lead to adverse effects, including impaired judgment, thinking, and motor skills. Treatment for addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills typically involves medical detox, rebound insomnia treatment, therapy, and relapse prevention skills training.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Side effects | Increased dizziness, drowsiness, slowed or stopped breathing, slowed heart rate, risk of falls, vehicle accidents, fatal overdose, memory loss, sleepwalking, confusion, difficulty concentrating, impaired judgment, impaired motor skills, liver damage, rebound insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, tremors, high blood pressure, seizures, delirium tremens |
| Treatment | Medical detox, co-occurring disorder treatment, rebound insomnia treatment, individual, group and family therapy, recreational therapy, relapse prevention skills training, aftercare planning, behavioural interventions, inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment |
| Addiction | Alcohol and sleeping pill addiction is common, and recovery is possible |
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What You'll Learn
Increased risk of overdose
Combining sleeping pills and alcohol can increase the risk of overdose. Both substances have sedative effects, which means they slow brain activity. When taken together, their side effects are enhanced, increasing the risk of a fatal sleeping pill overdose. The FDA requires sleeping pill manufacturers to issue warnings about the dangers of mixing sleep aids with alcohol.
Alcohol increases the side effects and sedation associated with all sleep aids, whether over-the-counter or prescription. Mixing alcohol with prescription sleeping pills can cause serious adverse effects. The side effects of mixing alcohol and sleeping pills are due to each substance increasing the effects of the other. This can lead to the suppression of normal body functions, especially the nervous system, including the parts of the brain that affect breathing, cognition, and alertness.
Mixing alcohol with certain over-the-counter sleep medications that contain sedating antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol QuickCaps, Tylenol PM, Aleve PM) and doxylamine (Unisom, Nytol Maximum Strength), can directly interact with alcohol. This can cause excessive drowsiness, increasing the risk of falls and accidents. It can also lead to confusion, impaired judgment, and difficulty concentrating or thinking.
The combination of alcohol and sleeping pills can also increase the risk of a substance use disorder. This is particularly true for diphenhydramine, where studies have reported tolerance within as few as four days of use. Furthermore, a recent study reported a greater risk of dementia with more frequent use of medications containing diphenhydramine and doxylamine.
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Withdrawal symptoms
Combining sleeping pills and alcohol can lead to several negative outcomes and should be avoided. Both substances are central nervous system depressants that slow brain activity and increase the risk of adverse symptoms, overdose, and even death. The side effects of mixing alcohol and sleeping pills include drowsiness, impaired motor control, dizziness, fainting, confusion, slowed heart rate and breathing, and increased risk of overdose.
Withdrawal from sedative-hypnotic type sleeping pills may include restlessness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and tremors. The severity of withdrawal symptoms during detox from both substances can be mitigated by a physician-supervised detox or medical withdrawal management plan, gradually decreasing the dose over several weeks rather than abruptly quitting.
Treatment for polysubstance addiction, including alcohol and sleeping pill addiction, is available on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Inpatient treatment takes place in a residential facility, offering 24/7 treatment attention and limited access to the outside world to minimize the chance of relapse. Outpatient treatment can occur in hospitals, counselors' offices, community mental health clinics, or shared spaces within inpatient/residential rehab facilities.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills, professional help is available. Reach out to a healthcare provider or a specialized addiction treatment center for guidance and support.
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Side effects are magnified
Sleeping pills and alcohol are both central nervous system (CNS) depressants, meaning they slow brain activity. When taken together, the side effects of each are magnified, and the risk of overdose increases. Even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of side effects, such as excessive drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, impaired judgment, and slowed reflexes. This can lead to an increased risk of falls, accidents, and difficulty breathing.
The combination of sleeping pills and alcohol can also lead to a suppression of the normal function of the body, especially the nervous system, including the parts of the brain that affect cognition and alertness. This can result in impaired information processing and slowed reaction time.
Additionally, mixing alcohol with certain over-the-counter (OTC) sleep medications that contain sedating antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Nytol QuickCaps, Tylenol PM) and doxylamine (Unisom, Nytol Maximum Strength), can directly interact with alcohol, increasing the severity of side effects. These interactions can cause more attention impairment than expected, with people experiencing slower information processing and object tracking.
Furthermore, the risk of a substance use disorder may be higher in individuals who mix alcohol with sleep medications. This is due to the additive effects of the substances, which can increase the impact of each and enhance the risk of addiction.
It is important to note that the side effects of mixing sleeping pills and alcohol can vary depending on the specific medication and the amount of alcohol consumed. However, given the potential dangers and risk of overdose, it is generally advised to avoid mixing these substances.
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Treatment options
Mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can have a range of effects, from increased dizziness and drowsiness to slowed or stopped breathing, slowed heart rate, and even death. As such, it is important to consider treatment options if you or a loved one are struggling with addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills. Treatment options include:
- Medical detox: This can be done in a physician-supervised setting to help manage withdrawal symptoms and lower the chance of relapse. Acute alcohol withdrawal can range from mild to dangerous, including symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, agitation, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures, and delirium tremens. A supervised medical detox can help avoid unnecessary discomfort or life-threatening complications.
- Rebound insomnia treatment: Rebound insomnia is likely to develop when stopping the use of sleeping pills and alcohol. Non-pharmacological treatment options for rebound insomnia include relaxation therapy, sleep hygiene education, cognitive behavioral therapy, stimulus control, and sleep restriction.
- Therapy: Treatment may also include individual, group, and family therapy, as well as recreational therapy or art therapy.
- Behavioral interventions: These can include cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, contingency management, and 12-step facilitation.
- Inpatient and outpatient treatment: Treatment can take place in a variety of settings, including hospitals, counselor's offices, community mental health clinics, or residential rehab facilities. Inpatient treatment may be suitable for those who require intensive care, while outpatient treatment may be a good fit for those who have already completed an intensive program.
- Relapse prevention skills training: This can help individuals learn skills to prevent relapse and maintain sobriety.
- Aftercare planning: Developing an aftercare plan is crucial to ongoing recovery and can include ongoing therapy, support groups, and other resources.
- Addressing co-occurring disorders: Many individuals struggling with addiction may also have co-occurring mental health disorders. It is important to address these disorders through appropriate treatment or mental health care.
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Dangers of mixing
Mixing sleeping pills and alcohol can lead to several negative outcomes and should be avoided. Both sleeping pills and alcohol are central nervous system (CNS) depressants—substances that slow brain activity. When taken together, their side effects may be enhanced, increasing the risk of a sleeping pill overdose, which can be fatal.
The side effects of mixing alcohol and sleeping pills are due to each substance increasing the effects of the other. This can lead to excessive drowsiness, which may be harmful and put you at risk of falls if you need to get up during the night. It can also cause confusion and make it harder to think clearly, with an increased risk of vehicle accidents. Mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can also lead to slowed or stopped breathing (respiratory depression) and a slowed heart rate.
The combination of these substances can also cause additive effects, with an increased risk of a substance use disorder. For example, mixing diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Aleve PM, Tylenol PM, Sominex) with alcohol can cause more attention impairment than expected. Similarly, doxylamine (Unisom, Tylenol PM) should not be mixed with alcohol due to the risk of additive side effects, including impaired judgment, thinking, and motor skills.
Withdrawal from sleeping pills and alcohol can also be dangerous. Symptoms of withdrawal from sleeping pills may include restlessness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and tremors. Acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome can range from mild to physically dangerous, including symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, agitation, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures, and delirium tremens in rarer cases.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to alcohol and sleeping pills, professional treatment is available. Treatment options may include medical detox, rebound insomnia treatment, individual and group therapy, behavioural interventions, and relapse prevention skills training.
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Frequently asked questions
Mixing sleeping pills and alcohol can have a range of effects, from increased dizziness and drowsiness to slowed or stopped breathing, a slowed heart rate, and even death. Both substances are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, meaning they slow brain activity. Taking them together increases the effects of each substance, leading to a higher risk of side effects.
Common side effects of mixing sleeping pills and alcohol include excessive drowsiness, dizziness, impaired judgment, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. There is also an increased risk of falls, vehicle accidents, and fatal overdoses.
The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours, and it can take up to five half-lives (20-25 hours) for your body to clear all the alcohol. Therefore, it is recommended to wait at least 20-25 hours after drinking alcohol before taking a sleeping pill to avoid potential drug interactions.
