Gina Johnson
Mixing alcohol with sleeping pills can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. Both substances have sedative effects, and when taken together, their side effects may be enhanced, leading to a potentially fatal overdose. The specific dangers depend on the amount of alcohol consumed, the type of sleeping pill taken, and the time elapsed between consuming both substances. Sleeping pills such as Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata, when combined with alcohol, can cause serious adverse effects, including respiratory depression, suppressed brain activity, and impaired alertness, judgment, and coordination. It is important to follow the instructions provided with prescription medications and consult a healthcare professional before mixing any medication with alcohol.
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What You'll Learn
CNS depressants and respiratory suppression
CNS depressants are medications or substances that slow down brain activity, making them useful for treating anxiety, panic, and sleep disorders. They are also referred to as sedatives or tranquilizers. CNS depressants include opioids, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines. While these medications can be beneficial when used as prescribed, they can become dangerous when misused or taken in excess.
When CNS depressants are taken in high doses or combined with other substances such as alcohol, they can lead to central nervous system depression. This condition occurs when the brain and nervous system slow down, resulting in slower heart rate, slower breathing, and reduced consciousness. In severe cases, CNS depression can lead to unresponsiveness, coma, or even death.
Combining CNS depressants with alcohol can have serious adverse effects. Both substances have sedating properties, and when taken together, their side effects may be enhanced. This can lead to a potentially fatal overdose. Alcohol increases the sedation, dizziness, and risk of falls associated with sleep aids. Additionally, the risk of respiratory depression and suppression is heightened when CNS depressants are combined with alcohol.
Withdrawing from CNS depressants and alcohol can also be dangerous. Acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome can include symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, agitation, increased heart rate, high blood rate, seizures, and delirium tremens. Similarly, withdrawing from sedative-hypnotic sleeping pills can cause restlessness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and tremors. Supervised medical detox and rehabilitation programs are available to help individuals safely withdraw from these substances and overcome addiction.
It is important to note that even over-the-counter sleep aids and herbal remedies can have dangerous interactions with alcohol. Mixing these substances can increase their sedative effects and side effects. Therefore, it is recommended to wait until all alcohol has been cleared from the body before taking any sleeping pills to avoid potential risks and dangers.
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Heightened effects of both substances
Mixing sleeping pills and alcohol can have serious adverse effects and can even be deadly. Both substances have sedating effects on the body, and when taken together, their side effects may be enhanced. This can lead to a potentially fatal sleeping pill overdose.
Sleeping pills are sedative substances that typically suppress activity in the central nervous system. Alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant. Taking two drugs that affect the body in similar ways can compound their negative effects and lead to dangerous health issues.
For example, the combination of sleeping pills and alcohol can cause a suppression of the normal function of the body, especially the nervous system, including the parts of the brain that affect breathing, cognition, and alertness. This suppression of breathing can be deadly. Additionally, the combined impairment of alertness, judgment, and coordination can make seemingly simple activities like swimming, driving, or crossing the road potentially deadly.
Furthermore, the effects of mixing sleeping pills and alcohol can be additive, increasing the effect of each substance. This can lead to a higher risk of a substance use disorder, as well as other serious side effects such as over-sedation, dizziness, and risk of falls.
The dangers of mixing sleeping pills and alcohol also depend on various factors, including the amount of alcohol consumed, the type of sleeping pill taken, and the timing between consuming both substances. It is recommended to wait until all alcohol has been cleared from the body before taking sleeping pills to avoid the risks and dangers associated with mixing the two.
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Detox and treatment for co-occurring addiction
Mixing alcohol and sleeping pills can have serious adverse effects and enhance the side effects of both substances, which can lead to a potentially fatal sleeping pill overdose. Both alcohol and sleeping pills are central nervous system (CNS) depressants, meaning they slow brain activity. Combining two CNS depressants leads to over-sedation, dizziness, a risk of falls, respiratory depression, and even death.
If you or someone you know is suffering from both an alcohol and sleeping pill addiction, additional treatment may be required. Detox and treatment efforts for both substances and any related issues should be integrated to facilitate a safer, smoother recovery. For instance, when you stop using sleeping pills and alcohol, rebound insomnia is likely to develop. In cases of recovery from co-occurring addiction, continued sedative-hypnotic treatment may not be a viable option; instead, a more behavioral treatment-focused approach may be required.
There are several non-pharmacological treatment options that can help with rebound insomnia, including:
- Relaxation therapy
- Sleep hygiene education
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Stimulus control (e.g. no watching TV or reading in bed, no exercise, smoking, or warm baths just before bed)
- Sleep restriction (e.g. minimizing sleep outside of set hours)
Treatment for polysubstance (multiple drug) addiction is available on both an inpatient and outpatient basis and typically consists of some combination of:
- Medical detox
- Co-occurring disorder treatment or other mental health care, when needed
- Rebound insomnia treatment
- Individual, group, and family therapy
- Recreational therapy/art therapy
- Relapse prevention skills training
- Aftercare planning
- Behavioral interventions (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, contingency management, 12-step facilitation)
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Side effects and health issues
Mixing alcohol with sleeping pills can have serious side effects and health issues. Both substances have sedating effects, and when taken together, their side effects may be enhanced, leading to a potentially fatal sleeping pill overdose. Alcohol increases the sedation associated with all sleep aids, whether over-the-counter or prescription. The risk of a sleeping pill and alcohol overdose is very real, and studies show that many common sleeping pills can be deadly when mixed with alcohol. Death can occur when the combination suppresses breathing beyond a safe level or affects the heart. This combination can also impair alertness, judgment, and coordination, making seemingly simple activities like swimming, driving, or crossing the road potentially deadly.
Sleeping pills are central nervous system depressants, just like alcohol. Combining two similar types of drugs leads to over-sedation, dizziness, a risk of falls, respiratory depression, and even death. The suppression of the normal function of the body, especially the nervous system, can affect breathing, cognition, and alertness. Additionally, drinking heavily can cause a person to spontaneously stop breathing, which can lead to overdose and death. Some sleeping medications, such as Ambien and Lunesta, can cause episodes of strange sleeping behavior, such as eating, driving, shopping, or sleepwalking.
The dangers of mixing alcohol and sleeping pills depend on several factors, including the amount of alcohol consumed, the type of sleeping pills taken, and the time between consuming both substances. It is recommended to wait until all alcohol has been cleared from the body before taking sleeping pills to avoid the risks and dangers associated with mixing the two. The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours, and it can take up to five half-lives (20-25 hours) for the body to completely eliminate it. However, the time it takes for the body to metabolize alcohol varies, and many factors can affect this process.
Withdrawal from sedative-hypnotic type sleeping pills can also present its own set of challenges. Symptoms may include restlessness, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and tremors. A supervised medical detox can help minimize withdrawal symptoms and lower the chance of relapse. Additionally, rebound insomnia is likely to develop when stopping the use of sleeping pills and alcohol simultaneously. In such cases, a behavioral treatment-focused approach may be more suitable than continued sedative-hypnotic treatment.
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Risk of overdose and death
Combining sleeping pills and alcohol can increase the sedating effects of both, seriously increasing the risk of overdose and death. Both sleeping pills and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, and when taken together, they can slow down vital functions like heart rate and respiratory function to dangerous levels. This can lead to health crises such as respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and even death.
According to a 2014 study published in the journal BMJ, individuals who use sleeping pills have a four times higher chance of death than those who do not. When sleeping pills and alcohol are combined, it is easy to become confused or delirious, and individuals may unintentionally ingest more of either substance, leading to an overdose. Mixing sleeping pills and alcohol can also cause an abundance of detrimental health effects and promote the development of a poly-drug use disorder, or addiction to multiple substances.
Sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines and barbiturates, are among the chief causes of drug overdose deaths in the US, which have consistently increased since 1999, reaching nearly 92,000 in 2020. While modern sleeping pills are generally safer than their predecessors, death from sleeping pill use is still possible, especially when mixed with other substances like alcohol. For example, while a benzodiazepine overdose is rarely fatal on its own, it can be deadly when combined with alcohol or other substances.
Treatment for a sleeping pill overdose typically involves supportive care, with doctors monitoring the patient's breathing and cardiovascular system while the body works the drug out of its system. In some cases, activated charcoal, hemodialysis, whole bowel irrigation, or medications like flumazenil may be used to treat an overdose. However, flumazenil carries some risks, and routine use is not recommended, especially in cases of mixed or unknown substance overdoses.
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Frequently asked questions
Both sleeping pills and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, meaning they slow brain activity. Taking them together can lead to over-sedation, dizziness, risk of falls, respiratory depression, and even death.
The dangers depend on the amount of alcohol consumed, the type of sleeping pill taken, and how close together one takes both substances. Sleeping pills that are central nervous system depressants, such as Ambien, Lunesta, and benzodiazepines, are especially dangerous when mixed with alcohol.
Common side effects include a suppression of the nervous system, including the parts of the brain that affect breathing, cognition, and alertness. This can lead to a dangerous impairment of judgment, coordination, and activities like driving or swimming. Other side effects include memory loss, sleepwalking, and a general increase in sedation and drowsiness.
It is never advised to mix sleeping pills with alcohol. If you are taking sleeping pills and want to consume alcohol, consult your doctor or healthcare provider for guidance. It is recommended to wait until all alcohol has been cleared from your body before taking sleeping pills to avoid the risks and dangers associated with mixing the two substances.
