A more recent review noted that baclofen is not recommended as a first-line treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Muscle relaxers are effective for pain relief caused by certain conditions, but taking them with alcohol could lead to dangerous side effects. Feeling more dependent on alcohol can increase your overall anxiety and stress, especially for those balancing other responsibilities and demands. And, alcohol slows down the parts of your brain that process negative emotions7, which is why it can seem like sadness, guilt, or grief vanish after drinking.
The interaction between these substances can lead to various potential interactions, side effects, and increased risks and complications. Mixing the two substances can amplify these effects and make it difficult to think clearly or move correctly. As a result, people who mix muscle relaxers and alcohol are at an increased risk for falls, car accidents, and other injuries.
We Level Up California can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from this with professional and safe detox and treatment. We can inform you about this condition by giving you relevant information. Muscle relaxers are medications primarily prescribed to treat muscle spasms, painful muscle contractions, and spasticity. These conditions can be due to various causes, such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or acute low back pain.
This is when a drug—usually prescription—has a reaction to another drug, food, or beverage and a change in pharmacokinetics occurs. This is seen with combinations of drugs such as sedatives and antihistamines, which both can cause extreme drowsiness making it impossible to operate a vehicle. Muscle relaxers have a potential for misuse and addiction, especially carisoprodol and diazepam. If you feel that you’re dependent on carisoprodol or diazepam or your prescribed dosage isn’t helping to manage your symptoms, don’t take more than your recommended dosage. Her skills extend to instructional design, facilitation, and management, making her a valuable trainer in her facility’s training programs.
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- If you have any concerns or questions, seek guidance from medical professionals who can provide personalized advice based on your specific circumstances.
- If you’re taking a prescription muscle relaxer, you shouldn’t consume alcohol.
- For instance, one individual shared that they initially thought a muscle relaxer would only enhance their evening.
- This means that the side effects of muscle relaxers, such as drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, impaired coordination, and confusion, can be intensified when you drink alcohol.
When these substances are mixed, alcohol exacerbates the impact of the muscle relaxers, creating a vicious cycle that can severely affect cognitive and physical functions. This dual dependence can contribute to severe health problems, such as liver damage and cognitive impairments. Long-lasting impacts on mental health and overall well-being are potential consequences of the continued mixing of muscle relaxants and alcohol.
So, understanding the effects of alcohol on the nervous system isn’t just interesting; it’s essential for staying safe while navigating your treatment and lifestyle choices. Even when used separately, alcohol and muscle relaxers come with their separate sets of side effects. Muscle relaxers can lead to drowsiness, weakness, dry mouth, and other unpleasant feelings. Alcohol, on the other hand, can induce impaired judgment, blurred vision, and coordination issues.
Alcohol only changes your ability to notice your stress—it doesn’t take any bit of it away. It may dampen the sensations of stress, which some people experience more pronouncedly than others9, but doesn’t solve the underlying issue. Momentary distractions like this may feel like an adequate solution, but they can cause much more harm than the initial stressor itself. Think of how many “person-unwinding-after-a-hard-day-with-alcohol” scenes crop up in movies, TV shows, and books. Rebound anxiety can lead to a cycle of consumption in hopes of keeping the wave from crashing—but it’s not sustainable. People can inadvertently develop alcohol use disorder trying to stay afloat.
Most muscle relaxers work by targeting the brain and spinal cord, influencing the nerve impulses that control muscle tone. Some common muscle relaxants include cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and baclofen. Fatal conditions are a major concern when it comes to mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers. Mixing prescription drugs and alcohol causes major damage to the liver and kidneys, which are essential for ridding the body of toxins. As toxins build up in the kidney and over, which normally filter them out, damage and eventual failure can occur. Mixing alcohol and drugs is never advised, this is especially true of mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol.
It negatively affects the same neurotransmitters involved with sleep, meaning it can alter your body’s natural cycles and rhythms. You may fall asleep due to the initial sedative effects of alcohol, but it disrupts your sleep later on in the night. Recovery.com combines independent research with expert guidance on addiction and mental health treatment. Our mission is to help everyone find the best path to recovery through the most comprehensive, helpful network of treatment providers worldwide. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows down brain activity and affects the body’s overall functioning.
- However, the more these two substances are abused, the more likely you will become addicted to them.
- Engaging in the abuse of these substance sat the same time produces many concerning long-term effects.
- Muscle relaxants produce their effect by depressing the CNS, producing sedation and a relaxing of the skeletal muscles.
- Remember, your health is a top priority, and it’s essential to make informed decisions when it comes to consuming alcohol and taking muscle relaxers.
- However, studies have shown that regularly mixing these substances can have serious consequences for your health.
Alcohol and Stress: Myths vs. Reality
As alcohol continues to enter the bloodstream, it begins to have other effects on the body. Muscle coordination becomes impaired, which is why people are unable to drive or operate machinery while under the influence of alcohol. Muscle relaxants, especially benzodiazepines can be addictive, as can alcohol. Despite alcohol’s notoriety as an upbeat, social drug, it’s actually a depressant.
The central nervous system controls essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and motor skills. When substances like alcohol and muscle relaxers are consumed together, they can profoundly depress the CNS, which is why mixing these substances can lead to dangerous outcomes. On the other hand, muscle spasticity is a chronic condition characterized by tight or stiff muscles that are difficult to control.
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One long-term effect of mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers is liver damage. As previously mentioned, both substances are metabolized in the liver, which can put a strain on this vital organ. Over time, this strain can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver, which can impair its function and increase your risk of developing liver disease. Some people may be unaware of the dangers of mixing these substances, or they may believe that alcohol will provide relief from the side effects of muscle relaxers. Others may be seeking the intense relaxation and euphoria that this combination produces.
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Taking muscle relaxers shares similar properties, which can result in compounded effects when the two substances are used together. When muscle relaxers are mixed with alcohol, the chances of experiencing these side effects greatly increase. Additionally, when muscle relaxers and alcohol are mixed, the effects of each substance are intensified. This can be extremely dangerous, as it can lead to serious health problems, such as respiratory depression and even death.
Smooth muscles are the muscles that you don’t have control over, like the muscles in your intestine, stomach and blood vessels. It’s best to wait until the effects of the muscle relaxer have worn off completely before consuming alcohol. This could take several hours depending on the specific medication and individual metabolism. As you can see, many of these effects echo those caused by muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines included, which is the main reason it is so risky to combine these drugs. For now, it’s best to stick with currently recommended first-line treatments, such as benzodiazepines, when dealing with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Using baclofen to manage symptoms, especially without doctor supervision, can have dangerous consequences.
Over time, this can lead to damage and inflammation of the liver, which can increase your risk of developing conditions such as fatty liver disease or cirrhosis. Muscle relaxers are medications prescribed to relieve muscle spasms and stiffness. They work by slowing down the central nervous system, which can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination. Alcohol has similar effects on the body, which is why mixing the two can have severe consequences.
Both alcohol and muscle relaxers can impair cognitive and motor functions, increasing the risk of accidents. It’s best to avoid driving or operating machinery until you’re sure the effects of both substances have worn off. Yes, combining alcohol with muscle relaxers can be life-threatening, especially in high doses or in individuals with pre-existing health conditions. One of the biggest dangers of this combination (including benzodiazepines) is motor impairment and incoordination. Together, muscle relaxants and alcohol can make it difficult to walk and balance. This can cause a person to stumble and fall, especially when compounded by the dizziness and impaired vision which may be present from each drug.
What to Do If You or a Loved One Is Struggling with Substance Abuse
Recovery.com uses a standard procedure to make sure treatment provider profiles on our site are current and complete. Remember, having this conversation can you drink with muscle relaxers may not be easy, but it could potentially save your loved one’s life. Every journey begins with a single step, and your shared path towards sobriety and a strengthened bond is no different. If you have symptoms of overdose, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Muscle relaxers can cause more serious side effects like fainting and blurred vision. Call now to talk with a treatment specialist about your recovery options.