It’s not possible to stress enough how important it is that people pay attention to the labels on their medications. Manufacturers put those labels on medications for a reason, and it isn’t just to cover their rears. Time and again, doctors have warned us about the dangers of mixing drugs with alcohol. If you are drinking on Xanax or any other central nervous system depressant, you are taking a significant risk.
How Drinking on Xanax Affects Your Central Nervous System
If a doctor or psychiatrist has put you on Xanax, it’s likely you are dealing with an anxiety disorder, panic disorder or anxiety caused by depression. Specifically, Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug that acts to slow activity in the central nervous system. By slowing activity down, it produces a calming effect through the individual’s entire central nervous system.
Amazingly, alcohol has a very similar effect. How many times do you hear someone mention they want a drink so they can relax? Well, alcohol also acts as a suppressant on the central nervous system. When someone is drinking on Xanax, they are essentially exacerbating the effects of both substances at the same time.
The Dangers of Drinking on Xanax
First and foremost, both Xanax and alcohol have addictive properties. Top addiction treatment centers will offer a Xanax addiction treatment center for this very reason. With this in mind, you have to use extreme caution if you are drinking on Xanax.
At lower amounts of both substances, the risks are minimal. It’s when you start increasing the amounts you are using that trouble becomes imminent. Remember, you are supposed to take Xanax exactly as your doctor prescribes. By adding alcohol, you are defying the experts who have warned you not to do it. At some point, you could be at risk of Xanax addiction or overdose because the alcohol enhanced the effects.
Here are a few Xanax side effects that might prompt you to think twice about drinking on Xanax:
- Loss of motor control
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Respiratory and blood pressure issues
- Memory problems
Starting Xanax Addiction Treatment at Serenity House Detox & Recovery
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Jupiter and Fort Lauderdale, we consider ourselves a Xanax detox center which can help you withdraw from substances like Xanax, alcohol, and opioids. Our goal is to help patients get ready for the rigors of therapy treatment. Our services include:
- Gender-specific detox programs for men and women
- Addiction counseling services
- Substance-specific detox programs
- Relapse prevention programs
- Medical detox programs
Do not start drinking on Xanax. Heed the warnings we provided above. If you end up with an addiction to Xanax or any other substance, we can help you beat your addiction. You can start the addiction treatment process by calling our Serenity House Detox & Recovery addiction specialists at 866-294-5306.
