It can also lead to slurred speech, vomiting, and decreased inhibitions. Muscle relaxers are effective for pain relief caused by certain conditions, but taking them with alcohol could lead to dangerous side effects. Muscle relaxants are not recommended for use by pregnant women, older adults, or people who have a history of depression or drug or alcohol abuse. Don’t use aspirin and an NSAID together, unless approved by your doctor.
What about muscle relaxers for alcohol withdrawal?
5.8% (or about 16.1 million people) reported misusing any prescription psychotherapeutic drug in the past 12 months. Many people drink alcohol while using drugs to enhance or otherwise modify their experiences with these substances. If you or someone you know has developed a substance use disorder, working on a plan for sobriety as soon as possible becomes crucial. An inpatient treatment program offers an opportunity to safely detox from drugs and alcohol as a first step before individual and group therapy begins. At Peachtree Detox, our detox and rehab programs in Georgia offer the support and care needed to break free from substance abuse and regain control of your life. When consumed together, the effects of these two substances are amplified, leading to extreme drowsiness, loss of motor skills, confusion, and dangerously slowed breathing.
Heightened Risk of Overdose
- Additionally, when muscle relaxers and alcohol are mixed, the effects of each substance are intensified.
- Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers.
- Combining the two substances can amplify these effects, making it important to avoid alcohol consumption while using this muscle relaxer.
- With the right support, it is possible to overcome the challenges of addiction and achieve long-term recovery.
- We can inform you about this condition by giving you relevant information.
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. Consider the dual nature of this interaction — combining muscle relaxers with alcohol is like having two heavy weights pressing down on our chest, making every breath laborious. We might find ourselves struggling to breathe, our chest tightening and lungs gasping for air. In severe cases, breathing can become so slow that it could stop entirely. This, quite obviously, is a life-threatening scenario, and a potent reminder of why mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol can be such a perilous choice.
What to Do if You Mixed Alcohol With Muscle Relaxants
Therefore, it is essential to recognize and understand these signs of drug abuse early because long-term use of this drug can lead to worsened side effects. It’s essential to taper off muscle relaxers gradually under medical supervision or to attend a medical detox to detox safely and comfortably. Prolonged use of muscle relaxers, especially when combined with alcohol, can lead to long-term cognitive impairment, difficulty concentrating, and decreased alertness. Muscle relaxers are medications prescribed to alleviate muscle spasms, tension, and pain. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.
Addiction Treatment Programs
If you suspect that someone is abusing muscle relaxers, it’s important to seek help immediately to prevent serious health risks. Women are 11% more likely than men to be prescribed medication, but men are 22.9% more likely to misuse prescriptions. Both men and women are most likely to use pain relievers, with 32.5% more men than women using—14.4% of adults aged 18 to 25 abuse prescription drugs annually. More than 80 percent of older patients (ages 57 to 85 years) use at least one prescription medication on a daily basis. Mixing the two can increase the effects of both drugs and lead to serious consequences.
Since alcohol and muscle relaxers depress the central nervous system, you should never mix them. Here’s what you need to know about alcohol use, muscle relaxers, and substance use treatment. Skeletal muscle relaxants (see Table 1) work primarily in the spinal cord and brain, also called the central nervous system, to block pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. They relieve painful muscle spasms and spasticity due to conditions like acute back pain or multiple sclerosis.
Yes, combining alcohol with muscle relaxers can be life-threatening, especially in high doses or in individuals with pre-existing health conditions. They work by either blocking the nerve impulses or by narrowing the blood vessels to the muscles. When these drugs are used for an extended period of time, they can cause side effects like drowsiness and dizziness. In addition, some muscle relaxers can interfere with kidney function and even lead to liver damage if taken in high doses over a long period of time.
A 2017 review couldn’t draw concrete conclusions about the effectiveness of baclofen in treating alcohol withdrawal. The investigators found that the studies reviewed contained evidence that was either insufficient or of poor quality. It will help you navigate the complicated process of alcohol withdrawal, but it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.
- 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.
- Mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers can lead to amplified sedative effects, including extreme drowsiness, impaired motor skills, and respiratory depression.
- There are several reasons why people might mix muscle relaxers and alcohol, although it is never advisable.
- Consider the dual nature of this interaction — combining muscle relaxers with alcohol is like having two heavy weights pressing down on our chest, making every breath laborious.
- This is a problem that an increasing number of Americans are facing.
Symptoms and Side Effects of Combining Alcohol and Muscle Relaxers
Outpatient treatment is less intense than inpatient treatment and can be a good option for people who have busy schedules. It can also be a good choice for people who live in areas where there are not many inpatient treatment options available. Outpatient treatment is a form of addiction recovery that allows the person addicted to continue living at home while attending treatment during the week. They are classified based on their chemical structure and mechanism of action, with each class offering different therapeutic benefits. While some muscle relaxers act directly on skeletal muscles, others exert their effect through the central nervous system. Lastly, should a person become addicted to benzodiazepines and alcohol, and suddenly stop using each, withdrawal symptoms can become severe.
If you witness someone experiencing these symptoms, encourage them to seek help promptly. Social influences, like seeing others mix these substances without apparent harm, can contribute. Additionally, some individuals seek to intensify the relaxing or sedative effects, leading to a dangerous synergy between the substances. Injuries that result from this effect can be severe and even life-threatening. Motor impairment also makes operating heavy machinery or a motor vehicle very hazardous.
Addiction Resource team has compiled an extensive list of the top drug rehabilitation facilities around the country. Click on the state you are interested in, and you’ll get a list of the best centers in the area, along with their levels of care, working hours, and contact information. After detoxification, it is important to enter into a rehabilitation program. Inpatient programs require a person to stay at a facility for a period of time, while outpatient programs allow a person to live at home while attending. Methocarbamol, which is sold under the brand name Robaxin, is usually prescribed to treat back pain.
Avoid combining muscle relaxers with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other central nervous system depressants. Alcohol and muscle relaxers can both increase the effects of other drugs. For instance, alcohol can make the effects of sedatives more potent.
With the right help and support, you can overcome addiction and lead a happy and healthy life. Mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol can be a dangerous combination. Prescription medications like muscle relaxers often come with warnings against mixing with alcohol, yet these warnings are sometimes overlooked. It is crucial to follow the instructions provided by healthcare providers and pharmacists to avoid dangerous drug interactions. Even in small amounts, alcohol can interact negatively with muscle relaxers, leading to unpredictable side effects.
Medication-assisted treatments (MAT) for substance use and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily. However, some experts believe there is a muscle relaxer called baclofen that might help with alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal is when a person who’s been drinking heavily or for a prolonged period quits drinking alcohol. One of the most significant risks of this combination is profound motor impairment and loss of coordination and equilibrium.
Mountain Sky Recovery is a respected drug and alcohol treatment center located in Southern, CA. Our compassionate team of experts is dedicated to helping individuals overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety through personalized, evidence-based care. Understanding these motivations and addressing the issue is key to developing targeted interventions and support systems to prevent the dangerous combination of muscle relaxers and alcohol.
It’s strongly advised to avoid consuming alcohol while taking any muscle relaxant. Some individuals mix muscle relaxers and alcohol to enhance the sedative effects or to self-medicate for stress or anxiety. However, this behavior is highly dangerous and often leads to severe health risks, including overdose. Yes, consistently mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol can lead to permanent health issues. Long-term use of both substances can cause liver damage, cognitive decline, and contribute to the development of chronic mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Additionally, the risk of developing substance dependence and addiction is significantly higher, which can lead to severe social, financial, and health problems.
Alcohol is a CNS depressant, which means it slows down brain activity, leading to sedation, impaired motor control, and slower reaction times. Taking muscle relaxers shares similar properties, which can result in compounded effects when the two substances are used together. Be vigilant for symptoms like extreme drowsiness, respiratory difficulties, severe disorientation, or unusually slow heartbeat. These signs can indicate severe muscle relaxer with alcohol reactions requiring immediate medical attention.