Mixing diazepam and alcohol

Diazepam and alcohol both carry their own catalogue of life-altering dangers. For the past 20 years, there has been a steady increase in deaths related to diazepam across the country. Alcohol-related deaths are also alarmingly high, with 9,641 deaths recorded in 2022 (a 4.2% increase from the year before).

But what happens when they’re taken together? We’re here today to outline the dangers of mixing diazepam and alcohol and the inherent risks of polydrug use.

How do diazepam and alcohol work separately?

For some people, polydrug use has a “synergistic effect.” This means that when you take two drugs, their interaction creates an end result greater than the sum of each drug when taken alone.

Negative synergy can also be the case for a polydrug user, where mixing two substances leads to more risks than taking the two drugs separately.

So in the hope of better understanding the dangers of mixing the two, let’s first be clear on the effects of both substances individually.

What exactly is diazepam?

Diazepam is an oral tablet that belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines. The term benzodiazepine is often shortened and simplified to “benzos,” and they include familiar brand names like Valium, Xanax and Halcion.

Benzos are nervous system depressants. They are prescribed as a treatment in the UK and Worldwide for stress, anxiety and insomnia, as benzodiazepines have mild sedating and sleep-inducing effects.

Some side effects associated with using diazepam include:

• Loss of control or bodily movements
• Euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Muscle weakness
• Depression
• Slurred speech

Since alcohol is so prevalent in our culture, you can probably see that these side effects are similar to how you feel when you drink. Mixing the two is like putting two burning heaps of firewood together.

What exactly is alcohol?

Alcohol is a substance almost every single one of us has had some interaction with. It’s a substance found in beer, wine and liquor and plays a significant part in our everyday lives and culture.

In keeping with other drugs (like benzos) in the depressant category, alcohol also works as a nervous system depressant. Even though most of us are generally aware of its dangers, we continue to misuse it, with estimates of 10 million people regularly exceeding “low-risk drinking guidelines” in the UK.

We’re outlining situations where alcohol might be mixed with diazepams and the dangerous consequences of combining the two.

In what situations might diazepam and alcohol mix?

Mixing any prescription drugs with alcohol is generally ill-advised, but when alcohol is mixed with diazepam, the effects can be especially devastating.

Diazepam’s use in treatment for alcohol withdrawal

Diazepam is sometimes given to people who are working their way out of a heavy alcohol addiction. Diazepam’s effects on the body stimulate GABA-A receptors in a similar way to alcohol.

As someone withdraws from alcohol, diazepam is sometimes used to help with the withdrawal symptoms. Diazepam is sometimes used in alcohol detox programmes to reduce the withdrawal’s severity, as well as seizures and delirium tremens.

Using diazepam for alcohol withdrawal must be done by medically trained professionals, as it can result in severe short and long-term safety risks. Self-medicating, without professional oversight, can easily cause someone to become addicted to diazepam. Being caught in the clutches of alcoholism also increases the likelihood of addiction to other substances like benzodiazepines.

There were 297 deaths in the UK in 2022 due to drug poisoning from diazepam, and many of these deaths were exacerbated by fatal choices made under the influence of alcohol.

Accidentally taking diazepam with alcohol

Every time we set foot out of the house, we need to make decisions. The wisest decisions don’t come while we’re drinking alcohol.

Decision-making is impaired by drinking alcohol, and it’s often the case that human nature causes us to do contradictory things. What sounded like a bad idea in our sober minds can somehow become appealing and tantalising as we drink.

Accidents happen. You might be on a night out with your friends, and you don’t recognise the inherent risks of mixing alcohol with diazepam—one decision made to take diazepam while under alcohol’s influence can have dire consequences. Even if you drink somewhere other than on a night out, diazepam can increase your desire for alcohol.

Both being depressants, your central nervous system is massively affected. Some of the most dangerous side effects of mixing the two include:

• Brain damage
• Sedation
• Loss of consciousness
• Addiction to both substances
• Coma

At high levels, the results are fatal. Understanding the potent results of mixing the two might dissuade you from an irrational decision.

Signs of adverse reactions and safety

If you ever end up in the risky scenario of being under the influence of both, you may experience signs like:

• Intense waves of drowsiness
• Profound confusion
• Impaired of loss of coordination muscles, or even moving
• Shaky hands (tremors)

If you ever experience any of these signs, a tragic outcome could be imminent, so calling a doctor or 111 immediately is imperative. It can be a matter of life-or-death when mixing the two in high doses.

Getting help to remove alcohol and diazepam from my life

If at any point while reading, you have considered how alcohol and diazepam are adversely affecting your life, we’re here to provide support and comprehensive recovery services.

Here at UKAT, we specialise in helping people with diazepam addiction. We have trained professionals who guide you through each step of benzodiazepine recovery.

We also provide alcohol addiction treatment to remove alcohol from your life. Our alcohol detox programmes also help your loved ones as they support you on the road to a sober, substance-free life.

We’re only one decision away, get in touch today.