But there is one muscle relaxer called baclofen that some experts believe might help with alcohol withdrawal. However, continued abuse of the drug can cause permanent damage to the body. The heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain can all be adversely affected by abuse of prescription medications.

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Alcohol also has sedative properties, which can cause drowsiness and relaxation. Because alcohol is so embedded into our everyday lives, many people do not consider how the substance will interact with their medications. Unfortunately, there are many medications that people take daily that can cause grave consequences when mixed with alcohol. As a result, it’s important to speak with a doctor before consuming alcohol when you are taking a prescription medication. The effects of mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers can last for several hours depending on the dosage consumed.

Second-generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec (cetirizine), Allegra (fexofenadine), and Claritin (loratadine) are less likely to cause drowsiness. This combination can also lead to blackouts, memory loss, and an increased likelihood of accidents or falls. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use disorder, our detox programs in Atlanta, Georgia can help. The decline in neural activity also affects cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and coordination. Muscle relaxers affect the brain by reducing the activity of neurons in the CNS, which slows down brain function and produces a calming, sedative effect.

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It is best to avoid drinking alcohol altogether while taking muscle relaxers. However, if you must drink, it’s recommended that you wait at least 24 hours after taking your medication before consuming any alcohol. This will give your body enough time to process the medication and reduce the risk of dangerous side effects. If you frequently combine these substances, you might be suffering from muscle relaxer addiction, alcoholism, or polydrug abuse.

How Do Muscle Relaxers Impact the Brain?

While alcohol’s effects may be desirable in some situations, they can be dangerous in others. 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. Alcohol should be avoided if you are under treatment with a centrally-acting muscle relaxant.

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Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine drug commonly used to treat symptoms of allergies. It is a first-generation antihistamine with side effects such as drowsiness, slowed breathing, and sleepiness. 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. Opioid detox is a physically and emotionally grueling process with symptoms like muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia, but with the right support, recovery is possible. If you are suffering from muscle spasms, your muscles are contracting and tightening on their own. Muscle relaxers work by relaxing your muscles, which prevents spasms from occurring.

However, this behavior is highly dangerous and often leads to severe health risks, including overdose. Mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers can lead to amplified sedative effects, including extreme drowsiness, impaired motor skills, and respiratory depression. Both substances depress the central nervous system, which can result in life-threatening complications like difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, and even overdose. It’s strongly advised to avoid consuming alcohol while taking any muscle relaxant. Mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers can also increase a person’s chances of making poor decisions and reckless behavior, such as driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

When you combine two central nervous system depressants, the effects of both substances will be increased substantially. While muscle relaxers are important for people suffering from these types of muscle pain, they can also be addictive. As a result, if you are currently prescribed a muscle relaxant you must never take more than your recommended dosage. It’s important to remember that driving under the influence is not only dangerous but also illegal. If you plan on drinking or taking muscle relaxers, make sure you have a designated driver or alternative transportation arranged beforehand to avoid putting yourself and others at risk. When taking muscle relaxers, it’s important to follow dosage instructions carefully.

💪✨ Life can get better, and with the right resources, you can take those essential steps towards recovery. The ability of these drugs to depress the central nervous system can lead to the inability to think clearly. Individuals may experience impaired judgment, dangerous mood swings, and even aggressive behaviors. Importantly, alcohol is a powerful nervous system depressant, which means that it slows down activity in the brain and central nervous system. This can alter perception, behavior, and movement in potentially dangerous ways.

• If you are suffering from muscle spasms, your muscles are contracting and tightening on their own.
• At Mountain Sky Recovery, we offer specialized programs designed to help individuals overcome abuse of skeletal muscle relaxants while addressing co-occurring mental health disorders.
• Treatment options may include detoxification, behavioral therapy, and counseling to address underlying issues that contribute to substance misuse.

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. It can be hard to admit that you’re facing alcohol addiction or drug addiction, and it can be even harder to take the first step to overcome it. Fortunately, a variety of treatment programs, different types of drug detox, and addiction treatment programs exist that can help you through the process. Social influences, like seeing others mix these substances without apparent harm, can contribute.

Taking alcohol with Benadryl can increase the sedating effect and drowsiness and even lead to the danger of overdosing. Peachtree Detox offers alcohol detox and detox for prescription drugs in Atlanta, Georgia. Whether it’s friends, family, or fellow support group members, sharing experiences can build a strong network for recovery.

Even a small amount of alcohol can amplify the effects of muscle relaxers and increase your risk of experiencing side what happens if you mix muscle relaxers with alcohol effects or an overdose. Mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers can also lead to cognitive impairment over time. Both substances can cause memory loss and other cognitive issues, but when consumed together regularly, they can have more severe and lasting effects on brain function. Additionally, because both muscle relaxers and alcohol are central nervous system depressants, mixing them can lead to a decreased ability to think clearly and make decisions.

• Hearing about the impacts from others can lend invaluable insight into this risky mix.
• While these medications can be highly effective in managing muscle spasms, they come with the potential for side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired motor control.
• Most of us will struggle with pain at some point in our life, whether acutely or at a chronic level.
• But there is one muscle relaxer called baclofen that some experts believe might help with alcohol withdrawal.
• Alcohol should be avoided if you are under treatment with a centrally-acting muscle relaxant.

Remember, mixing alcohol and muscle relaxers can have serious consequences. If you or someone you know has mixed these substances, seek medical attention immediately. 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.

Benadryl is a potent first-generation antihistamine that crosses the blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain. It works on the CNS by slowing it down to block the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system that causes allergy symptoms. However, this depression of the CNS may result in drowsiness, sedation, and lack of mental alertness.

Still, others mistakenly believe that combining drugs will somehow make them safer. Since we have covered the effects of muscle relaxers, it is also important to understand the effects of alcohol. When someone drinks, alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and quickly travels to the brain. Here, alcohol interferes with the neurotransmitters that send messages between cells. Muscle spasticity is common in people who have conditions such as cerebral palsy or in people who have had an injury to their brain or spinal cord. Muscle relaxers are sometimes prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, with Baclofen being the most common one.

It’s believed that baclofen works by mimicking the effects of alcohol on a specific type of receptor in the brain. But so far, evidence supporting the use of baclofen for alcohol withdrawal is limited. 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.