Mixing Alcohol with Other Drugss
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Do Not Mix Alcohol with Other Drugs
Alcohol and drugs are two dangerous substances.
Mixing these two can be very detrimental.
Discover why these two should never be mixed.
Alcohol and Adderall, Alcohol and Antibiotics, Alcohol and Antidepressants, Alcohol and Antihistamines, Alcohol with Caffeine and Energy Drinks, Alcohol and Cocaine, Alcohol and Ecstasy, Alcohol and Hallucinogens, Alcohol and Opioids, Alcohol and Marijuana, Alcohol and Methamphetamine, Rehab is Your Best Chance
Alcohol is the most commonly used intoxicant in the United States, and much of the world. Because of its widespread popularity, it is not uncommon for people to mix alcohol with any number of drugs. What many people don’t realize is that alcohol is very reactive with other substances.
Alcohol can have a wide array of adverse effects, whether it is mixed with a legal drug or an illicit one. It can have serious effects on the body and mind, many of which can cause long term consequences.
In some cases, alcohol amplifies the effects of other drugs. When this happens, the drug’s effects can reach a dangerous level. In other cases, alcohol will negate the impact of the other drug, which can have equally drastic consequences. Sometimes, alcohol will create an entirely different reaction once it mixes with another drug.
The many possible interactions between drugs and alcohol are dangerous and unpredictable, which is why it is important to avoid mixing alcohol with any drugs without first consulting a physician. This is particularly necessary for people struggling with alcohol use disorder.
Alcohol and Adderall
Some people take alcohol with Adderall to ‘lessen’ the depressive symptoms of alcohol. However, the idea that taking stimulants with depressants will cause them to “cancel each other out” is just a myth. It is based on the misunderstanding of how alcohol and Adderall affect the mental and physical systems of the body. In fact, the opposite is true: combining these two substances can increase the negative effects of both.
When combined, alcohol and Adderall can have the following negative effects on the heart: increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, arrhythmia, and the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart disease.

Alcohol and Antibiotics
Because there are many different types of antibiotics, alcohol will interact with each of them differently. Consult with the physician and always read the labels carefully. Perhaps the biggest risk to mixing alcohol and antibiotics is liver damage. This is because both substances are metabolized in the liver.
Other potential effects include: nausea, dizziness, vomiting, tiredness, increased heart rate, and shortness of breath. Additionally, many medications of this type will not work effectively if alcohol is taken along with them.
Alcohol and Antidepressants
Antidepressants and alcohol can magnify each other’s effects, making the person feel more intoxicated than they would otherwise. In some cases, alcohol instead negates the effect of the antidepressant, eliminating the desired benefits entirely. It severely limits the success of treatment. The combination of antidepressants and alcohol may even cause unexpected and extreme emotions, leading to poor decisions or harmful behavior.
Alcohol and Antihistamines
People taking antihistamines should avoid taking alcohol as it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the medication, particularly if the body chooses to metabolize the alcohol before the antihistamine. It is also possible for alcohol to cause more severe side effects when mixed with certain antihistamines.
Alcohol with Caffeine and Energy Drinks
Coffee and energy drinks can trick the body into thinking it is not as tired and intoxicated as it truly is. When taken with alcohol, the effects are magnified, leading to greater levels of alcohol consumption. It puts the person at risk of alcohol poisoning.
These drinks also dehydrate the body, increasing the severity and duration of hangovers. It is worth noting that people who drink alcohol along with caffeine are more than twice as likely to be injured or engage in risky or dangerous behavior compared to those who take alcohol without caffeine.

Alcohol and Cocaine
Just like Adderall, there is a widespread myth that alcohol and cocaine can cancel each other out. Cocaine is a very powerful stimulant. When combined with alcohol inside the body, it forms a third substance: cocaethylene. This substance causes the highest level of cardiovascular activity of any drug. It can put extreme pressure and stress on the heart. This often leads to cardiac arrest and even death.
Alcohol and Ecstasy
Combining alcohol and ecstasy puts tremendous strain on the kidneys. Mixing these two substances can also cause severe dehydration. In fact, most ecstasy-related deaths are the result of drinking alcohol while also taking the drug.
Interestingly, while both drugs and alcohol can lower a person’s inhibitions on their own, they instead provide a significant increase in risky behavior when taken together. People under the influence of both substances are more likely to engage in unprotected sex, for example.
Users also feel less impaired on alcohol when combined with ecstasy, which encourages them to use more of either substance. This puts them at risk of overdose or alcohol poisoning. Other potential side effects include: heart failure, high blood pressure, seizures, loss of consciousness, and panic attacks.
Oftentimes, ecstasy is more dangerous because of the fact that ecstasy pills are not pure MDMA. In fact, they are often combined with other substances. Therefore, it is impossible to determine what ecstasy pills contain and what is actually being mixed with alcohol.
Alcohol and Hallucinogens
Alcohol and hallucinogens are often combined by recreational users because alcohol can mellow the more adverse effects of hallucinogens, especially during a bad trip. At the same time, certain hallucinogens cancel out some of the side effects of alcohol such as the feeling of intoxication.
However, the combination is still likely to cause some adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, and other gastrological effects. Depression is also commonly seen among individuals mixing alcohol with hallucinogens, especially after the high dissipates.
Frequently, the ingredients of hallucinogens are not pure, so the user does not actually know what they are taking.
Alcohol and Opioids
Both prescription and illicit opioids can be deadly when combined with alcohol. It is extremely dangerous to take alcohol with opioids like heroin, Vicodin, Percocet, and Fentanyl because they magnify each other’s depressive effects. This means it can slow down the body’s processes dramatically, leading to respiratory failure.
Because of the depressive effects of opioids and alcohol, the body’s oxygen supply can be cut, and the brain will begin to shut down the organ systems. This can lead to brain damage or death.
Additionally, these two types of drugs can also cause serious liver damage if mixed. Other potential adverse effects include: dehydration, respiratory arrest, coma, nausea, vomiting, cardiovascular instability, irregular heart rate, and changes in blood pressure.
Alcohol and Marijuana
The combination of alcohol and marijuana can lead to effects like severe vomiting, intoxication, dizziness, paranoia, and decreased functioning. Because marijuana suppresses the gag reflex, it is also possible for the intoxicated individual to become unable to throw up. This leads to choking or alcohol poisoning.
The most common side effects include memory loss, impaired motor coordination, compromised judgment, and changes in behavior. Family members may notice that the person has decreased attention or perception, which leads to their uncharacteristic behavior.
Alcohol and Methamphetamine
Alcohol and meth is one of the most dangerous possible combinations out there. When combined, these substances put extreme pressure on the heart. They also greatly raise a person’s blood pressure. Aside from the potential heart problems, organ damage, and fatal overdose, alcohol and meth can also make the person prone to violent behavior.
If someone in the family is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against substance abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.
Rehab is Your Best Chance
Treatment is an addicted individualʼs best option if they want to recover. Beating an addiction not only requires eliminating the physical dependence, but also addressing the behavioral factors that prevent them from wanting to get better. Simply quitting may not change the psychological aspect of addiction. Some people quit for a while, and then take drugs or alcohol again, only to overdose because they did not detox properly. Recovery involves changing the way the patient feels, thinks, and behaves.