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Xanax and Alcohol: Risks and Interactions

Medically reviewed by Dr. Po-Chang HsuNovember 1, 2024
Written by
On November 1, 2024

Table of Contents

Key Points

  • Xanax is a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine medication that’s used to treat anxiety and panic disorder.
  • It’s dangerous to combine benzodiazepines like Xanax with alcohol, as excessive drowsiness, trouble breathing, and addiction may occur.
  • It’s important to wait to drink alcohol after stopping Xanax to make sure the drug clears your system.
  • Xanax and alcohol both have a potential for substance abuse and addiction, but the risk is increased if you combine them.

It’s common for people to have a glass of wine in the evening or a drink with dinner. But if you’re taking benzodiazepines like Xanax (alprazolam), drinking alcohol can have serious health effects. Alcohol and benzos both cause drowsiness and affect coordination, so the effects can be intensified if you combine the two.

Learn more about the risks and interactions between alcohol and Xanax and how to keep yourself safe.

What Is Xanax?

Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorder. Xanax is in the benzodiazepine drug class, a class of anti-anxiety drugs that are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and slow down nervous system activity.

Benzodiazepines like Xanax are Schedule IV controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) due to their potential for abuse and physical dependence.[1] Xanax is often prescribed as a safer alternative to other drugs, but it has abuse potential of its own.

How Does Alcohol Interact with Xanax?

Benzodiazepines enhance the action of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and act on GABA receptors in the brain. GABA slows the brain down and can promote feelings of calm. By enhancing GABA’s actions, Xanax relieves anxiety and stress.

Alcohol also boosts GABA activity and slows down the body. If you take Xanax and drink alcohol together, it can compound this effect to dangerous levels.

Risks of Combining Xanax and Alcohol

It’s not safe to combine benzodiazepines like Xanax with alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking benzos can intensify the depressant effects of both substances, leading to serious effects like: 

Extreme drowsiness: Xanax and alcohol can make you tired and dizzy.[2] Taking them together can increase the risk of falls, especially in older people. Using these substances together can put you at risk of injuries or death from other activities like driving a car.

Slowed brain activity: Both Xanax and alcohol can affect your attention span and concentration skills.[3,4] Taking these substances together can worsen your ability to focus and make you less aware of your surroundings.

Worsening memory: Alcohol can affect your memory after drinking, especially if you experience an alcohol blackout.[5] This happens if you drink so much alcohol that your memory is impacted, and you can’t remember what occurred. Xanax can also cause memory loss.

Long-term memory damage: Alcohol can affect your long-term memory and may cause permanent brain damage, including alcohol-related dementia. Xanax also causes memory loss, so combining it with alcohol can worsen the effects.[6]

Mental health condition: Benzos may worsen mental health conditions like depression, as can alcohol. Taking the two together can make you more likely to experience a mental health disorder or worsen the effects of an existing disorder.[7]

Dependence and addiction: Both alcohol and benzos have the potential for dependence, misuse, and addiction. If you misuse Xanax and alcohol together, you can develop a substance use disorder like a sedative use disorder, an alcohol use disorder, or a polysubstance use disorder.

Overdose: Taking too much of either drug can lead to a Xanax and alcohol overdose on its own. When they’re combined, the risk is even higher. Xanax overdoses may cause extreme tiredness, confusion, and agitation.[8] An alcohol overdose (alcohol poisoning) can cause similar symptoms and seizures that can be life-threatening.[9]

Is One or Two Drinks Ok?

No, it’s important to avoid drinking alcohol completely if you take Xanax or other benzodiazepines. It’s difficult to know how your body will respond to the combination of alcohol and benzos, so it’s best to avoid mixing the two completely.

When Can I Drink After Stopping Xanax?

Like most drugs, Xanax can stay in the body long after you stop feeling its effects. Drinking alcohol before Xanax is out of your system can cause side effects. It’s best to wait at least 5 days for the drug to clear your system before you drink alcohol.

If you’re prescribed Xanax and have been taking it for longer than 3 or 4 weeks, you may need to reduce your dose gradually with a taper schedule from your doctor. Dependence can build with regular use of Xanax, and stopping suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms like:[10]

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Tremors
  • Shaking
  • Diarrhea
  • Sweating
  • Seizures
  • Delirium

 

If you experience delirium, seizures, or other uncomfortable symptoms, seek emergency medical treatment.

Never try to stop taking Xanax on your own. Talk to your doctor about a taper schedule to stop taking Xanax safely.

Xanax or Alcohol Addiction

Xanax is generally safe and well tolerated when taken as prescribed. However, the perception that Xanax is safe to use can lead to misuse. Dependence develops over time, even when taken as prescribed, and can lead to withdrawal symptoms.

Xanax addiction is more than dependence, however. It involves a compulsive need to take the drug, including cravings, inability to control use, increased use over time, failure to fulfill responsibilities, and continued use despite persistent social or interpersonal problems. This is classified as a sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).[11]

Many people who abuse benzos may also abuse other drugs, including alcohol. Classified as an alcohol use disorder, alcohol addiction involves the same compulsive behaviors and a negative impact on your life.[12] Like benzos, alcohol can be dangerous to stop suddenly as it has severe withdrawal symptoms so it is  wise to seek the help of an alcohol rehab to begin your recovery.

Getting Help for Xanax and Alcohol Addiction

Mixing alcohol and Xanax can be extremely dangerous. The two drugs compound the effects of one another, causing serious side effects like severely depressed breathing and fatal overdoses.

If you’re addicted to Xanax, alcohol, or both, it’s important to get professional help. Medical detox is often the first step, especially with severe withdrawal symptoms, to provide medical care and supervision as the drugs clear your system.

Addiction can be difficult to overcome with any drug. Detox is not enough on its own, so it’s important to enter an addiction treatment program that addresses the mental and emotional aspects of drug and alcohol abuse. Though treatment is individualized, it may include a combination of behavioral therapies, individual counseling, group therapy, and more.

Don’t Mix Xanax and Alcohol

Mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines like Xanax can be extremely dangerous and increases the risk of extreme drowsiness, breathing problems, and misuse. The side effects can lead to accidental injuries or death. Avoid drinking alcohol while you’re taking Xanax, and talk to your doctor about when it’s safe to drink after stopping Xanax.

Medical Content Writer

Amanda Stevens is a highly respected figure in the field of medical content writing, with a specific focus on eating disorders and addiction treatment. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Purdue University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, which serves as a strong educational foundation for her contributions.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Mixing Xanax and Alcohol

It’s dangerous to mix alcohol with Xanax, even just a few glasses of wine. The two drugs can depress your nervous system to dangerous levels and may lead to overdose or other adverse effects.

Xanax and alcohol interactions can lead to increased respiratory depression. Alcohol can also slow the body’s ability to metabolize the drug, increasing the risk of overdose.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking anxiety medication. Severe side effects can occur, including drowsiness, impaired coordination, and slowed breathing that can lead to complications.

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[1,2,3] Xanax: Uses, dosage, side effects & warnings. Drugs.com. (n.d.-f). Retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/xanax.html on 2024, October 3.

[4] Crowe, S. F., & Stranks, E. K. (2017, December 13). The residual medium and long-term cognitive effects of benzodiazepine use: An updated meta-analysis. OUP Academic. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/acn/article-abstract/33/7/901/4734935 on 2024, October 3.

[5] GoodRx. (n.d.). Alcohol, memory loss, and dementia: The Connection explained. GoodRx. Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/memory-loss-alcohol-related-dementia on 2024, October 3.

[6] GoodRx. (n.d.-b). Can xanax increase your risk of memory loss or alzheimer’s dementia? GoodRx. Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/conditions/dementia/can-xanax-and-valium-increase-your-risk-of-alzheimers on 2024, October 3.

[7] Longo, L. P., & Johnson, B. (2000, April 1). Addiction: Part I. benzodiazepines-side effects, abuse risk and alternatives. American Family Physician. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2000/0401/p2121.html#toxicity-and-side-effects on 2024, October 3.

[8] MediLexicon International. (n.d.-b). Xanax overdose: Symptoms, dangers, and what to do. Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326551 on 2024, October 3.

[9] WebMD. (n.d.). Alcohol poisoning: Symptoms, causes, complications, and treatment. WebMD. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-poisoning-overview on 2024, October 3.

[10] GoodRx. (n.d.-c). What is benzo withdrawal? symptoms, timeline, and treatment. GoodRx. Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/classes/benzodiazepines/benzo-withdrawal-symptoms-timeline-treatment on 2024, October 3.

[11] Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic (benzodiazepine) use disorder. PsychDB. (2024b, May 9). Retrieved from https://www.psychdb.com/addictions/sedative-hypnotics/1-use-disorder on 2024, October 3.

[12] Alcohol use disorder (AUD). PsychDB. (2024a, May 22). Retrieved from https://www.psychdb.com/addictions/alcohol/1-use-disorder on 2024, October 3.

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