While alcohol’s effects may be desirable in some situations, they can be dangerous in others. Muscle relaxants, especially benzodiazepines can be addictive, as can alcohol. Abusing either of these drugs places an individual at risk of addiction. Addiction Resource does not offer medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice.

Can You Drink Alcohol When Taking a Muscle Relaxer?

Even when used separately, alcohol and muscle relaxers come with their separate sets of side effects. Muscle relaxers can lead to drowsiness, weakness, dry mouth, and other unpleasant feelings. Alcohol, on the other hand, can induce impaired judgment, blurred vision, and coordination issues. When these substances are mixed, alcohol exacerbates the impact of the muscle relaxers, creating a vicious cycle that can severely affect cognitive and physical functions. The central nervous system controls essential functions like breathing, heart rate, and motor skills. When substances like alcohol and muscle relaxers are consumed together, they can profoundly depress the CNS, which is why mixing these substances can lead to dangerous outcomes.

Metaxalone and Alcohol

To err on the side of caution, it’s best to see healthcare professional as soon as possible, especially if you’ve had more than one drink or don’t drink often. The risk of an overdose is a grim reality when mixing muscle relaxers with alcohol. Alcohol can drastically magnify the effects of muscle relaxers, thereby increasing the likelihood of an overdose. Most of us will struggle with pain at some point in our life, whether acutely or at a chronic level. Muscle relaxers have become an essential companion for millions, offering relief from painful muscle spasms and aches.

Both alcohol and muscle relaxers can impair cognitive and motor functions, increasing the risk of accidents. It’s best to avoid driving or operating machinery until you’re sure the effects of both substances have worn off. It is best to avoid drinking alcohol altogether while taking muscle relaxers.

However, it’s especially important to avoid combining alcohol with potent muscle relaxants like baclofen, carisoprodol, and cyclobenzaprine. Like most medications, muscle relaxers pose interaction risks, and bringing alcohol into the mix can be dangerous—even lethal. If you’re thinking about mixing these substances, it’s important to understand the risks involved. At New Directions for Women, we want you to be as informed as possible so you can be empowered to live life to the fullest. In this blog, we break down the relationship between muscle relaxers and alcohol and why the two should never be mixed.

Impaired motor control

Other muscle relaxers, such as methocarbamol, have a shorter half-life and are eliminated from the body more quickly. If you take one of these muscle relaxers, you may be able to drink alcohol after a shorter period of time, such as 4-6 hours after taking the medication. Vitally important is that you share your medical history and current condition with your doctor while getting treatment which involves muscle relaxants. Some other inhibitor drugs should not be mixed with them as they have the same depressant effect. Your doctor should be aware of any drug/alcohol intake you are doing to mitigate any negative consequences. If you’ve already mixed muscle relaxants and alcohol, stop drinking immediately.

• Hearing about the impacts from others can lend invaluable insight into this risky mix.
• A treatment center will attempt to verify your health insurance benefits and/or necessary authorizations on your behalf.
• Muscle relaxers are medications that are used to relieve muscle spasms and pain.
• The individual will then tend to increase the dosage or frequency of intake; thus, the risk of overdosing on muscle relaxers increases.

As with any substance, a significant risk is posed by continually ingesting a drug. All of these effects make it dangerous to operate machinery or drive a car. Poor vision and confusion are also a risk for people who mix alcohol and muscle relaxers.

Nervous System Side Effects of Alcohol and Muscle Relaxers

Alcohol drinkers will recognize these symptoms as they also occur during alcohol consumption. This is because alcohol is also a depressant of the human central nervous system. 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. In addition to alcohol, there are other drugs that can interact with muscle relaxers as well.

For instance, one individual shared that they initially thought a muscle relaxer would only enhance their evening. But instead, they felt dizzy and lethargic, which wasn’t the fun night out they were aiming for. 😬 It’s like playing Russian roulette with your health when mixing these substances! The stories serve as a cautionary tale but also as a reminder that each person’s body reacts differently. Avoid combining muscle relaxers with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other central nervous system depressants. While the short-term effects of mixing these two substances together are serious, the long-term effects are even more concerning.

Why don’t they mix?

However, before taking a muscle relaxant, it’s important to speak to your healthcare provider about the risks and side effects. 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.

• Alcohol also has sedative properties, which can cause drowsiness and relaxation.
• People can find this appealing after accidentally discovering this effect or purposely seeking it out.
• Muscle relaxers can be highly potent; even having one drink while on one can cause debilitating, uncomfortable, and dangerous side effects.

Long-Term Side Effects of Mixing Muscle Relaxants and Alcohol

It’s important to avoid these activities until you know how your body reacts to the combination of alcohol and muscle relaxers. By understanding the potential interactions between alcohol and muscle relaxants, you can make informed decisions about your health and safety. It is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional regarding the specific muscle relaxant you are taking and avoid consuming alcohol while on muscle relaxants. When blood alcohol level pain and muscle spasms produce significant muscle pain and suffering, doctors may prescribe muscle relaxants or muscle relaxers. Muscle spasms are uncontrollable contractions of one or more of your muscles that cause cramping or twitching. It can happen for several causes and occasionally be excruciatingly painful.

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. Our approach is holistic, focusing not only on the physical aspects of addiction but also on the emotional and psychological factors. When it comes to the interaction of muscle relaxer and alcohol, things can get a bit tricky. Both substances depress the central nervous system, which means they can amplify each other’s effects. Combining them can lead to increased drowsiness, dizziness, or even dangerous respiratory issues. That’s why understanding how these substances work together is crucial.

Muscle relaxers like cyclobenzaprine usually last around four to six hours. Cyclobenzaprine has a half-life that ranges between eight to 37 hours for most adults. 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.

Alcohol should be avoided if you are under treatment with a how long after drinking can i take a muscle relaxer centrally-acting muscle relaxant. Don’t use aspirin and an NSAID together, unless approved by your doctor. Alcohol withdrawal is a condition that occurs when a person who’s been drinking heavily or for a prolonged period stops drinking alcohol. If you or someone you love is misusing alcohol or prescription drugs, it’s important to get help before they suffer the consequences of a harmful interaction. It’s paramount to recognize that we owe it to ourselves, our body, and our overall well-being to make informed, healthy decisions.