Author: Alex Thompson
The Risks of Mixing Librium and Alcohol
Due to the natural process of tolerance building, you’ll need a higher dose to reach the desired effects. This can occur in as little as two weeks after starting benzos. For this reason, many people will abuse alcohol to potentiate the effect of Librium since tolerance has made it impossible to get high anymore.
- Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.
- Find out everything you need to know about weight loss drugs in our prescription weight loss drug guide.
- This can occur in as little as two weeks after starting benzos.
- The calmness induced by the GABA neurotransmitter boost can become a source of psychological addiction, especially in the case of patients who are experiencing anxiety as a result of their alcohol withdrawal.
- She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S.
Some withdrawal symptoms may last up to 12 months or longer. Librium is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen) that is used to treat anxiety disorders. Speak with a Recovery Advocate today to talk about your treatment options. Recovery Unplugged is a national behavioral healthcare organization with locations across the country that combines evidence-based practices with music to help clients more readily embrace treatment.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Because of these concerns, Librium is generally prescribed for the shortest possible amount of time to achieve the necessary effect. Alcohol is a depressant, and chronic exposure to it drastically slows down brain functioning and the way the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body. With time, the nervous system adapts to the state of being chemically subdued by the alcohol, and the sudden deprivation of alcohol throws dozens of systems connected to the central nervous system into disarray. Taking a benzodiazepine as prescribed helps the brain to increase the production of the GABA neurotransmitter, so a patient is no longer helpless when stressed or anxious.
Some people should not receive Librium at all, such as pregnant women and people who have a high chance of developing liver failure. Benzodiazepines are capable of crossing the placenta, so the developing fetus is highly vulnerable to the toxicity of most kinds of medication. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. There are cases when someone prescribed a benzodiazepine chooses to consume alcohol.
How Is Librium Used For Alcohol Withdrawal?
We take our music-focused treatment for addiction very seriously, so we are going to hold our content to the same precision standards. Recovery Unplugged’s editorial process involves our editing safeguard and our ideals. The terrifying truth is that both alcohol and Librium cause potentially fatal withdrawals.
When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Although specific information regarding Librium abuse isn’t readily available, we do know that benzodiazepine misuse and abuse are a growing problem in the U.S. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how Librium will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. If you’ve been gambling with life and death while mixing alcohol with benzos, we’re here to help you stop. There’s a better life without alcohol or Librium waiting for you in recovery. Binge drinking has steadily increased in our society, and more often goes hand-in-hand with opioid or benzodiazepine abuse. Findings have shown that alcohol plays a significant role in the abuse of benzos like Librium.
The dosage is based on your age, medical condition, and response to treatment. Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking chlordiazepoxide and each time you get a refill. Thanks to the hard work of doctors and therapists, there is effective treatment for addiction to Librium and alcohol.
Side Effects
At this point, you’ll likely experience withdrawal symptoms when you can’t get Librium, or you stop drinking. Benzodiazepine and alcohol withdrawal are extremely dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. For that reason, you must get professional medical treatment. To minimize the risk of improper use of Librium during alcohol withdrawal, the person will likely receive medication and therapy during and after the withdrawal process. This ensures that Librium is used to its full effectiveness while exposing the person to a full complement of nonaddictive treatment options. Such options might include supplements and vitamins to replenish nutrients that were lost during the alcohol consumption and withdrawal process.
While not an ideal choice for optimal health, we can’t ignore this fact. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. A doctor or other treatment professional may evaluate for the above factors prior to making a recommendation. Following successful completion of detox, a rehabilitation program may be recommended to continue working toward recovery and sobriety. Find out everything you need to know about weight loss drugs in our prescription weight loss drug guide.
Mixing alcohol and Librium can stop the user from breathing and can increase the potency of the side effects. During the withdrawal and recovery process, many alcoholics are prescribed anti-anxiety medications to lessen the symptoms of fear and panic. When taken properly, the drug is typically safe and causes few side effects. Contact The Recovery Village Ridgefield today if you or a loved one are struggling with a Librium or alcohol addiction. A representative will be happy to discuss treatment options and a comprehensive plan of care for one or both of these addictions as well as any co-occurring mental health conditions. Unlike opioids, there are not many safe benzodiazepine reversal drugs.
What are alcohol withdrawal symptoms, why are they so dangerous, and why is Librium so important in their treatment? Alcoholism is described as “one of the most dangerous addictions,” and its withdrawal symptoms can be similarly treacherous. Withdrawal refers to the physical and psychological effects of discontinuing alcohol use after the use has reached a point where the patient is physically and psychologically dependent on the effects of alcohol. The level of intensity or type of detox program need for effective alcohol and Librium withdrawal management will depend on the magnitude of dependence and the risk of experiencing a complicated withdrawal. In more severe cases of alcohol dependence, patients might experience seizures and hallucinations as they withdraw from drinking. Around 5 percent of people who experience delirium tremens do not survive withdrawal.
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People who go through withdrawal from alcohol should receive an exact dosage of Librium. Benzodiazepines can be habit-forming, and introducing too much Librium to a patient who would benefit from the anti-anxiety effects of the medication might unintentionally make the patient dependent on Librium. Using Librium with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. Alcohol, however, is the drug most often linked to benzodiazepine overdoses and deaths in the United States every year. When the two drugs are mixed, users can feel dizzy and drowsy and can find it difficult to concentrate.