Trazodone and Alcohol

Can you mix trazodone and alcohol?

Trazodone is commonly prescribed off-label for sleep disturbance in alcohol use disorder patients, but its safety and efficacy for this indication are unknown. Trazodone, despite a short-term benefit on sleep quality, might impede improvements in alcohol consumption in the post-detoxification period and lead to increased drinking when stopped. Until further studies have established benefits and safety, routine initiation of trazodone for sleep disturbance cannot be recommended with confidence during the period after alcohol detox. [1]

Alcoholism has an important public health impact, and sleep disturbance is common among alcohol-dependent persons. Their rate of sleep problems is highest (36% to 72%) during periods of abstinence.

Sleep disturbance after alcohol detoxification might contribute to relapse through abnormalities in sleep architecture (i.e. effects on rapid eye movement or slow-wave sleep) or in a general way such as through prolonged sleep latency, fatigue, depression, or anxiety. Ingestion of alcohol quickly corrects many of these sleep disturbances. In this manner, sleep problems during periods of abstinence contribute to the conditioned response to resume drinking in alcohol-dependent persons. [2]

Trazodone and Alcohol Side Effects

When taken as prescribed, antidepressant medications like trazodone are not associated with a rewarding, euphoric high like many other prescription drugs of abuse such as prescription opioid drugs, benzodiazepines, or stimulants. [3]

Therefore, for the most part, antidepressant medications like trazodone are not significant drugs of abuse. In fact, clinical studies of trazodone found no evidence of drug-seeking behavior in participants. A 2014 literature review of antidepressant abuse found no published cases to provide evidence of any extensive abuse of trazodone. [4]

Unfortunately, people who are mixing trazodone with alcohol can experience increased levels of alcohol intoxication—resulting in extreme drowsiness and increasing the risk of overdose and death when either is consumed in excessive amounts. Long-term use of both substances can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal.

Is Mixing Trazodone and Alcohol Deadly?

You’ve probably seen this warning on medicines you’ve taken. The danger is real. Mixing alcohol with prescription drugs such as trazodone, even over-the-counter medications can have unpredictable and can lead to unwanted consequences. We can help ourselves, our friends, and our loved ones by understanding the dangers and taking steps to prevent harm.

When you receive prescription drugs, whether it’s a depressant like Xanax, an opioid painkiller like oxycodone, or a stimulant like Adderall, you’ll often find strict warning labels about the risks of mixing prescription drugs with alcohol. When mixed with the effects of alcohol, many otherwise routine prescription drugs can become fatal. Relaxing with a drink or two at night is unsafe when the effects of alcohol are combined with certain prescription drugs. Some individuals are mixing prescription drugs with alcohol to intensify the effects of both substances. This can lead to substance abuse when the drugs are used together, especially in excess.

In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body. Some medicines that you might never have suspected can react with alcohol, including many medications which can be purchased “over-the-counter”—that is, without a prescription. Even some herbal remedies can have harmful effects when combined with alcohol.

Someone misusing prescription drugs like mixing trazodone and alcohol, may overload their system or put themselves at risk for dangerous drug interactions that can cause seizures, coma, or even death. Prescription drug addiction can be hard to beat. However, prescription drug addiction treatment programs can help users break their physical and psychological dependence on the drug.

The Potential for Trazodone Abuse

Trazodone is a prescription drug used to treat major depressive disorder and, in certain cases, insomnia. Although it is generally safe and effective, Trazodone can still be misused and addiction or dependency may occur. Patients who do not follow specific instructions while taking the medication risk experiencing withdrawal symptoms or overdosing. There are many options available for treating Trazodone use disorder and dependency. [5]

In a survey conducted in 2015, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 18.9 million Americans aged 12 and older misused prescription drugs in the past year. About 1 percent of Americans aged 12 and older had some prescription drug abuse. [5] If you become addicted to a prescription drug, reach out to us because we may be able to help you explore prescription drug addiction treatment options.

If you have developed a tolerance to your medications, you may find yourself taking more pills than necessary. In some cases, you may take too many pills for longer periods. You may also find that the drug no longer gives you a “high” or provides the same effect on your body. This can push you to take larger doses. As a result, you might need more of the drug to feel normal.

Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug misuse like trazodone addiction is a growing problem in the United States. There’s an increasing number of people abusing illegal drugs for their intoxicating effects to treat everyday ailments, rather than seeking professional medical care. If these drugs are not regulated or monitored by physicians, eventually, this can be problematic to society.

While some prescription drugs may enhance feelings of well-being and happiness in the short term, chronic abuse of these medicines can lead to physical and psychological dependence on them. Furthermore, the addiction to these drugs is going to be hard to overcome without appropriate outside intervention.

It is possible to overdose on these prescriptions drugs with little or no warning because you used to take them as medication at first. Moreover, symptoms of an overdose include fainting, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, an overdose can lead to seizures and coma.

Treatment

To start the detox process from trazodone and alcohol, it’s essential to understand how the process works to ensure that the road to recovery will be smooth and straightforward.  We Level Up helps people looking for a solution to their addictions by offering comfortable and cohesive treatment options.

An evaluation is essential in determining the specific treatment plan for each client to start the detox process.  This is a very significant part of the recovery process as it gives the medical professionals at We Level Up TX an idea of what treatment will work the best.  During this time, the team evaluates symptoms, medical history, and the severity of the addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs.  The team will then create a unique and individual treatment plan to make the detox process as effective as possible. [6]

After the evaluation comes to the detoxification process itself, the moment a person stops using prescription drugs and alcohol, the detoxification process automatically starts.  During this process, the body works to remove the drugs and alcohol that are consumed.  The most effective form of detox is one that is medically supervised and assisted. 

Mixing trazodone and alcohol can lead to addiction and dangerous side effects, including a greater risk of overdose. People with a history of problem drinking and alcohol dependence will need to inform their doctor about these problems. In addition, it’s crucial that these individuals get help from a qualified addiction rehabilitation center. If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol or prescription medication addiction, please reach out to a drug abuse counselor today to explore your treatment options. Call us today here at We Level Up TX to get into proper treatment. Above all, recovering from a substance use disorder does not need to be overwhelming or burdensome.