The Dangers of Mixing Xanax and Alcohol: A Lethal Combination

Mixing Xanax and alcohol is far more dangerous than many people realize. Both are central nervous system depressants, and when taken together, they can slow breathing, impair coordination, and shut down vital functions. This “double depressant” effect is unpredictable and can turn an ordinary night out into a medical emergency.

Mixing Xanax and alcohol significantly increases the risk of extreme drowsiness, blackouts, accidents, respiratory depression, overdose, and death. Both substances slow brain and breathing functions; together they intensify each other’s effects, making even “normal” doses potentially lethal. There is no safe amount of alcohol to drink while on Xanax.[1][3][5]

How Xanax and Alcohol Affect Your Brain and Body

Both Xanax (alprazolam) and alcohol are central nervous system (CNS) depressants.[1][2] They enhance the calming neurotransmitter GABA, which slows brain activity and makes you feel relaxed or sleepy.[2][3]

On their own, they can cause:

• Xanax: drowsiness, dizziness, poor coordination, memory problems, slowed reaction time.[1][2][3]
• Alcohol: impaired judgment, loss of balance, slurred speech, blackouts, vomiting, and alcohol poisoning at high doses.[2][7]

When combined, these effects don’t just add up — they multiply. Even small amounts of each can result in far more sedation and impairment than expected.[1][3][4]

Why This Combo Can Be Lethal

1. Respiratory depression and overdose

The most serious risk of mixing Xanax and alcohol is respiratory depression — dangerously slow or shallow breathing.[1][3][4][7]

Together, they can cause:

• Very slow or stopped breathing
• Slow pulse
• Loss of consciousness, coma, or death[1][3][7]

More than 18% of benzodiazepine overdoses involve alcohol, underscoring how often this combination turns deadly.[1]

2. Loss of control, accidents, and injuries

The intensified sedation and disorientation from combining both can lead to:

• Falls, car crashes, and household accidents
• Risky or aggressive behavior
• Blackouts and memory gaps[1][3][4]

Because judgment, reaction time, and coordination are so impaired, people misjudge how impaired they are and may continue using more of both substances.[3][6]

3. Dangerous buildup in your system

The liver has to metabolize both alcohol and Xanax. It prioritizes alcohol first, so Xanax is cleared more slowly when you drink.[4][6]

This can lead to:

• Higher and longer-lasting Xanax levels
• Stronger sedation and toxicity
• Increased overdose risk even hours after drinking[1][4][6]

Chronic alcohol use can further damage the liver, making Xanax metabolism even less efficient.[4]

4. Increased risk of dependence and withdrawal

Both Xanax and alcohol can cause:

• Tolerance – needing more to feel the same effect
• Dependence – the body adapts and “needs” them to function
• Withdrawal – anxiety, insomnia, tremors, seizures when stopping[1][3][6]

Using them together can make it harder to quit either substance and increases the risk of severe withdrawal, including seizures.[1][2][6]

For more on the longer healing process after stopping benzos, see Why Detox Is Different From Healing In Benzo Withdrawal.

Warning Signs: When Mixing Xanax and Alcohol Becomes an Emergency

Call emergency services immediately if someone has mixed Xanax and alcohol and shows:

• Extreme drowsiness or inability to stay awake
• Confusion, agitation, or unresponsiveness
• Very slow or weak breathing
• Slow heart rate or bluish lips/skin
• Vomiting while unconscious[1][3][7]

These can indicate an overdose requiring urgent medical care.

Practical Tips: Staying Safe If You Take Xanax

• Do not drink alcohol at all while on Xanax. No level has been shown to be safe.[3][5]
• Wait at least 5 days after stopping Xanax before drinking, to allow the drug to clear your system.[5]
• Tell your prescriber honestly about your alcohol use before starting Xanax.
• Avoid other depressants (opioids, sleep meds, other benzos) unless specifically managed by a doctor.[1][3][6]
• Have a safety plan: tell a trusted person you’re on Xanax and ask them to remind you not to drink.
• If you’ve already mixed them, don’t take more of either. Stay with someone sober and seek medical help if you feel unusually weak, dizzy, or short of breath.
• If you’re using Xanax and alcohol to cope, consider safer supports: therapy, peer groups, or non-sedating medications. See Medications Used To Treat Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Gabapentin And Others for context on alternatives in the withdrawal and recovery setting.
• If you’re physically dependent, do not abruptly stop Xanax or heavy drinking without medical guidance; a supervised taper is often safer.

For a deeper dive into tapering benzos safely, related pieces like Tapering Off Xanax A Step By Step Guide To Weaning Safely and Switching From Xanax To Valium The Crossover Protocol Explained may be helpful.

FAQ: People Also Ask

Is it ever safe to drink a little alcohol on Xanax?

No. Even small amounts of alcohol can dangerously intensify Xanax’s sedative and respiratory-depressant effects. There is no established safe drinking level for people taking Xanax.[1][3][5]

How long after stopping Xanax can I drink alcohol?

GoodRx advises avoiding alcohol for at least 5 days after stopping Xanax to ensure the drug is out of your system and reduce interaction risk.[5]

What does a Xanax and alcohol overdose feel like?

People may feel extremely drowsy, confused, dizzy, and uncoordinated, progressing to slow breathing, slow pulse, loss of consciousness, or coma.[1][3] This is a medical emergency.

Can mixing Xanax and alcohol cause permanent damage?

Yes. Severe respiratory depression can lead to brain damage, organ injury, or death if the brain is deprived of oxygen for too long.[1][3][7]

Conclusion

Xanax and alcohol are each risky when misused; together, they are a lethal combination. Their overlapping depressant effects on the brain and breathing make overdoses more likely, more severe, and often unexpected. The safest choice if you take Xanax — whether short or long term — is to avoid alcohol completely and seek help if you’re struggling to cut back on either one.