Ambien and Alcohol: Interactions, Risks, & Side Effects

Stimulants increase bodily functions, while depressants decrease them. Learn why abusing either can lead to adverse health effects as well as addictions. The most common side effects of Ambien are drowsiness, dizziness, and lightheadedness. In some cases, Ambien can lead to a variety of severe side effects, especially when it’s taken frequently or in high doses.

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Your doctor may have you switch to a different medication for your sleep problems. Older adults may also be at higher risk for next-day side effects if they take Ambien or Ambien CR. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking these drugs. Ambien and Ambien CR are brand-name medications that contain the active drug zolpidem.

People have reported doing normal activities like preparing food or even driving while under Ambien. Sleepwalking always has the potential to be dangerous, but when the effects of Ambien are compounded with Alcohol, these dangers are made much worse. If you take an overdose of Ambien and alcohol, their interaction will exacerbate their effects.

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However, continued usage of Ambien decreases your ability to do ordinary tasks, like driving, and can lead to psychological and physical harm and fatal overdose. Remember that combining substances makes them more dangerous, potentially increasing the effects of each substance. If you have a history of misusing substances, reach out for help today. It’s possible to experience an overdose when Ambien and alcohol mix. Due to this, it is important to inform your doctor if you drink alcohol before being prescribed Ambien. It is also important to inform your doctor if you have any history of substance abuse.

What factors can affect my dosage?

Ambien, the brand name for the drug zolpidem, is a sleep medication. The drug belongs to a medication class called sedative-hypnotics. This class is also sometimes called Z-drugs because so many drugs in the class start with the letter what happens when you mix ambien and alcohol Z. Getting started with addiction treatment may feel intimidating at first. We understand this and are ready to help you on your road to recovery. We can offer guidance and insight into the recovery process, and will work to provide you with clarity into the steps that lay ahead.

Parasomnia – Driving while Sleeping

In cases where people have driven or walked around while under the influence of Ambien, people have been confused and potentially incoherent. The severity and likelihood of these effects increase if Ambien is combined with alcohol. In addition to this, people have been reported to sleepwalk under the influence of Ambien. In more severe cases, people have completed complex activities while asleep after taking Ambien.

• He is a member of over a dozen professional medical associations and in his free time enjoys a number of different activities.
• If you think someone is overdosing, you should call 911 right away.
• Trazodone and Xanax are not approved to treat sleep problems, but doctors may prescribe them off-label for this purpose.
• Avoiding alcohol while taking Ambien is essential to prevent these serious health risks.
• The drug Ambien is a sedative prescribed to those who struggle to fall asleep.

Both substances slow down brain activity, which can depress breathing. In high doses, this can lead to respiratory failure, overdose, or even death. At Carolina Center for Recovery and affiliates, we aim to provide readers with the most accurate and updated healthcare information possible.

This medication may cause accidental overdose and death if taken by other adults, children, or pets. Mix any unused medication with a substance like cat litter or coffee grounds. Then throw the medication away in a sealed container like a sealed bag or a coffee can with a lid. Selling or giving away this medication is dangerous and against the law.

Reasons to Avoid Mixing Ambien and Alcohol

Your body struggles to process both substances simultaneously, leading to higher blood concentrations and prolonged effects that further increase the danger. Immediate action should be taken if there is a concern about overdose or severe side effects from mixing Ambien and alcohol. If Ambien and alcohol abuse is suspected, it is essential to seek professional help.

Drug overdose is a common side effect of abusing Ambien and alcohol, especially when they are used in large quantities. Taking any more than this may result in unpleasant or harmful side effects. Read our comprehensive list of 10 dangerous alcohol and drug combinations for more information. Tell your doctor if you have a history of substance misuse or addiction.

The mix can lead to unpredictable and dangerous behavior, significant impairment of mental faculties, and severe physical side effects. The sedative effects of this medication intensify when combined with a depressant, increasing risks of deep sedation and possible respiratory distress. Ambien has a half-life of about 2.5 hours, meaning it takes around hours to fully leave the body, though effects may last longer. Alcohol’s half-life is about 4-5 hours, but it can take up to 24 hours to be fully eliminated, depending on factors like metabolism, weight, and intake.

Being honest with your healthcare provider about all substance use is crucial for your safety, as this information helps them make appropriate treatment decisions. Many of the serious side effects from this combination may require emergency medical care, at which point the combination would likely be discovered. The combination of Ambien and alcohol severely compromises your judgment, creating a dangerous situation where normal decision-making abilities become significantly impaired. This impairment happens because both substances affect the same brain regions responsible for rational thinking and self-control. Your ability to assess risks and make safe choices declines dramatically, often leading to behaviors you normally avoid. The medication works by slowing down brain activity, which helps promote sleep and relaxation.

• Ambien also puts older individuals at a greater risk of falls, so combined with alcohol, there is additional impairment, leading to a higher risk of falls and fractures.
• The risk of overdose also increases substantially when these substances are taken together, as respiratory depression from both can lead to oxygen deprivation, coma, or death.
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• Even though these medications (available under popular brand names like Unisom, Benadryl, and Tylenol-PM) are OTC, combining them with alcohol can cause the same reactions as Ambien.
• You’re more likely to experience misuse or addiction if you have a mental health condition or have misused drugs or alcohol in the past.

This heightened activity can impair the brain’s ability to regulate vital functions such as breathing and heart rate, increasing the risk of life-threatening situations. Alcohol is a socially acceptable drug, but a drug nonetheless and it is readily available almost anywhere. The greatest concern for medical professionals is that it increases the risk of someone sleep-driving.