Medical Advice

Is Gabapentin And Alcohol Dangerous or Safe Combination?

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Gabapentin and alcohol

Gabapentin and alcohol are two very common things in everyday life. Gabapentin is a medication that helps people when they have pain or feel nervous. Alcohol is a drink used by adults at parties or when they relax. Many people do not realize how dangerously alcohol can react with Gabapentin. When someone takes Gabapentin and alcohol together, it can make their body feel more dizzy, drowsy, and unstable. It can make it hard to think or understand clearly. So, in today’s blog, we will understand what happens if you take gabapentin with alcohol and how it will affect your overall health.

Understanding The Risks of Mixing Alcohol With Gabapentin

Overview of Gabapentin

Gabapentin is a medication that falls under the category of an anticonvulsant drug class. It is mainly prescribed by doctors when an individual seeks relief for their nerve pain. Its working process is very unique, and it works by enhancing the level of GABA brain chemical that is produced naturally by the brain, which helps to feel relaxed and calm. It stops the generation of the brain chemicals that carry pain signals to the brain. It is available in various forms like tablets, capsules, and so on. They are sold under the brand names such as Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant.

Street Names of Gabapentin

Street names are the names that are used to purchase or sell drugs illegally. You can use this medication only with a prescription, but some drug abusers try to use it with a various variety of street names they are

  • Gabs
  • Gabbys
  • Johns
  • Neuros
  • Nans
  • Gabbies
  • Johnnies
  • Rotties

Medical Use of Gabapentin

Gabapentin is used in two ways: one is medical use, and another is off-label use. Some doctors use gabapentin to treat some health conditions off-label. Some of the medical and off-label uses are listed below;

  • Nerve pain
  • Seizures
  • Restless leg
  • Diabetic nerve damage
  • Hot flashes in menopausal women
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Anxiety
  • Cough
  • Alcohol Withdrawal

Alcohol and Its Effects

Alcohol is a toxic substance that is made by fermenting the sugar in fruits, vegetables, and grains by yeasts. It is commonly found in alcoholic drinks. alcoho is a central nervous system depressant which works by slowing down the communication between the body and brain. It has both short-term and long-term effects on overall health. Some of the effects of alcohol are listed below;

  • Slowed thought processing
  • Blackout
  • Poor coordination
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Changes in mood
  • Brain damage
  • Dementia
  • Nerve damage
  • Infertility
  • Cancer
  • Organ damage
  • Hypertension
  • Sudden Death

What Happens if You Mix Gabapentin and Alcohol

From the above, it is clear that both Alcohol and Gabapentin are central nervous system depressants. After seeing their aftereffects, we can say that mixing Gabapentin and Alcohol can lead to very harmful health conditions. Like worsening of your nerve pain or extreme drowsiness and anxiety. So, alcohol use during the use of gabapentin should be avoided or limited because Gabapentin and Alcohol interactions are very dangerous and harmful. There are a lot of risks of mixing these two substances. Let’s see what those are.

Dangers of Mixing Alcohol With Gabapentin

  • Excessive drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Dehydration
  • Confusion
  • Loss of Coordination
  • Heavy fatigue
  • Death
  • Weight gain
  • High blood sugar
  • Amnesia
  • Depression
  • Abnormal thinking
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Ataxia
  • Unresponsiveness
  • Slowed Breathe
  • Problems with judgment
  • Impaired motor skills

Why Are People Mixing Gabapentin and Alcohol?

Mixing alcohol and Gabapentin can happen in two ways. One is unintentional, and one is intentional. Sometimes people who are using Gabapentin can use Alcohol occasionally without realizing how harmful the interaction of these two substances is. But sometimes abusers mix these two drugs to increase the feeling of relaxation and the feeling of high. They both work by depressing the brain and CNS. When both substances are mixed, it makes the user feel drunk with less Alcohol consumption, and their effects last longer. The combination increases the sedative effect of both substances. This mixture can also result in an overdose.

Withdrawal Symptoms

These two substances are depressants that work directly on the brain. When an individual has used these two substances for too long and suddenly stops taking them, withdrawal symptoms start showing. Some of them are mild, and some of them are serious. When Alcohol is withdrawn, it also shows some dangerous effects. The withdrawal symptoms can begin within 6 to 24 hours of stopping or significantly decreasing heavy substance use. Gabapentin is most commonly used to treat alcohol withdrawal. It is stopped once the alcohol withdrawal process is completed in an individual. Let’s see some of the Gabapentin and Alcohol withdrawal symptoms that might occur;

  • Headache
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Mood changes
  • Tremor
  • Hallucinations
  • Upset stomach
  • Excessive sweating
  • Seizures
  • High body temperature
  • Irritability
  • Hypertension
  • Confusion
  • Uneven or rapid heartbeat

How Long After Taking Gabapentin Can You Drink Alcohol?

Gabapentin has a half-life of 5 to 7 hours. It means gabapentin takes 24- 48 hours to get completely eliminated from the system. So, consumption of Alcohol during the use of Gabapentin should be strictly avoided. These are two central nervous system depressants; their combination or interaction can increase the risk of side effects and lower the effects of Gabapentin in your system. So, it is very important to wait until the complete elimination of Gabapentin before consuming alcohol. Also, you should never resume your Gabapentin dose until the alcohol has left your body fully. Before consuming alcohol while being on gabapentin, you should always consult your doctor so that he/she can provide you with personalized advice based on your gabapentin dose.

Treatment Options For Gabapentin And Alcohol Abuse

If an individual is suffering from addiction to drugs and Alcohol they they can ask for medical help. A doctor can help you get rid of this bad addiction easily and safely. There are a lot of treatment options available to help with addiction, such as;

  • Detoxification
  • Mental therapy
  • Inpatient treatment
  • Outpatient treatment
  • Dual diagnosis treatment
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Equine Therapy
  • Holistic habits
  • Addiction counseling

Summary

At the end of the blog, we hope you understood how risks are connected with taking Alcohol with Gabapentin. So it is always better to stay careful and follow he doctor’s advice. Keeping them separate helps to keep your body safe and healthy.

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