Dangers of Mixing Trazodone and Alcohol, Side Effects, Interactions, Detox

Trazodone and Alcohol Statistics

Trazodone treats depression and insomnia, conditions that can worsen with alcohol consumption. Although there is little data on overdosing on alcohol and trazodone, overdoses from each substance can be fatal.

Research suggests that trazodone and alcohol can be dangerous when used together. Combining the two can increase drowsiness, confusion, and impaired memory and coordination. In combination, they can also cause a drop in your blood pressure, making you more prone to falls. Long-term use of trazodone and alcohol may lead to issues like liver or kidney damage and depression. It is important to consult with your doctor before mixing the two.

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How Does Trazodone Work?

Trazodone works by increasing the amount of the chemical serotonin in the brain, which helps manage the symptoms of depression. It inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and blocks the histamine and alpha-1-adrenergic receptors. It also induces significant changes in 5-HT presynaptic receptor adrenoreceptors. Trazodone can also be used to treat insomnia, schizophrenia, and anxiety. Research has shown that Trazodone improves apnea and hypopnea episodes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and the drug does not exacerbate hypoxemic attacks. [3]

Trazodone and Alcohol Interaction

What are the signs of trazodone and alcohol interactions? Trazodone has a possibility for physical dependence when consumed with alcohol. Drinking 50mg of trazodone and alcohol is no exception. Furthermore, this deadly combination can lead to delirium, hallucinations, and seizures in extreme cases. Mixing Trazodone and alcohol can lead to severe side effects affecting a person’s health.

As mentioned, trazodone 50 mg and alcohol can amplify each other’s effects. Since both agents are central nervous system depressants, taking them together can be risky due to additive side effects from their drug interactions, which include:

Alcohol and Insomnia

Common mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD, are related to insomnia, and alcohol and drug abuse disorders are not left out. However, the correlation may be complicated and bidirectional: alcohol and drug use can lead to insomnia, but sleep problems can also increase the risk of substance abuse and addiction. This relationship between alcohol and insomnia is sometimes diagnosed as a co-occurring disorder or a dual diagnosis.

Alcohol can worsen the things Trazodone is meant to treat. If you take Trazodone for a sleep disorder, alcohol can worsen your insomnia. Drinking alcohol has been connected to poor sleep quality and short sleep duration. Not only can drinking alcohol make it more difficult to fall asleep despite making you feel sleepy, but it can also cause sleep disruptions. Alcohol also interferes with the critical rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep.

Alcohol and Depression

If you are taking Trazodone to treat depression, alcohol can worsen your mood. Alcohol and depression are often linked in a couple of different ways. It is common to see abuse of alcohol and depression go hand in hand. These co-occurring disorders in individuals struggling with alcoholism and depression feed off one another. Some individuals with low moods drink alcohol to relieve their depressive symptoms. Alcohol’s impact on brain chemistry can increase the risk of depression. Because suicide and self-harm are more common in those who struggle with drinking, it is essential to be careful about drinking alcohol if you have a history of low mood.

Short-Term Effects of Mixing Trazodone and Alcohol

Headaches

Individuals with a strong dependency on Trazodone and alcohol usually experience headaches. The onset of a headache is caused by the inflammation within the vessels that regulates blood flow to the brain and modulates the transmission of pain signals.

Long-Term Side Effects of Mixing Trazodone and Alcohol

Hypotension

Impairment of vasoconstriction caused by combining Trazodone and alcohol often leads to hypotension. In addition, the different chemical composition of Trazodone causes the blood pressure to lower, which is the reverse for alcohol consumption. However, different chemical properties of Trazodone and alcohol cause blood pressure to reach exceedingly low levels, which causes the person to feel dizzy and weak.

Seizures

The risk of seizures is usually high when you have two or more alcoholic beverages. However, this risk increases tenfold when Trazodone is combined with alcohol. Since consuming Trazodone and alcohol leads to intoxication, this can eventually result in seizures.

Damage to Central Nervous System

Reward pathways that elevate your mood are primarily affected when you bring alcohol into the equation while using Trazodone. Mixing Trazodone with alcohol causes structural changes in the brain.

Impaired Memory

Brain functioning and neural activity decrease when you combine Trazodone with alcohol. If this combination is continued over an extended period, it can produce an array of cognitive impairments. 

Mixing Trazodone and alcohol can destroy brain cells responsible for cognition and memory. This destruction happens at a fast pace which is faster than the aging process. Increased rate of brain cell decay results in impaired memory and, in some cases, dementia.

Coma

Toxic effect of combing Trazodone and alcohol results in a comatose state. This state happens when patients mix Trazodone and alcohol as the desired effect of their administration or due to idiopathic reactions.

Excessive consumption of alcohol and Trazodone slows brain function due to a lack of blood flow to the brain. This can be dangerous if the patient does not recover from it. In addition to these side effects, liver damage, insomnia, respiratory problems, and changes in cognitive function are also experienced by patients.

Trazodone and Alcohol Overdose

Trazodone and alcohol side effects can cause an overdose. More people abuse alcohol than any other substance worldwide, so most people are aware that alcohol causes you to become intoxicated. Adding an addictive substance or drugs, even prescription drugs, will heighten the risk.

Mixing trazodone and alcohol can also lead to death. When you consume these substances together, they cause extreme drowsiness, and this can lead you to experience a severe accident. Both trazodone and alcohol contain intoxicating elements that may interfere with your nervous and respiratory systems if you have ingested these substances in large doses.

Trazodone and Alcohol Withdrawal

Long-term use of alcohol and Trazodone can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Trazodone withdrawal symptoms can include agitation, anxiety, and sleep problems. Instead of quitting cold turkey, people on the medication are advised to be tapered or gradually weaned off under the care of a physician.

Taking Trazodone for Alcohol Withdrawal

Trazodone is often prescribed for insomnia that can occur during alcohol withdrawal. Therefore, taking the drug under medical supervision for alcohol withdrawal syndrome may be helpful. Trazodone is one of the most commonly prescribed hypnotic medications in patients with sleep disturbances in alcohol recovery. A recent study concluded that treating insomnia with trazodone in patients with alcohol dependence might impede improvements in alcohol consumption and lead to increased drinking when trazodone is stopped [4].

Dual Diagnosis Treatment Trazadone Abuse and Alcoholism

Alcohol is the most abused addictive substance in America, as more than 17 million people in the United States are considered to suffer from addiction to alcohol. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) [5] publishes that over 1.5 million Americans abuse prescription drugs.

Mixing trazodone and alcohol magnifies the side effects and may promote more use. Many options are available to help the person stop taking Trazadone and alcohol and avoid serious side effects from polysubstance abuse. Many Trazodone users respond well to residential rehab programs. 

If you are experiencing Trazadone and alcohol addiction, getting an accurate assessment of all the symptoms is crucial. When a mental health professional has evaluated the symptoms, it may be determined that another form of mental condition is present and needs a particular treatment. Very often, some combination of psychotherapy, medication, or lifestyle changes is effective for coping with functional. 

Medically-Assisted Detox

Detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated Adderall and alcohol withdrawal process but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can offer the necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy 

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – An effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – A comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – A strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.
• Solution-Focused Therapy – An approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. Traumatic experiences can often result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend mainly on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

Medication-Assisted Treatments

Top 3 Trazodone and Alcohol Frequently Asked Questions