Note: If you are reading this in the hopes of helping someone you believe to be suffering from an overdose, or has just mixed Ativan and Alcohol, STOP NOW - Call 911 and get help from them. This article is not intended to be an emergency handbook.

Because “Prescription Drugs” are prescribed by a doctor, many of us think that they are safe. This is not true. They are prescribed by a doctor because you have to be careful when you take them. Your doctor wants to know that you know and will obey the rules that go with them. Your pharmacist will go though the details again with you when you pick the drugs up.

One of the most dangerous drugs that are routinely perceived for depression or anxiety is called Ativan. When you mix Ativan with drinking alcohol, it is easy to die.

What is Ativan?

Ativan is the brand name for the anxiety medication Lorazepam. Ativan belongs to a family of drugs called “Benzodiazepine” that includes other well-known brand names such as:

• Valium (Diazepam)
• Xanax (Alprazolam)
• Librium (chlordiazepoxide).
• Klonopin (clonazepam).
• Restoril (temazepam).
• Halcion (triazolam).

They all act in the same way, and all share the same risks when combined with alcohol.

How does Ativan affect you?

Like other benzodiazepines, Ativan works by affecting the way your brain reads nerve signals. I don’t want to get too scientific here, but there are plenty of detailed explanations available around the web explaining exactly how it works on your brain.

In essence, Ativan slows down your breathing, lowers your blood pressure, and relaxes you when you’re experiencing an anxious episode.

While Ativan is fantastic at what it does, it can have some adverse effects. For example, if you take too much of it, you can run the risk of lowering your breathing and blood pressure too much. This is why it’s always important to follow your Doctor’s prescription.

What happens when you mix Alcohol and Ativan?

Alcohol works on the same pathways as Ativan does. When you combine Ativan with Alcohol it is as if you have tripled, or even quadrupled the number of drinks you have had. So if you have drunk half a bottle of wine, it’s as if you’ve drunk two bottles or more. If you have had two vodkas, it’s as if you’ve drunk a bottle of vodka.

You can see the problem here. 

While both substances lower your inhibitions, making your judgement questionable at best, they also feed off of each other. More Ativan multiplies the effects of alcohol, and more alcohol multiplies the effects of Ativan.

Sooner or later, your breathing gets slower and slower, your blood pressure drops like a rock, and you’re unconscious.

What an overdose looks like

An overdose of Alcohol and Ativan can seem like someone is just tired. That’s what makes it particularly dangerous. Severe drowsiness, breathing problems, and dizziness are three of the key indicators that someone is overdosing from the effects of mixing Alcohol and Ativan. 

If you feel that you are falling into an easy sleep after a few drinks AND you take Ativan, call someone quickly. If you are with a friend who seems to be slipping away into sleep after a couple of drinks, this is serious. Get them medical attention immediately.

Fatal Side-Effects

Taking prescription drugs when you drink alcohol can lead to many fatal side-effects. As mentioned above, Lorazepam specifically can lead to difficulty breathing, reduced heart rate, low blood pressure, coma, and eventually death. This is a very serious problem that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Side-effects of mixing Alcohol and Ativan include:

• Severe Drowsiness
• Low heart-rate
• Low Blood Pressure
• Dizziness
• Slow and Difficult Breathing
• Feelings of Depression
• Loss of Coordination
• Confusion

Signs of Ativan Abuse

One of the problems with Ativan and this family of drugs, is that they can be addictive and you may find that you need ever larger doses. Also when taken with alcohol, Ativan does give a buzz. Here are some warning signs that you may be suffering from substance abuse, and should seek a treatment program:
 

1. Desire to take more of the drug than prescribed, especially if you alter dosages without your doctor’s permission. Lorazepam is recommended only for short-term use because your body builds up tolerance to the drug. If you don’t feel the drug’s relaxing effects and keep upping your dose without discussing it with your doctor, it’s a strong sign that you’re becoming physically dependent on it. Changing your dosage can be dangerous because too much lorazepam can be fatal.
2. Feeling physically unwell when not taking the drug. It’s easy to develop a physical addiction to lorazepam because it stimulates the reward centres in the brain and because it relaxes you and stops you from feeling anxiety or depression. If you experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, increased anxiety or depression or slurred speech when not on the drug, you may be addicted to it.
3. Inability to avoid alcohol while on lorazepam. Alcohol interacts poorly with lorazepam. Both alcohol and lorazepam are depressants that work on the reward centres in the brain, so taking them together can give you a buzz, but it can also cause your heart to slow down or stop beating and can interfere with your ability to breathe. If you can’t resist alcohol while on lorazepam, you may be addicted to both drugs or to the combination of the two drugs.

Ativan Withdrawal

Doctors recommend titration of Ativan rather than cutting it off “cold-turkey” because just ending your body’s supply of benzodiazepines like that can be dangerous. Cutting Ativan immediately rather than slowly taking less and less can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, seizures, and psychotic reactions.

With these risks in mind, medical detox is highly recommended.

Rebound Anxiety and Insomnia

Roughly 10-35% of people who detox from Ativan can expect to experience what is known as Rebound Symptoms. These are temporary and enhanced return of symptoms like anxiety or insomnia that caused Ativan to be prescribed initially. This phase is especially dangerous, because it often leads to relapse. Tapering off your usage of Ativan rather than going cold-turkey can help manage rebound symptoms until an alternative treatment is found by your doctor.

Treatment for Addiction to Alcohol and Ativan

While there are plenty of treatment options available to you, we believe a long-term inpatient treatment program is the best way to handle this. Inpatient treatment offers more than just detox, but rather teaches you the life skills you’ll need to live your life to the fullest without using substances. As they say, getting sober is the tip of the iceberg. Staying that way is the real battle.