The National Institute in Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that, in 2019, just over 25% of individuals aged 18 years old and over admitted to binge drinking in the previous month. When you add Ativan into the mix, the effects of both drugs are increased.
This can lead to severe health issues and may even be fatal.
What Are The Effects Of Alcohol?
People drink for a variety of reasons such, as helping them cope with emotional trauma, esteem issues, to become more sociable, or it can be due to a family history of alcohol addiction.
By entering the brain through the bloodstream, alcohol can affect a range of neurotransmitters, in particular GABA and glutamate. Through its interaction with these, a person can feel less socially awkward and more relaxed.
Alcohol also weakens the central nervous system (CNS). The result can be a reduced heart rate and slower breathing.
What is Ativan?
Ativan is also known as lorazepam. It is prescribed as a short-term solution to:
- Help people alleviate anxiety
- Insomnia
- Alcohol withdrawal
Side effects of Ativan are:
- Feeling drowsy
- Experiencing lightheadedness
- Poor coordination
- Bouts of dizziness
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Fatigue
Ativan also influences the GABA, by boosting its effect. So, to this degree, it has a similar effect as alcohol. It reduces the amount of fear and anxiety that a person is experiencing and enhances a sense of calmness.
Medical professionals prescribe Ativan as a short-term solution. That’s because there is the risk of developing a dependency or addiction to it.
Can You Drink On Ativan?
As with any prescribed medication, there is the possibility that Ativan can be abused. One way this misuse can occur is to combine it with alcohol.
A reason behind mixing these two drugs is to enhance the feelings they provide. That is, the person may want to relax to a greater degree than is offered by taking only one substance.
It could also be that someone is struggling to sleep and so considers combing Ativan and alcohol to increase the sedative effect.
The danger lies in how both drugs working together can affect the CNS. A person’s heart rate and breathing drop as a result of taking either Ativan or alcohol. When consumed in combination, there is the risk that heart rate and breathing decrease to dangerous or fatal levels.
How Long After Drinking Can I Take Ativan?
Before drinking alcohol, you will need to wait until Ativan is cleansed from your system. This period is determined by the half-life of the drug (which is the time it takes for half of the Ativan to leave your body).
It can take up to 20 hours for one half-life to occur. To be completely cleared from your system it takes Ativan about 5 half-lives. So, you need to wait at least 4 days before you can have alcohol.
For those who struggle with alcohol addiction, then abstinence from drinking is vital.
Can You Still Take Ativan After Drinking?
For those on Ativan, there can be lapses in abstaining from drinking. When these occur, then you will need to wait for the alcohol to be removed from your system before taking Ativan again.
How long this period is depends on how much alcohol you have had. Your body is capable of eliminating one standard drink every hour. So if you have had 10 standard drinks, then you need at least a 10-hour waiting period before taking your medication.
Conclusion
Alcohol and Ativan have similar effects on the body. They act on the CNS to help relax an individual.
It can be tempting for some to take both substances together. The motivation for doing so is to increase the sensations offered by the experience.
That can heighten the risk of the person having an adverse medical reaction due to a drop in blood pressure and decreased breathing. It’s advisable to abstain from alcohol if you are prescribed Ativan.
If you are struggling with dependency issues, seek professional medical advice and support. There are substance abuse professionals who can readily help you recover from alcohol dependence or addiction, and help you create the kind of life you truly desire.
60 comments
I’m hearing Ativan for the very first time. I’m happy reading this article. It’s very interesting and well detailed.
Alcohol is very injurious to the health. Excessive consumption of alcohol damages the organs of the body as well.
This is a well organized and well detailed information. Thank you team for this life helping information.
This is my best blog. I see real life situations here and I learn s lot. You’re doing a great and wonderful job. I’m always blessed reading your articles
I have learnt more about alcohol effects and it’s dangers. In view of this, it’s advisable for people to steer clear from this bad habit
Alcohol effects are inimical and harmful. Consequently, people should desist from it
Taking excess alcohol comes with issues of nervous system breakdown, slower breathing and slow heart rate. These are just bad for the body.
I know a lot of people drink excessively due to low self esteem, peer pressue and life’s issues but the effects are just dangerous to the body. Addicts need to refrain from drinking
Hmm. This is serious, I mean the effect. It is very advisable not to go near it.
Wait a minute!!!! If ATIVAN Is for alcohol withdrawal or at least PRESCRIBE for it then why is it mix with alcohol? One thing I Know tho drigs and alcohol most of the time does not mix, Not to mention self medication is dangerous as well.
Seriously, alcohol is a health destroyer not to talk of adding drug to it, it will hasten death. Thanks for this eye opening information.
Alcohol and ativan are dangerous for one’s life. People who are used to it have been advised to desist from taking alcohol for whatever reason, so that it won’t destroy their life. Thanks.
Binge drinking is dangerous enough.. consuming Ativan makes it worse…I hope people get to understand the negative effects of these habits on their health..thanks for this article… I will share with my friends who are addicts…life is precious
This is the kind of awareness needed for matters like this, this is really educative and I feel so enlightened.
Never heard of Ativan till today. Thanks for sharing this information.
Many take consume these contents without knowing the danger they pose on human health. Imagine the heart beat and breathing rate dropping to a fatal level. Information is key. Many wouldn’t have consumed these mixture had they known the danger that lies behind.
This article has enlightened me on Ativan. It is to abstain from the use of Ativan due to these effects.
If it can take longer hours to feel better from Ativan effect, its better to stay off it. The effects stated above are too much to accommodate for an addict.
Most people do not know what ativan is. Thanks for the heads up it will help alot of people.
Thank you ,and I know more about Ativan and how effect our body, this is warning to everyone
Ativan is very detrimental to human health. In such a way that it causes more harm than good.
Alcohol and ativan acts the same way in the body when taken. But both in the body system is not good causes havoc.
So it has all been said do not take ativan and alcohol together. If you must take alcohol just follow the waiting period. To be forearmed is to be forwarded.
Thank you for sharing this educative piece with us. The effect of alcohol cannot be overemphasized, not to talk of Ativan. Detox to rehab is really doing a great job.
Thanks so much for amazing write-up… I always look forward to it every time.
Depending on substance for optimum performance is surely not worth it.
Ativan and alcohol are two toxic liquor with life destructive. This information is intended to correct this menace. Thanks to Detox To Rehab.
Many people addicted to something find other to give up the former but we should choose anything knowing its side effects as well, just like the case of Ativan and alcohol in this case.
They are indeed dangerous in line with the write up above. The intake of these substances should be discouraged.
The two if combined is very dangerous because Ativan and alcohol both depress the central nervous system and can lead to fatigue, drowsiness and may cause death too. Even though Ativan can be prescribed it is best if you are taking it avoid drinking alcohol
This is a Wonderful Content.
We all need to abstain from Harmful drugs and Alcohol.
Save A life by sharing this wonderful content.
Alcohol is Dangerous to one’s Health and we all need Detailed Information on the symptoms of Excessive Alcohol Intake.
Really love the article on the alcohol effect and ways to alleviate it. Never heard of Ativan and its important use or its affects but now i know.
Drugs and alcohol just don’t go well together, one way or the other there will always be a side effect. Binge drinking or not, if a person can abstain altogether.
One way or the other there will always be a side effect when alcohol and drugs are taken together. Binge drinking or not, if a person can, abstain altogether.
Ativan is effective once taken seriously and religiously. But we also need to be aware that ativan dependency is also common. We just need to use and prescribe it correctly.
I have a friend who is undergoing the same. I hope the message of this article save more lives.
Ativan and alcohol should never be mixed. It’s the true recipe for disaster.
It’s the first time I am hearing about ativan and it sounds scary. I would never want to try it
It’s unbelievable that Ativan is actually prescribed as a drug. I think it’s high time an alternative to it was found.
My rule of thumb is to never mix alcohol with any other drugs. This is especially true for prescription drugs.
Any drug that affects the Central Nervous System is a no no. I’d never touch Ativan.
Alcohol is good but only when done in moderation. Personally I only drink socially which I don’t think is that dangerous.
Many thanks for the informative article. I bet many people weren’t aware how dangerous it can be when you mix ativan and alcohol.
Mixing these two could straight up lead to death. That’s more than scary to say the least.
Glad to learn that I can take alcohol four days after using ativan. That is potentially life saving information right there.
I found this quite informative. I wasn’t even aware that there are drugs that can help with alcohol withdrawal.
As with every prescription drug, the doctor’s orders matter most. I’d be sure to ask the doctor how safe it is to take alcohol after using ativan.
Ativan can help a lot with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, relapsing can be disastrous.
The side effects of Ativan makes me scared of ever using it. I think the best option is just to stay away from drugs period.
Obviously, Ativan and alcohol work against each other. People should be well informed of the risks to prevent serious health issues.
It’s better people desist from alcohol. It never give any lasting solution to human problems.
Many people always think that alcohol can give them permanent solution to their problems but it’s not. Alcohol is a serious destroyer of human body.
Obviously, combining Ativan and Alcohol is a dangerous combo. It’s should be clearly steered away from to prevent the consequences that attend such harmful choices. Living healthy is more important than living pleasurably.
Excessive consumption of alcohol damages the organs of the body as well. I wasn’t even aware that there are drugs that can help with alcohol withdrawal. I think the best option is just to stay away from drugs period.
It can be tempting for some to take both alcohol and Ativan together. The motivation for doing so is to increase the sensations offered by the experience. Let stay away from drugs.
Gathering is more excited when what to eat and drink are available. It will be full of enjoyments without any dull moment. Thanks for sharing this here.
Alchol has a very bad effect on our body. We should stay away from it. it is very dangerous.
When all this side effects are recorded around Ativan, then what’s the need of taking them? That’s ridiculous that what we are trying to avoid, keeps coming back to hurt our well-being. I wouldn’t try that, I rather stay completely away from taking it than soaking myself deeper through intake of Ativan.
Thank you Detax to rehab for sharing these type of stories with all of us.These stories are really very much inspirational for many people who are addicted with something and try to recover from that.
Interesting piece on Ativan here. Learnt something new on it’s side effects already. Gracias.