Xanax, Klonopin and Alcohol.... should I be worried about him?

Question

I just found out my friend has been taking clonozepan (sp) ... you know.. klonopin.. every day for a month.. and it makes him aggresive when he drinks with it... tonight it did... so his friend gave him som xanax... so he had his klonopin this morning... binge drank and then took xanax... should I be worried. I am so worried that this happened... and upset. I wish I could have stopped this.

He wasn't prescribed any of these things. His friend gave him a bunch of klonopin and so he decided to start taking it every day to deal with his anxiety and such. It makes him not anxious, and really motivated to get things done. It also makes him feel more social. However, when too much alcohol gets in the mix, it makes him aggressive. It's like he is just itching to get it on with someone. Thankfully he was taken out of the bar for the second time before anything could really happen. I am worried him taking this drugs in combination again.... I am almost positive that the klonopin and binge drinking will happen again..... Does anyone know anything more about the dangers of these combinations? I wish I could dispose of the klonopin, but I do not have any idea where it is kept in his house. I also heard it can cause dependency issues and withdrawal?

Answer 1

Xanax and klonopin and other sedative drugs increase the effects of alcohol especially the intoxicating effects and also increases the risk of overdose such as respiratory depression and the risk of choking on his own vomit. I noticed you said that your friend is a binge drinker and that he takes these benzos partly to help him in social situations. I am thinking that his anxiety is related to his alcohol consumption. You see benzodiazepines such as xanax and klonopin are cross tolerant with alcohol hence why benzodiazepines are sued to detoxify alcoholics from alcohol (they suppress withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, anxiety, shaking etc). He may very well be self medicating his withdrawal symptoms and also trying to increase the intoxificating effects of alcohol. Benzodiazepines as with alcohol are both highly highly addictive. Some would argue that benzodiazepines are harder to come off than alcohol Both alcohol and benzos can cause serious withdrawal syndromes including seizures and psychosis. Your friend had better be careful his addictions don't escalate into something more serious like an all out addiction. Perhaps trying to educate your friend on alcohol and benzodiazepines and what they are doing to him and his body and the risks of continuing usage/abusage will have on him such as worsening mental and physical health etc. If he needs help with his klonopin and xanax usage this support forum is good http://www.non-benzodiazepines.org.uk
He may also benefit from an alcohol counsellor or AA or perhaps even an alcohol helpline.
I sincerely hope your friends gets help sooner rather than later. I have been in a similar situation to your friend in my personal life and I know all too well the road he is travelling down. I hope my post helps you and your friend.

Answer 2

Yeah, it's bad and you should be worried. When I was first prescribed a benzodiazepine it was Lorazepam. My doctor said not to drink, but if I HAD to that I should only have one glass of wine (etc.) at most. People may have different reactions to mixing benzodiazepines with alcohol. It also depends on the dosage, the higher the dosage, the worse the effect. The least it will do is possibly make someone more drowsy or add to the drunk feeling. Like, 1 beer may feel like 2.

I was took about 2mgs of Lorazepam (four .5mg pills) one day and then I went out and drank for 8 hours (New Years Eve). I partially blacked out at one point, but I do remember busting into my neighbors party at 5am and starting a fight. I have a history of blacking out when drinking anyway, so I didn't think it was that big of a deal.

I woke up the next day with the shakes and I shook for 2 and half days. I was sweating and had heart palpitations. I thought I was dying. I couldn't hold a cup of juice without spilling it. I had never felt so messed up after drinking or doing 'drugs' (and I did tons when I was younger) It's funny since the pills are sometimes given to people to prevent and treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, yet the fact that I drank heavily while taking the pills made me experience extreme 'Delirium Tremens' which can be fatal.

Since Xanax and Klonopin are also benzodiazepines, it's still extremely dangerous to mix them with heavy drinking. I take Klonopin now but I no longer drink. That experience after New Years Eve was just too terrible. Plus, I'm an alcoholic who should have stopped years ago anyway. The fact that I'm on meds now was a really good reason to quit for good.

It's terrible that he's taking meds that aren't prescribed to him. I've had friends who drank heavily, while shooting up heroin and taking Xanax (all at the same time) and they lived. I've also had friends end up in the hospital with an OD because of drinking on Xanax, Klonopin or Lorazepam. You never know what can happen. He may be fine one night and have a seizure the next if he's binge drinking.

*Yes, it's highly addictive and withdrawal can be terrible. Many people have to check into detox centers for it. I became addicted to my Lorazepam after a few weeks, that's why I was switched to Klonopin. It's longer lasting so you shouldn't feel the need to take as may pills. I still have to watch myself though.

Answer 3

Xanax (alprazolam) and Klonopin (clonazepam) are benzodiazepines and indicated for anxiousness and different matters. They can result in dependency and withdrawal problems; see every in a internet seek for more information. Alcohol isn't a well anti-anxiousness substance in view that its use outcome in alcoholism. Why do you rely on chemical compounds for anxiousness comfort while there are non-capsule, non-alcohol cures for this minor mental ailment? See, "dealing with social anxiousness ailment", for plenty of hyperlinks with non drug answers to this predicament. Psychotherapy is also indicated if the predicament persists. Good success!

Answer 4

Of course you should be worried! Nobody is supposed to take alcohol with benzodiazepinic medicine! It's dangerous! You can make things that you'll regret all your life!

A friend of mine did that once and came to the fast-food on the basement of HIS building NAKED!
The owners recognized him and they didn't call the police (only paramedics) but you can imagine how humiliated he felt a couple of day after that when he was obliged to say "Hi" to them all laughing!
The paramedics told him he did that but he had no memory of this event! He knows that it's true because the day after, he found himself in the hospital and they told him and he saw people's face in the fast-food when he came back home!
So you can do anything without knowing under this mixture!
It can be very very dangerous! You can even commit a suicide on the beginning!
Maybe his depression is not treated the way it should be!

Answer 5

It depends on how much he took and drank. Keep an eye on him.