Why You Shouldn't Mix Muscle Relaxers And Alcohol

Drinking alcohol while taking any kind of medication is never really a good idea regardless of how harmless it seems. This is especially true when combining alcohol and muscle relaxers because of how each affects your body. According to Healthline, alcohol is mainly a depressant. You might experience an initial stimulant effect as your brain releases dopamine, but that quickly wears off. After the dopamine hit, alcohol works as a depressant on your central nervous system, resulting in a slower heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, and a decline in mental sharpness. Too much alcohol can slow your reaction time and cause disorientation.

Muscle relaxers also work on your central nervous system. According to Medical News Today, there are two kinds of muscle relaxers: antispasmodic and antispastic. Antispasmodics, such as diazepam, work by preventing neurons in the brain from receiving pain signals from the nervous system. Antispastics work either on muscle cells or the spinal cord to relieve tight muscles.

Because muscle relaxers and alcohol both work by depressing your central nervous system, combining the two multiplies side effects (via Healthline). Any dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, or weakness could be amplified when you drink alcohol after taking a muscle relaxer. In addition, your chances of feeling more sedated increases, and this might lead to having problems when it comes to thinking clearly, reports Drugs. As Healthline points out, you may experience a loss of motor control, which could cause you to have difficulty walking or driving. According to Consumer Reports, there is also a chance that you might have a seizure or experience difficulty breathing under the influence of both drugs.

Because alcohol can intensify the effects of muscle relaxers, a combination could lead to an overdose, reports Healthline. If you feel overly tired or weak, begin vomiting, experience heart palpitations, seizures, low blood pressure, or severely impaired muscle control, seek medical care immediately.