overdose
5 interactions related to overdose
alcohol + alprazolam
Alcohol and alprazolam (Xanax) both depress the central nervous system by enhancing GABA-A receptor activity. Taken together they produce additive — and sometimes synergistic — sedation, slowed breathing, and impaired coordination, which substantially raises the risk of overdose and death even when neither is taken in a large amount.
alcohol + diazepam
Diazepam (Valium) and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants that act on the GABA-A receptor, producing additive and sometimes greater-than-additive sedation with a real risk of dangerously slowed breathing, loss of consciousness, and death. Diazepam and its active breakdown products linger in the body for days, so the dangerous window extends well beyond a single dose.
alcohol + tramadol
Tramadol combined with alcohol produces additive central nervous system and respiratory depression, and the combination lowers the seizure threshold, increasing the risk of convulsions, serotonin-related reactions, and life-threatening overdose. Tramadol's serotonergic and noradrenergic activity makes this pairing more hazardous than alcohol with a typical opioid.
alcohol + codeine
Codeine and alcohol are both central nervous system depressants. Taken together they add up, slowing breathing and deepening sedation, with the risk of dangerous or fatal respiratory depression. The danger is amplified for people who convert codeine to morphine unusually fast (CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolizers), who can experience strong opioid effects from ordinary doses.
alcohol + oxycodone
Alcohol and oxycodone are both central nervous system depressants. Taken together they add up, slowing breathing and deepening sedation to a degree that can be life-threatening even when each amount would be tolerated alone. The FDA carries its strongest (boxed) warning on this combination, and national mortality data show alcohol is involved in a meaningful share of opioid overdose deaths.