Menu
Gabapentin and Alcohol
When you’re prescribed a certain medication by your doctor, it is possible to experience some side effects. Prescription medication can bring some risks and while it is safe and helps with your health condition, side effects are still likely to happen. The doctor may tell you to avoid alcohol when you’re taking certain medications, but if you have an alcohol addiction, stopping yourself from drinking may not be too easy. As a result, you’ll experience some serious effects that might affect the normal course of the day.
Here is everything you should know about combining gabapentin and alcohol.
What is
Gabapentin?
Gabapentin is a type of medicine often used to prevent or relieve seizures. It’s known as an anti-epileptic drug and as an anticonvulsant. When used together with different other medicines, it can help treat seizures in adults and children of at least 3 years old.
What gabapentin does is that it affects certain nerves and chemicals in the body that are contributors to the apparition of seizures, as well as various pains. Apart from epilepsy and seizures, the drug is also good in treating neuropathic pain caused by shingles or the herpes virus or treat nerve pain and restless legs syndrome.
There are multiple brands of gabapentin, and one of them will be prescribed by your doctor based on what your problem is. The most popular brands of gabapentin are Neurontin and Gralise.
Side Effects
of Gabapentin
Gabapentin can cause multiple side effects, depending on the user. Some side effects are more common than others and occur for a higher percentage of people using gabapentin. But some less common ones could also occur and you might not know they are caused by gabapentin usage.
The common
symptoms
The common symptoms include sleepiness, dizziness, walking issues, and water retention. Other reactions that both children and adults may experience with gabapentin doses include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, blurry vision, fever, cough, fatigue, chills, or an upset stomach. Children can experience some other adverse reactions, like hyperactivity, behavioral problems, depression, anxiety, inability to concentrate, school performance changes, and so on.
Sever Cases
and symptoms
In some more severe cases, there are different side effects that are more difficult to deal with. These often include hives, extreme dizziness, difficulty breathing, severe weakness, yellow eyes or skin, swelling of the lips, face, throat, or tongue, and rash.
Gabapentin also has certain effects when it’s used in combination with other medications, and your doctor should know if you’re dealing with this. He/she might come with a solution. Some people are also experiencing suicidal thoughts or depressive behaviors when taking this medicine.
Anyone who is dealing with one or more of these symptoms after taking gabapentin should seek immediate medical attention. Let your doctor know about the issues you’re having with gabapentin and he/she will know what to do to relieve these symptoms.
Scared of getting wet brain?
Alcohol mixed with Gabapentin
Many times, people don’t take into account that they are taking certain medications when they’re consuming alcohol. When a glass of wine is calling you, it’s easy to forget that you are under gabapentin treatment. So, people may tend to drink even while using gabapentin – especially if they have an alcohol addiction.
But everyone should bear in mind that drinking alcohol while under gabapentin treatment is not a good thing. It may lead to multiple side effects that will affect your life and mood, which is why it’s best to avoid it.
When you combine the two, the effects are going to increase. Therefore, not only will the gabapentin side effects get worse under alcohol influence, but the alcohol effects will also be worse if you’re taking gabapentin. If you don’t know these facts and you’re mixing the two nonetheless, then you will have a very unpleasant experience.
The Dangers of Mixing
Gabapentin & Alcohol
As mentioned, mixing alcohol and gabapentin can be pretty annoying as it leads to a plethora of side effects that are heightened due to the combination. Side effects for both substances will get worse when you make them clash. Some things you may experience after mixing the two include anxiety, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, digestive problems, vomiting, fatigue, and loss of coordination. It’s essential to stop drinking alcohol if you’re experiencing any of these effects. Make sure you let your doctor know if any of them occurs.
Gabapentin and Alcohol
Withdrawal Symptoms
People who are dealing with alcohol addiction will usually have to get help from detox programs. When withdrawing from alcohol, there might be certain symptoms that are not only uncomfortable but also severe. It all depends on the level of addiction the person has. For this reason, a detox program is going to help that person. The environment will be a safe one where the person can stay away from alcohol. There will be no accessible alcohol that could make the person instantly spiral back into the former state.
On top of that, depending on the condition, a detox program might range from 3 to 10 days, but it might also vary based on the unique condition of the individual. Medication will also be used in helping the person withdraw from alcohol addiction. There are also different types of medicine that will be used to prevent the individual from relapsing. It will block the effects alcohol has on the mind and body.
The Consequences of Mixing
Alcohol & Gabapentin
Those who cannot abstain from drinking alcohol are always at risk of experiencing various consequences depending on their resistance and body.
In the worst-case scenario, combining alcohol and gabapentin could lead to death. The simple ingestion of both of these substances together can have bad effects on your body, and it also slows down breathing in some cases. And while less common, the combination can also lead to someone having erratic behavior. It can even lead to making bad decisions because their mind is not in its best state. These decisions could result in death or injury.
Therefore, the consequences of mixing alcohol and gabapentin can be physical, but also mental, or both. It’s best not to combine them in the first place so you could avoid the negative effects they have.
How Drug Rehab Can Help
If you are taking gabapentin due to addiction rather than because you need it to relieve a variety of symptoms, you should do everything in your power to stop the addiction. But if you’re unable to stop it yourself, you can get help.
A medical detox program will be the way to stop gabapentin addiction and go through a whole-body detox. If you abuse other drugs at the same time, the program will help with them as well. On top of that, if you go through a gabapentin detox, it can also make it less likely for you to overdose and relapse.
This will help if you like drinking alcohol now and then, but you’re addicted to gabapentin and it causes side effects.
The Bottom Line
Combining alcohol and gabapentin is never a good thing as it can cause serious side effects. The two substances clashing will boost the effects of each substance, and you will feel worse than ever. This is why you should avoid combining the two. Also, in case you think you may be addicted to one of them or both, you should get help. You could try drug rehab or go through an alcohol withdrawal program that will ensure you never deal with this issue again.