What Are the Effects of Mixing Alcohol With Librium?

Librium is powerful drug in a group called benzodiazepines that includes Valium, Midazalom, and Ativan. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that operate through the nerves in the core of the central nervous system (CNS). They are psychoactive drugs, which means they engage brain receptors, and they also reduce the level of nerve activity in the CNS. Because benzodiazepines are both powerful and fast-acting, they can be highly addictive.

The US government classifies benzodiazepines as Schedule IV compounds. Schedule IV drugs are potentially addictive drugs that have approved or effective medical usages. These drugs have a demonstrated potential for abuse and addiction. The federal laws and rules rate Schedule IV drugs as less dangerous than the lower schedules. The possession sale and distribution of benzodiazepines is tightly controlled and primarily restricted to licensed medical professionals.

The benzodiazepine class consists of many well-known and widely used medications. These widely used prescription drugs include Chlordiazepoxide prescribed under the brand name Librium.

Interactions of Alcohol and Librium

Many recovering alcohol-dependent persons experience panic and anxiety when they stop drinking. Doctors often prescribe drugs to help with the effects of alcohol withdrawal, including Librium. Librium acts to quiet the nerves in the central nervous system and the brain. The depressed nerves have lower levels of activity which reduces anxiety, panic, and other withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol is also a depressant that works on nerve activity in the brain and nervous system. When alcohol users mix their drinking with Librium, they further depress nerve activity and create severe risks to basic life functions like heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure.

While Librium can help reduce withdrawal symptoms, the user can develop a dependency. Librium poses a risk of dependency when taken too long, in larger amounts than needed, and in combination with alcohol or other drugs. When Librium users mix this drug with other powerful depressants like alcohol, heart rate and breathing can be negatively affected. Patients may experience drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty in breathing for extended periods of time. If they continue drinking, or their body absorbs more alcohol that is already in their system, their case may be severe; they may lapse into coma and death.

Treatment

Treatment for alcohol and Librium addiction involves immediate and long-term action. Alcohol and Librium withdrawal present medical issues that can cause severe injury and long-term risk. Many treatment methods require inpatient care and intensive medical observation. Some treatment plans include helpful medications to reduce symptoms. Patients benefit from medical direction and supervision at all stages of treatment and recovery.

Immediate care involves detoxification and easing the initial stages of withdrawal in which symptoms may be most severe. Medical approaches can use medications to assist initial withdrawal phases, though you must always tell medical personnel if you are addicted to a secondary substance, like Librium, otherwise the prescription of this drug while you are in withdrawal may cause other negative effects. Rehabilitation follows the detoxification steps and it must address any related or hidden medical or psychological problems. After detoxification and rehabilitation, patients enter the recovery phase. In recovery, patients must learn to live drug-free, and for many recovering persons, the recovery phase can be a life-long effort.