Xanax and Alcohol
Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 19, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • You then search for the role of Xanax and the dangers or side effects of taking Xanax while drinking.
  • As benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety medications, Xanax is also a sedative that induces calmness.
  • Xanax actively cures anxiety attacks, panic disorder, and sometimes insomnia by slowing down the nervous system activity.
Reading time: 6 min

On feeling anxiety or panic disorder, you go to a doctor. The doctor prescribes you a benzodiazepine, Xanax, as a medication. You come home and start taking medication. But after some time, you experience some unusual side effects. You again visit your doctor and tell him all the symptoms. He asks you; Are you an alcoholic? Here comes the real problem. You start thinking about the association of these side effects with alcohol. You then search for the role of Xanax and the dangers or side effects of taking Xanax while drinking.

Xanax, the chemical name alprazolam, is a potent drug of class benzodiazepines. As benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety medications, Xanax is also a sedative that induces calmness. Xanax actively cures anxiety attacks, panic disorder, and sometimes insomnia by slowing down the nervous system activity.

As a CNS depressant, Xanax regulates the release of a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric Acid). When you feel anxious or nervous, this neurotransmitter is released. Xanax increases GABA secretion which in return induces dopamine-related feelings and decreases anxiety or panic attacks. (source: MedlinePlus, n.d.-a)

Effects of Xanax

Xanax induces effects are following:

  • Euphoria
  • Sedation
  • Relief from panic attacks and anxiety
  • Detached feelings
  • Relaxation
  • Lightheartedness

The normal dose of Xanax ranges between 0.25-0.5mg per day. Sometimes the doctor increases the dose to overcome the symptoms of the disease. However, taking too much drug than the normal dose leads to overdosing which can occur at any amount. (source: NIDA, n.d.-a)

Xanax Drug Addiction Treatment

What are the side effects of Xanax overdose?

Overdosing side effects of Xanax may vary depending upon some crucial factors. And those factors are:

  • How much Xanax are you taking?
  • Your body’s sensitivity towards Xanax
  • Whether you are taking Xanax in conjunction with other drugs or not

Depending on these factors side effects of an overdose of Xanax are the following: (source: FDA, 2020)

  • Slurred speech
  • Confusion
  • Tremors
  • Hallucinations
  • Increased heartbeat
  • Chest pain
  • Poor coordination
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Uncontrolled movement of muscles

Xanax and alcohol both are sedatives. These two increase the activity of a neurotransmitter in the brain named GABA. This transmitter slows down the activity of the nervous system hence induces sedative effects. But what happens when you mix alcohol and Xanax?

Ultram Abuse Symptoms and Side Effects

When these two are mixed together, they induce oversedation, which is a serious problem. Xanax exacerbates the effects of alcohol and vice versa. Taking them together makes them more potent. That eventually leads to oversedation, respiratory depression, cardiac problems, dangerous accidents, and loss of consciousness. (source: NHS, n.d.-a)

Mixing two drugs having similar effects can cause some side effects. Side effects may vary from mild to serious depending upon the dose of drugs you are taking. Drinking alcohol with Xanax overall decreases brain activity.

When taken independently they produce soothing effects. But together they build up one another’s effects. Side effects associated with their mixing are:

  • Slurred speech                                      
  • Fainting
  • Nausea
  • Vertigo
  • Anxiety
  • Slow pulse
  • Memory loss
  • Drowsiness
  • Seizures
  • Impaired coordination
  • Slow breathing

Daily intake of Xanax after drinking makes you dependent on it. Dependence urges you to take more doses to get feelings of euphoria, sedation, and lightheartedness. But this situation puts you at the risk of many dangers. Those dangers include: (source: StatPearls, 2025)

  • Depression
  • Changes in appetite and body weight
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Memory impairments
  • Personality changes
  • Liver damage
  • Cancer
  • Stroke and heart diseases
  • Other chronic ailments
  • Coma
  • Death

Xanax and alcohol memory loss

Alcohol and Xanax both are associated with memory loss. But mixing them together exacerbates this condition. This puts you at the risk of a blackout. You might not remember what happened after taking Xanax and drinking. This condition is named short-term memory loss.

Effects of mixing Xanax and alcohol on heart and liver

Drinking itself is not good for the heart and liver. Intake of Xanax with alcohol exaggerates the effects of one another. These two damages your heart badly leading to stroke or heart failure. The same goes for the liver. Liver damage or failure has been observed in people taking them together.

Xanax and alcohol have a great impact on the behavior of a person. It can cause depressed moods and irritability. Some people experience suicidal thoughts but it is rare. They mostly suffer with: (source: AAFP, 2000)

  • Rage
  • Hostile behavior
  • Aggression

However, taking the higher dose of these two is fatal. It most likely causes damage to most of the organs due to extreme levels of the drug in the body. This can lead to Xanax and the alcohol-based death of an individual.

Xanax and alcohol are clinically similar drugs. You are drinking alcohol and taking Xanax together. A combination of these two then causes a life-threatening overdose. The same clinical effects and overdosing lead to an extremely dangerous side effects profile.

Xanax and alcohol overdose symptoms

Overdosing exhibits some symptoms which indicate that you are taking a larger dose than prescribed. These symptoms include: (source: SAMHSA, 2023)

  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness
  • Impaired coordination
  • Impaired reflexes
  • Loss of consciousness

The prescribed dose of Xanax ranges between 1-10mg per day for anxiety and panic disorders. If you are taking Xanax without any side effects, adding alcohol will lead to undesirable side effects. This will also increase dependence and chances of taking lethal doses. However, the lethal dose depends on many factors like:

  • Age
  • Sex
  • Weight
  • Tolerance of the body
  • Ability to metabolize Xanax and alcohol
  • Other health issues
  • Other medications you are taking

In short, the lethal dose varies from person to person. The lethal dose for one cannot be lethal for the other person. But mixing alcohol and Xanax is always dangerous and life-threatening.

Xanax is dangerous not because of its tolerance and dependence, but it also has some serious effects on the health of a person. In addition, if you cease long-term use of Xanax, you will also face hazardous withdrawal symptoms. (source: FindTreatment.gov, n.d.)

What are the stages of Alcohol Poisoning?

On the other hand, alcohol also has all these characteristics. But it has mild effects on a person than Xanax making it more dangerous.

FAQs

How long after taking 0.25 Xanax can I drink alcohol?
Xanax is a drug of class benzodiazepines that stay longer in the body and are long-acting drugs. Although, Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine. Still, then you should wait at least 1-2 days for drinking after taking Xanax. It is necessary to avoid combination effects.
Can you drink wine with Xanax?
Wine as an alcohol can exacerbates the effects of Xanax. Moreover, it can slow down the process of clearance of the drug from your body. If you take Xanax after drinking alcohol, you can experience extreme drowsiness, lethargy, and memory loss.  Therefore, you should avoid drinking wine Xanax.  You may drink after some time to save yourself from side effects.
How much Xanax and alcohol is lethal?
Lethal dose varies from person to person depending upon factors like age, sex, weight, the metabolism rate of the body, and body sensitivity towards drugs. Lethal dose for one person cannot be lethal for the other person. However, you should always avoid combining these two drugs. The combination of alcohol and Xanax is always hazardous.

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