Xanax and Alcohol: the Good, the Bad and the UGLY

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如果你或你认识有人陷入焦虑或恐慌情节的人，那么你可能已经一定被称为已知的药物Xanax, which is a brand name for阿普唑仑。Xanax belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs, best known for their calming effects.

Xanax’s calming effects resemble those of alcohol to a certain degree, which makes sense since these two substances produce similar effects on the brain and body. These two substances also carry highrisks for abuse and addiction。

Ultimately, combining Xanax and alcohol on a regular basis is a recipe for disaster as far as addiction risk goes, while a growing potential foroverdoseand death develops along the way.

平静ing Effects – The Good

Xanax和酒精均作中枢神经系统抑制剂，减缓脑和中枢神经系统活动和他们调节的系统。虽然Xanax专门制定以治疗焦虑和恐慌驱动的条件，但酒精也会产生平静的效果，并且在适度使用时实际上携带某些健康益处。

Xanax and alcohol both alter the brain’s GABA levels, a neurotransmitter that slows nerve cell signal transmissions, according toStanford Medicine。这些效果整体翻译成降低焦虑水平。

Xanax and Alcohol – Abuse & Addiction Potential – The Bad

As a general rule, any substance capable of altering the brain’s chemical system holds a potential for abuse and addiction. In effect, repeated fluctuations in the brain’s normal chemical processes creates a lasting effect that ultimately leaves the brain dependent on the drug.

The brain also has a type of “auto-adjust” mechanism, meaning it reduces its own GABA production in response to the ongoing presence of Xanax and/or alcohol. Changes in GABA processes also disrupt other neurotransmitter levels, such as those of dopamine, glutamate and serotonin.

结果，Xanax和酒精都带有高潜力的滥用和成瘾，特别是在长期使用时。

Dangers of Combining Xanax and Alcohol – The Ugly

Since Xanax and alcohol both work to slow down the body’s systems, combining these two substances can be incredibly dangerous over time. The brain and central nervous system develop an ongoing tolerance for their effects, so a person must keep ingesting larger quantities to experience the same calming effects.

Over time,growing tolerance levels可以让一个人在服用大量的Xanax时消耗大量的酒精。根据Columbia University, this practice can be dangerous to say the least with one or more of the following symptoms taking shape:

• 头痛
• Loss of coordination
• Fatigue
• 易怒
• 幻觉
• Aggression
• Difficulty breathing
• Death

Considerations

While addiction in any form can destroy a person’s life, abusing Xanax and alcohol on a regular basis can actually bring about overdose and death at a rapid rate. Once abuse turns to addiction, users lose the ability to see dangerous symptoms for what they are as the “need” for the drug starts to take over.

For this reason, it’s important to see treatment for both yourXanaxand alcohol addiction.