Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Hypnotics And Sedatives

“Both these antidepressants were felt to be sedative , especially in the initial phase of the treatment, and they interacted additively with ethanol.”

“While lorazepam and other benzodiazepines are rapid-onset, effective anxiolytics, they are not commonly used beyond the acute withdrawal phase in alcohol dependence because they have abuse potential, can have additive sedativehypnotic interactions with alcohol and benzodiazepineassociated disinhibition, and can lead to a relapse to alcohol use (4).”

“ Ethanol modulates the GABA(A) receptor to cause sedative , anxiolytic and hypnotic effects that are qualitatively similar to benzodiazepines and barbiturates.”

“Up to 28% of those who consumed alcohol were concomitant users of sedative-hypnotics.”

“Up to 88% of men and 79% of women who used sedative-hypnotics also consumed alcohol.”

“Clinicians should monitor patients prescribed sedative or anxiolytic drugs for possible adverse events arising from concomitant use with alcohol.”

“Chronic exposure to ethanol (EtOH) alters receptor-mediated responses and the numbers of these channels and specific subunits; as well as induces anxiolytic, sedative , and anesthetic activity in the human brain.”

“Clinicians must take precautions when performing surgery and when prescribing or administering analgesics, antibiotics or sedative agents that are likely to have an adverse interaction with alcohol.”

“RESULTS Both al ohol- an d benzodiazepine-dependent patients succeeded in reducing their reported use of sed ative-hypnotic substances du ring the follow-up period.”

“Chemically dependent patients, including those abusing alcohol and taking higher than recommended doses of sedative-hypnotics , require special care during discontinuation.”

“Those who abused alcohol were more likely to abuse barbiturates and/or sedative-hypnotics , and opioids.”