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Is Alcohol Advisable While On Xanax?
Question: I've been on Xanax for most of the past 2 years. various dosage, anywhere from .2mg to 1mg a day. the past few weeks have been more .75mg-1mg a day. does what I took in the past or yesterday stay in my system and for how long. I'm looking in the sense of safely being able to drink this weekend. thank you.
Brief Answer:
maximum 4 days to clear it from circulatory system
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Half life of alprazolam is maximum 16 hours. Considering 5 half lives which are required for drug to clear of the circulatory system, it will stay maximally for 4 days in your circulatory system which may interact with alcohol if you drink.
You should not confuse with excretion of it. As it is protein bound drug and if you go for urinary testing it is possible that it may be positive for alprazolam for 4-5 weeks as you have taken since 2 years. It is in your system but it is not active component in blood so it cannot interact with alcohol after 4 days.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
maximum 4 days to clear it from circulatory system
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Half life of alprazolam is maximum 16 hours. Considering 5 half lives which are required for drug to clear of the circulatory system, it will stay maximally for 4 days in your circulatory system which may interact with alcohol if you drink.
You should not confuse with excretion of it. As it is protein bound drug and if you go for urinary testing it is possible that it may be positive for alprazolam for 4-5 weeks as you have taken since 2 years. It is in your system but it is not active component in blood so it cannot interact with alcohol after 4 days.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
so what I've taken the last 4 days will interact with alcohol??
Brief Answer:
yes it can interact
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up.
Yes in 4 days interaction can possible. But on lighter note there will be no significant interactions which can produce symptoms like excessive sedation after 2 days. It also depends on which type of alcohol you are going to consume. You can safely drink after 48 hours of last dose of xanax.
Take care.
yes it can interact
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up.
Yes in 4 days interaction can possible. But on lighter note there will be no significant interactions which can produce symptoms like excessive sedation after 2 days. It also depends on which type of alcohol you are going to consume. You can safely drink after 48 hours of last dose of xanax.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I don't think I can just stop cold turkey after so long, can i?? and if I've taken 1mg the last 3 days and .5 today, it us unsafe to drink liquor?? not in large amounts. just a few drinks.
Brief Answer:
just take care of sedation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Yes you are right that you cannot stop cold turkey. Alcohol will have same effect like that of xanax on your body and brain. You should try your best to keep gap of at least 24 hours between two. Just take care that you may get some sedation. So after drinking do not drive and do not work with heavy machines.).5 mg is very is low dose and it will not cause any significant problem but you are taking since a year that is why care to be taken.
Take care and enjoy your weekend.
just take care of sedation
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Yes you are right that you cannot stop cold turkey. Alcohol will have same effect like that of xanax on your body and brain. You should try your best to keep gap of at least 24 hours between two. Just take care that you may get some sedation. So after drinking do not drive and do not work with heavy machines.).5 mg is very is low dose and it will not cause any significant problem but you are taking since a year that is why care to be taken.
Take care and enjoy your weekend.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
sorry for all the questions but just wondering what your last statement meant? as far as being careful since I've been taking it a year? does that cause more of a concern?
Brief Answer:
long term intact is there so relative dose is high in body
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking your doubt.
As such 0.5 mg is low dose and if someone has took it n single day and drink alcohol, there will be no issue. But you are taking since 1 year so relative dose is high in your body though you have taken only 0.5 mg. So I am asking you to keep distance of 24 huts between xanax dose and alcohol. And keep mind of possible sedation to prevent any problem.
If still any query there, I will be happy to answer if not, you can close the discussion and if feasible give your feedback and rating so I can improve my service.
In future if you wish you can contact me directly on this site with following link:
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki
by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions.
Wish you good health.
long term intact is there so relative dose is high in body
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking your doubt.
As such 0.5 mg is low dose and if someone has took it n single day and drink alcohol, there will be no issue. But you are taking since 1 year so relative dose is high in your body though you have taken only 0.5 mg. So I am asking you to keep distance of 24 huts between xanax dose and alcohol. And keep mind of possible sedation to prevent any problem.
If still any query there, I will be happy to answer if not, you can close the discussion and if feasible give your feedback and rating so I can improve my service.
In future if you wish you can contact me directly on this site with following link:
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki
by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions.
Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
so there is a higher dose in my body since I've been taking it longer? ? so the XXXXXXX 4 days in my circulatory system is not true?? confused sorry?? but I do understand your 24 hr statement.
Brief Answer:
4 days is true
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks again for asking your doubts. I am sorry that you are confused.
Let me explain again.
Any drug in the body after one dose is metabolized in body. Each drug has a duration called half life (means time after which half dose of the body is metabolized in body). Half life of xanax ranges from 8-16 hors depending upon many factors. Considering maximum half life, xanax is metabolized completely after 80 hours (approximately 3 and a half day). Means after this duration there will be negligible amount of the drug in blood. But yes metabolites of the drug can be there which may excreted gradually from the system.
When person takes any drug daily there will be addition of the drug to the previous un-metabolized drug and there will be constant level of the drug in the body. In your case though you have taken 0.5 mg today, there will be some component of the drug which you have taken in last 3-4 days. Cumulatively there will be more drugs in your circulation then you have just taken. So we cannot go ahead by assuming that in your body drug amount today is only relevant to 0.5 mg. As you are taking daily there will be constant drug in your body. Whenever you stop it completely, there will be around 4 days after which your system has negligible amount of drug in your system (irrespective of dose). So if you want to take alcohol without any interaction with xanax it is beer to take after 4 days. However with 24 hours duration there will be 50% reduction in drug level and considering your average daily dose of 0.75-1 mg there will be no significant drug in the system which can cause significant interactions with alcohol and any major trouble.
Hope I am able to clear you now.
4 days is true
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks again for asking your doubts. I am sorry that you are confused.
Let me explain again.
Any drug in the body after one dose is metabolized in body. Each drug has a duration called half life (means time after which half dose of the body is metabolized in body). Half life of xanax ranges from 8-16 hors depending upon many factors. Considering maximum half life, xanax is metabolized completely after 80 hours (approximately 3 and a half day). Means after this duration there will be negligible amount of the drug in blood. But yes metabolites of the drug can be there which may excreted gradually from the system.
When person takes any drug daily there will be addition of the drug to the previous un-metabolized drug and there will be constant level of the drug in the body. In your case though you have taken 0.5 mg today, there will be some component of the drug which you have taken in last 3-4 days. Cumulatively there will be more drugs in your circulation then you have just taken. So we cannot go ahead by assuming that in your body drug amount today is only relevant to 0.5 mg. As you are taking daily there will be constant drug in your body. Whenever you stop it completely, there will be around 4 days after which your system has negligible amount of drug in your system (irrespective of dose). So if you want to take alcohol without any interaction with xanax it is beer to take after 4 days. However with 24 hours duration there will be 50% reduction in drug level and considering your average daily dose of 0.75-1 mg there will be no significant drug in the system which can cause significant interactions with alcohol and any major trouble.
Hope I am able to clear you now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you so much
Brief Answer:
welcome
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome and have a nice time.
Take care.
welcome
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome and have a nice time.
Take care.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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