Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, a drug used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax is part of a class of anti-anxiety drugs called benzodiazepines.
Like alcohol, Xanax is a depressant. That means it slows down nervous system activity.
Serious side effects of Xanax include:
- memory problems
- seizures
- loss of coordination
- seizures
- vomiting
- loss of consciousness
- impaired coordination
- alcohol poisoning
Taking Xanax with alcohol will intensify the side effects of both substances.
Researchers don’t know exactly why this happens. It likely has to do with the chemical interactions between Xanax and alcohol in the body.
A 2018 animal study suggests the presence of ethanol, the main ingredient in alcoholic drinks, can increase the maximum concentration of alprazolam in the bloodstream.
In turn, this can cause both an enhanced high or “buzz” as well as enhanced side effects. The liver also needs to work harder, since it breaks down both alcohol and Xanax in the body.