Mixing Valium & Alcohol: Side Effects & Long-Term Risks

Valium (diazepam) is a prescription sedative and anxiolytic used for the management and treatment of anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, and in some cases, acute alcohol withdrawal.¹ While Valium is generally safe when taken as prescribed by a doctor, the label for the medication discourages drinking alcohol while taking Valium, as it can pose several health risks.¹ Both Valium and alcohol are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and work synergistically, resulting in intensifying the effects of both substances, and the combined effects can include extreme drowsiness, respiratory depression, coma, and even death.^{1, 2}

What Is Valium?

Valium is a prescription medication intended for short-term use that is part of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which help calm or sedate a person through interaction with the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the brain, increasing inhibitory tone and decreasing excitation in the central nervous system.³ Other common benzodiazepines include alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin), among others.³

What are the Side Effects of Valium?

The most common side effects of Valium include:¹

• Drowsiness.
• Fatigue.
• Impaired balance or coordination.
• Muscle weakness.

What Happens When You Mix Valium and Alcohol?

Valium and alcohol are both central nervous system (CNS) depressants.^{1, 4} Both facilitate the activation of GABA, the primary inhibitory molecule in the CNS, which alleviates overactivity in the brain and leads to calming and sedative effects, such as drowsiness, feelings of relaxation, slowed breathing, impaired coordination, and more.^{3, 5}

Alcohol has several other effects on the CNS and can stimulate dopamine transmission in the brain’s reward system pathway, which can impact a person’s behavior, mood, coordination, and thinking; it likely also plays a role in reinforcing alcohol use.^{4, 6} When a person uses 2 or more CNS depressants at the same time, such as Valium and alcohol, each substance compounds or synergizes with the other, which results in profound enhanced sedative effects.¹

This makes a person more likely to experience significant drowsiness and sedation and decreased motor skills, as well as experience confusion, disorientation, and incoherence.⁷

Dangerous Effects of Mixing Valium and Alcohol

Mixing Valium and alcohol is never safe due to the risk of overdose.⁸ Furthermore, studies looking at visits to emergency departments involving benzodiazepines like Valium found that combining benzodiazepines with alcohol significantly increases the risk of serious ED visit outcomes for all groups. Older patients experience an even greater risk.⁹

The enhanced sedative effects of medications like Valium and alcohol can cause profound sedation and can significantly impair a person’s ability to drive or operate other types of machinery, putting them at an increased risk of injuring themselves or others.⁸ Combining depressants like Valium and alcohol can lead to several other dangerous and potentially fatal health outcomes as well, including:^{1, 7, 10, 11}

• Oversedation
• Slowed or difficulty breathing (e.g., respiratory depression)
• Memory issues
• Impaired coordination and motor control
• Increased risk of falls or injury, particularly in the elderly
• Increased risk of overdose, which may lead to brain damage, coma, or death

Effects of Alcohol on Anxiety 

People who are prescribed Valium are generally advised to avoid drinking alcohol as the combination not only can result in oversedation but can decrease the benefits of their prescription and potentially make their condition (e.g., anxiety) worse.⁸ Regardless of whether a person is prescribed Valium, people who have a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression, should understand that having a mental health condition can increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD), a chronic but treatable medical condition characterized by compulsive alcohol- or drug-seeking behavior.^{12, 13} Benzodiazepines like Valium are controlled substances with the potential for misuse and addiction, while chronic alcohol use can also lead to addiction.^{1, 12}

Getting Help for Alcohol and Valium Misuse

If you think that you or your loved one has a problem with Valium, alcohol, or another substance, you should know that treatment for substance use disorders is available.¹⁴ Valium misuse treatment and alcohol misuse treatment can help you regain control of your life.

If you are struggling with Valium and alcohol misuse or addiction, having a conversation with your doctor can be a great way to start the search for a treatment center. You can also use our treatment locator tool to find addiction rehab near you.

Or you can look at the facilities listed below to see if they provide the program you are looking for:

• California: Laguna Treatment Center
• Florida: Recovery First Treatment Center
• Florida: River Oaks Treatment Center
• Nevada: Desert Hope Treatment Center
• Mississippi: Oxford Treatment Center
• Texas: Greenhouse Treatment Center

American Addiction Centers can help you recover from substance misuse or addiction. Call to learn about your treatment options. It’s confidential and free, and there is no obligation to enter treatment.

Does Insurance Cover Alcohol and Valium Addiction Rehab?

For those who have insurance, using health insurance to pay for rehab should cover at least some of the cost of addiction treatment. Depending on your individual insurance plan, treatment at a specific facility may or may not be covered. It’s important that you know what is covered prior to attending a rehab. Use the free online insurance coverage checker tool below to find out if your health insurance provides coverage for addiction rehab and other rehabilitation treatment plans for substance abuse recovery.

Coverage may vary depending on your needs and insurance plan. To find out if your policy covers rehab, click here, or fill out the form below. Your information is kept 100% confidential. You can also click here to find a rehab near me.

American Addiction Centers maintains a strong partnership with a large group of insurance companies at our addiction treatment facilities. Start the journey to recovery and find out instantly using the form below if your health insurance provider may be able to cover all or part of the cost of rehab and associated therapies.

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading provider of addiction treatment with facilities across the U.S. If you’re ready to reach out, we’re ready to help.