Posted by sunnydays on May 16, 2008, at 18:13:35
In reply to Re: » Glydin, posted by Phillipa on May 16, 2008, at 11:45:53
Phillipa... many people drink and mix benzos. Many live, many have no complications, but some die and some have serious complications. I would think that you would have been taught this being a nurse, no matter how long ago.
These are the only medications I have ever been advised verbally not to drink with. I take Effexor and Lamictal, which both say on the info sheets not to drink with, but it's fine if I have a drink once a month or so (about how often I typically drink) my pdoc said. But the benzos, without me asking, she said you cannot drink and mix these, and in class my professor noted that you would not want to drink with these meds.
Just because you can do something and live to tell about it, even many times, does NOT mean it is medically advisable or biologically safe. Warnings are not made up to make people's lives miserable. They are because of proven risks that can occur. Drugs affect everyone differently, so of course the same thing won't happen to every person every time. But I personally would not want to take my life into my own hands. I am already taking a drug to relax me, why do I need to drink?
The GABA receptor is one receptor in the brain. Multiple things act on it, all producing the same effect. Alcohol, benzos, GABA, chloride ions, and barbiturates all act on the receptor.
A quote from my textbook, "Discovering Biological Psychology" by Laura A. Freberg:
"A number of important drugs exert their influence on the GABA A receptor...This is a complicated receptor with a number of different binding sites. The purpose for these multiple binding sites is not currently understood. Although only one binding site is activated by GABA itself, there are at least five other binding sites on the GABA A receptor. These additional sites may be activated by the benzodiazepines, a class of tranquilizers that includes diazepam (Valium), alcohol, and barbiturates, which are used in anesthesia and in the control of seizures. These drugs do not single-handedly activate the GABA A receptor, but when they occupy binding sites at the same time GABA is present, the net response to GABA is greater. Because GABA has a hyperpolarizing or inhibitory effect on postsynaptic neurons, GABA agonists enhance inhibition. The combined action of alcohol, benzodiazepines, or barbiturates at the same GABA A receptor can produce a life-threatening level of neural inhibition."
Personally, not a risk I'm willing to take with my life.
sunnydays
poster:sunnydays
thread:829259
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080510/msgs/829524.html