Re: Diazepam and alcohol... Am I paranoid?
Originally Posted by
nick1994
If I had a maximum two units of alcohol (half a pint) about 13-14 hours before my intended use of Valium, will I be ok?
No problem. The alcohol will have been metabolised out of your system within a couple of hours.
The danger with combining alcohol with benzodiazepines (BZDs) is that both suppress brainstem activity, including the breathing reflex, so at very high doses of both alcohol and BZD there is a risk of asphyxiation during sleep. Another risk at high doses is inhaling vomit. However, you would need to have drunk much more than half a pint of beer, much more recently and be on a much higher diazepam (Valium) dose than I suspect you've been prescribed for your flight.
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The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.