Serious question about drinking while on perscription medication?

Question

I take clonadine and clonazapam and I know NEVER to mix alcohol with those. But i'd like to have some fun, celebrate. Etc. etc. I take both medications at night, usually around 8-10PM.

My question is, how can I take my medication without the alcohol effecting it? Is there a time frame where if I stop drinking 2 hours before taking it then it won't effect it or are you able to take it then wait a few hours to start drinking? Is there some way for this to be done?

Btw, I take .1mg of clonazapam and 1-2mg of clonidine depending.

Answer 1

Drinking with clonazepam is not an option. They work almost identically the same way in the brain, and could result in a coma in combination.  As for the clonidine, if that was your only medication, it would be reasonable to have a cocktail from time to time.

Answer 2

You have a brain right? You know the warnings with these types of drugs. Don't be foolish... Your thinking that booze will not harm you. Well the truth is there, as all the others above have told you. Drugs, and alcohol. Do NOT Mix!

Answer 3

The interaction between alcohol and these medications is usually psychomotor impairment, meaning that they have a combined effect of sedation, potentially to the point of sleep, coma, and death from suppression of breathing.

The safest way to avoid this effect is to avoid drinking, obviously, as you said.  Aside from that, potentially you could limit your risk by separating the drugs from the alcohol by a specific period of time.  

You may be able to get by with missing a dose of clonazepam in favor of the alcohol for one night, but I would speak to your doctor about the clonidine as this can cause some significant rebound hypertension, sometimes with blood pressure higher than it would be if you were not taking it at all.

Like I said, safest bet, don't drink alcohol.  Otherwise, need to talk to your doctor.

Answer 4

If I remember right, the rule is that a healthy, grown, average-sized man (75kg and up) can metabolize 1 ounce of alcohol per hour. 1 ounce of alcohol would be found in 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 regular shot of liquor.

So. If you had one drink, it would take an hour before it was metabolized.

Having said all that, I don't think it's a good idea to mix meds like this and alcohol. Something I would want to know first is how well your liver and kidneys are functioning--if they are anything less than 100%, you are heading for trouble, since it will take longer for  you to metabolize alcohol (inactivate it).

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist. He or she will be able to advise you better, there are several individual factors we dont' know about on Yahoo.

Answer 5

DRUGS STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM FOR MANY HOURS OR DAYS AFTER TAKING THEM...  BUT MOSTLY IN SMALL

AMOUNTS... IF YOU TAKE THEM REGULAR THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THAT TO MAINTAIN A CERTIAN LEVEL OF THE DRUG IN YOUR SYSTEM TO TREAT YOUR PROBLEM....   YOU NEED TO GROW UP... AND YOU NEED TO DECIDE WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT... YOUR CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH... OR STUPID BOOZE... AND DRUNK IMBECILES....   GROW UP DUDE...