Xanax, Liquor, Liver?

Question

OK so I been reading about how Xanax affects the liver. Does it affect the liver the same way that alcohol does? If thats the case I might as well just continue to drink to cope with my horrible anxiety issues. I don't want to drink but if it affects the same way then might as well right?

Answer 1

No, Alprazolam (Xanax) is hydroxylated in the liver to α-hydroxyalprazolam, wherein the destructive effects begin. (which should be mild if anything)

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver into acetyldehyde, which then is turned into acetic acid. The formation of acetyldehyde is the beginning of the destructive chemical cascade that damages the liver.

Not all benzodiazepines affect the liver like Xanax BTW.

Answer 2

My father is taking the same medication and it reads on the label that the consumption of alcohol can cause major side effects.

Here is a link that explains it all.

It's under the name Alprazolam, but it is the same thing as Xanax

Answer 3

they are both bad for you.  but i find xanax helps my anxiety better than alcohol.  i actually find that the best medicine for anxiety is marijuana and it has the least negative side effects as well.. have you ever tried?

Answer 4

Alprazolam/Xanax is relatively inert in the liver. It forms no dangerous metabolites, and is generally a very benign medication in terms of it's load on the liver. It is however, dependent on liver function to get cleared from the body. So if you have a damaged liver - say from alcoholism, your system can get overloaded with the drug.

The chief problem from mixing Xanax with alcohol is that they compound each other. Where someone would take five or six beers to get mildly drunk, while on even a low dose of Xanax, one beer can result in that level of drunkenness. The way people die from Xanax and alcohol is the same way they die from alcohol. They pass out, vomit and drown in it. Xanax radically lowers alcohol content, so people can pass out from just a drink or two.