If you look at the warnings of many common medications, you’ll often see that it’s not recommended to mix them with alcohol. This warning applies to many common over-the-counter medications as well as prescribed medications, such as anxiety medicine. 

If you’re a college student who has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder, you may have been prescribed anxiety medicine by your family doctor or psychiatrist. Anxiety medicine often refers to medications such as benzodiazepines, though antidepressants can be used for some anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder.

If you’re a college student, you may be tempted to have a few drinks at a campus party, or celebrate your 21st birthday. However, it’s not a good idea to consume alcohol while taking anxiety medicine. Read on to learn why. 

4 reasons why you should avoid mixing alcohol and anxiety medicine

For many college students, drinking is a part of the culture, especially if you live on campus. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 48% of females and 45% of males who were enrolled full-time in college had drunk alcohol in the previous month. More than 27% of each population engaged in binge drinking. That means having five or more drinks in one episode for men, and four or more drinks in one episode for women. 

The truth is that many people drink alcohol to “calm their nerves.” This can sound like a positive thing when your anxiety is making you feel like your mind is racing or you’re hyperfocused on potentially negative future situations. But if you’re taking anxiety medicine, you may be impacting your physical, emotional and behavioral health if you mix your prescription with alcohol. 

Here are four reasons why alcohol and anxiety medicine don’t mix well:

• Reduced effectiveness of the medicine — The goal of taking medication for your anxiety is to reduce the symptoms on a day-to-day basis. However, it’s possible that drinking alcohol can counteract the positive effects of your medicine. This can result in worsening your anxiety symptoms. In fact, alcohol on its own can lead to anxiety.
• Dangerous side effects — Drinking alcohol while taking anxiety medicine can result in putting your body in danger due to how it affects your central nervous system. You may experience severe symptoms that impact your physical health, such as slowed breathing and high blood pressure. In extreme cases, it can lead to coma or death. 
• Physical symptoms — Besides the danger to your physical health, drinking alcohol while on an anxiety medicine can lead to uncomfortable or painful symptoms, such as headaches and nausea. These are existing side effects of your prescription that can be exacerbated by alcohol. Alcohol and medication interactions can vary greatly depending on a range of factors including body weight, metabolic rate and overall health.
• Increased sedative effects — Similar to the previous point, the side effects of drowsiness and sedation are already common for many types of anxiety medicine. When combined with the sedative effects of alcohol, you’re likely to feel extremely drowsy and fatigued. This could lead to dangerous situations, such as lack of awareness and impaired driving (which you shouldn’t do while drinking anyway).

It’s important to note that the effects of mixing alcohol and anxiety medicine may vary depending on the type of medication you’re taking. Be sure to talk to your doctor about the specifics of how your medicine interacts with alcohol. They can let you know about the limitations that you should abide by. If you regularly mix alcohol with medication, there’s a greater chance of long-term risk, such as increased tolerance, dependency and long-term cognitive effects.

Treatment to couple with anxiety medicine (that isn’t alcohol)

As we’ve mentioned earlier, it’s not unusual for people with anxiety to have a drink or two, as it can sometimes provide short-term relief from their symptoms. But once the relaxation wears off, mixing alcohol while taking anxiety medicine can lead to dangerous results. If you’re looking for an additional way to treat your anxiety alongside medication, there are other options worth exploring.

If you’ve been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it’s likely that you have already seen a therapist at one point or another. Even so, by having regular sessions with a psychotherapist, you can learn to manage your anxiety without leaning on alcohol as a coping mechanism. They can help you understand the root issues of your anxiety and talk through situations that are contributing to it. You’ll also learn stress management techniques to reduce your symptoms.

If you need more intensive support beyond regular outpatient therapy and medication, a virtual Intensive Outpatient Program may be what you’re looking for. At Lightfully U, we provide college students with a structured virtual program. It can move you along your mental health journey with individual, group and family sessions.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.