Prescription drugs called benzodiazepines, or benzos for short, are used for sedation and for treating certain nervous system conditions. Those disorders include seizures, insomnia, muscle spasms, and anxiety.

Benzos are sold under a variety of popular brand names, among them Ativan, Xanax, and Valium. In most cases, doctors prescribe such drugs for a short period of time or for intermittent usage.

Unfortunately, benzodiazepines are commonly abused. In particular, people often take them with alcohol. It’s a practice that’s extremely dangerous as well as addictive.

If you think you might be addicted to benzos, alcohol, or both, it’s vital to seek professional help for detox and recovery. Doing so will give you the best possible chance of overcoming the addiction.

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are central nervous system depressants. These substances slow down brain activity by affecting the way the brain sends messages to the body. Specifically, they enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, which reduces nerve cell excitability. This action diminishes a person’s sense of arousal and stimulation, producing a calming effect. Many benzos, such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), temazepam (Restoril), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), work quickly, with patients often feeling the sedative effects almost immediately.

While prescribed for various conditions, including anxiety and insomnia, benzodiazepines can be easily misused. They are sometimes sold illegally and are often referred to as “downers.” Individuals who obtain these drugs without a prescription may misuse them by snorting or swallowing them to achieve a high.

A significant number of people who misuse benzos do so in combination with other substances, such as cocaine or heroin, seeking to intensify euphoric sensations. Regardless of whether benzos are taken alone or with other substances, there is a risk of overdose.

A benzodiazepine overdose can lead to several dangerous effects, including confusion, fatigue, impaired coordination and reflexes, and respiratory depression (slow and shallow breathing, potentially leading to oxygen deprivation). Overdoses can also result in comas and even death. Drowsiness is also a common side effect, even at therapeutic doses.

The Dangers of Mixing Benzos and Alcohol

Like benzos, alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system. (That’s why drinking alcohol can make people feel relaxed and sleepy.) And taking two depressants at the same time or in close proximity significantly increases the risk of overdose and other health problems.

Indeed, mixing alcohol with benzos compounds all of the effects and risks of drinking alcohol. For example, this combination can severely impair a person’s hand-eye coordination and motor functions, far more than alcohol alone. Consequently, a person is at an increased risk of accidents and serious injuries. The risks of memory problems, amnesia, and vomit aspiration also increase.

Mixing alcohol and benzos also lowers inhibitions, potentially leading to poor decision-making and actions that hurt others or are personally humiliating. The long-term consequences of such actions can include damaged family relationships, broken friendships, and even legal liabilities. This combination also increases the risk of substance use disorder, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.

When people are home alone and combine benzos and alcohol, they face an even greater danger. They might suffer from respiratory failure, which, without medical help, can quickly worsen into a coma and ultimately lead to death.

Given these dangers, if you have a benzodiazepine prescription, you should avoid alcohol use altogether. Even short-term mixing of these substances can have serious consequences for your well-being. It is crucial to understand the risks associated with this dangerous combination.

Recognizing the Signs of Addiction and Withdrawal

Tragically, alcohol and benzos are both highly addictive substances. And, when people develop a tolerance for them, they need increasingly larger doses to get the highs they crave.

Indeed, one of the main reasons people start taking benzos with alcohol is that alcohol alone no longer gives them the pleasurable sensations they once enjoyed.

Certain symptoms are common whenever people are addicted to benzos, alcohol, or both. They include the following:

• Social isolation
• Blackouts
• Vertigo
• Double vision
• Frequent headaches
• Changes in sleep pattern
• Changes in diet
• Slower reflexes and reaction times
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hostility or aggression
• Mood swings
• Problems with memory, concentration, or thinking clearly
• Defensiveness and denial, especially when it comes to substance use conversations

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms — or any combination of them — it’s vital to contact an addiction treatment center immediately.

Treatment Options for Benzodiazepine and Alcohol Addiction

Professional addiction treatments — including treatments for alcohol and benzodiazepine addiction — generally break down into these categories:

1. Medical Detox

Medical detoxification is the process by which medical professionals remove all traces of a substance from a patient’s body. They then monitor that person carefully for a period of days or weeks — or sometimes months.

Of course, when a person has an addiction, the withdrawal side effects can be severe. They often include:

• A faster heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Congestion
• Seizures
• Paranoia or hallucinations
• Muscle aches and tremors

Fortunately, treatment experts can provide medications and other therapies to relieve benzos and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. That way, it’s much easier for a patient to adjust to life without those substances.

2. Inpatient Treatment

When patients are struggling with a severe addiction, inpatient treatment is often the most effective course of action. With inpatient care, people stay in their treatment facility for a few weeks, several weeks, or perhaps a few months.

During that time, patients are away from all of the anxieties and triggers of daily life. They can focus solely on getting better through counseling, managed medications, and other treatments.

Patients can also have fun via recreational activities, and they can enjoy a balanced diet and regular exercise sessions.

3. Outpatient Treatment

For a less acute addiction, an outpatient treatment program might be the right approach. This option involves continuing to live at home and continuing to attend school or go to work each day.

Meanwhile, patients routinely visit their treatment facility for checkups, medication, counseling, and other forms of care.

With outpatient treatment, people can take all the lifestyle and coping tactics they learn in their therapy sessions and put them into practice immediately. They can use them at home, at school, at work, and in social situations.

4. Mental Health Support

Mental health support identifies and addresses the root causes of people’s addiction. It also gives them potent strategies for avoiding relapses and for enjoying a substance-free lifestyle. And it helps them to manage any co-occurring disorders.

Such support begins with a thorough mental health examination. It can then proceed to individual counseling, behavioral therapy, group therapy, family therapy, support group meetings (both formal and informal), or some combination thereof.

Typically, mental health support for addiction will continue after people end their inpatient or outpatient treatment. Patients might schedule in-person counseling sessions, telehealth sessions, or both.

Why Choose Allure Detox for Treatment?

If you live in or near West Palm Beach, Allure Detox is an outstanding and trusted option for detox treatment.

Our caring and dedicated team members are experts in treating dual substance addictions. And we offer personalized treatment programs, each of them tailored to individual needs.

Plus, for our patients’ comfort and safety, our medical staff is available 24/7.

In short, the first step toward addiction recovery is to call a professional for help. For sure, this action is simple yet powerful.

If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine and alcohol addiction, contact Allure Detox today for professional support and compassionate care.

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Published on: 2025-01-28
Updated on: 2025-03-13

Alcohol can have a major impact on the body, including the health of its urinary tract. Besides damaging the liver over time, alcohol affects the body’s ability to produce white blood cells. This, in turn, reduces the body’s ability to fight off infections, including urinary tract infections.

So, while alcohol doesn’t directly cause a urinary tract infection, it can certainly lower the body’s defense systems and indirectly cause one. This article takes a closer look at what a urinary tract infection is and alcohol’s role in getting one.

What Is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects your urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and ureters. Most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which enter your urinary system through the urethra and start to multiply. These bacterial infections can affect any part of the urinary system, but most commonly cause cystitis, which affects the lower urinary tract—specifically the bladder and urethra.

The symptoms of a UTI typically include a burning sensation during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys, which poses a more serious health risk. A typical course of antibiotics is prescribed to treat UTIs, helping to eliminate the bacteria and reduce the risk of UTIs developing in the future.

Although Escherichia coli is the most common cause, other bacterial infections can also increase the risk of UTIs. It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect a UTI to prevent complications.

Common Causes of UTIs

Roughly 90% of UTIs are caused by E.coli from the lower intestines. However, people can also pick up bacteria on their fingers and spread it to their urinary system when they go to the bathroom or during sex.

Women are more likely to have a UTI infection than men due to their anatomy. In women, their anus is close to their urethra opening, which makes it more likely for bacteria to reach the urethra. An infection can occur if feces on toilet paper accidentally enters the urethra or if you wipe yourself from back to front after using the toilet.

Common Symptoms of UTIs

There are different types of UTIs, and your symptoms will depend on what part of your urinary system has been affected.

• Bladder: If the infection is in your bladder, you will experience painful and frequent urination, blood in your urine, and lower belly pain or discomfort.
• Urethra: If the infection is in your urethra, you will experience burning when you urinate and discharge.
• Kidneys: If the infection has spread to your kidneys, you will experience back or side pain, high chills, nausea, and vomiting.

Other symptoms include strong-smelling urine, urine that has a cloudy color, and a desire to always urinate.

How Alcohol Can Indirectly Contribute to UTIs

Although there isn’t a direct relation between alcohol and UTIs, alcohol can indirectly contribute to UTIs in various ways.

Dehydration

Alcohol can indirectly cause UTIs by dehydrating the body. When your body is dehydrated, it’s unable to flush out bacteria effectively, leading to a bacteria buildup in your system. To reduce the risk of catching a urinary tract infection, it’s important to stay hydrated while consuming alcohol. If you don’t drink fluids, such as water, while consuming alcohol, try to remember to do so afterward.

Immune System Suppression

Consuming large amounts of alcohol frequently can impair your immune system. How? Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to produce white blood cells, which the body needs to fight off infections. With fewer white blood cells, the body can’t effectively fight off diseases, let alone urinary tract infections. Heavy drinkers will find that with time, their bodies have a weakened immune system and aren’t able to fend off any infection properly.

Practicing Poor Hygiene

Drinking heavily can impair your judgment, resulting in lapses in personal care, such as not wiping yourself well after using the bathroom or neglecting proper hygiene during sex. Poor hygiene may also include forgetting to wash your hands after the bathroom and wiping yourself back to front instead of front to back after using the toilet.

Behavior Changes

Lastly, behavioral changes from drinking too much alcohol can result in delayed urination. By delaying when you urinate, you’re allowing bacteria to build up in your urinary system. Although holding in your pee from time to time shouldn’t be problematic in a healthy adult, doing this constantly can lead to problems.

Another behavioral change is reducing the amount of fluids your body takes in, especially during the times you’re suffering from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Most people feel rather sick during these times and prefer not to eat or drink anything, including water. As mentioned above, however, a dehydrated body won’t allow your body to flush out the bacteria in its urinary tract system.

Does Alcohol Directly Cause UTIs?

Alcohol doesn’t directly cause UTIs, but it may increase the body’s chances of getting it by contributing to the following risk factors.

• Dehydration: The body can’t effectively flush out bacteria when it doesn’t produce enough urine.
• Poor hygiene: Careless hygiene habits can occur when using the bathroom or during sexual activity.
• Weakened immune system: Consuming large quantities of alcohol weakens the immune system, preventing the body from effectively fighting off infections.

In addition to the above risk factors, alcohol can also worsen your symptoms as your body’s weakened immune system can’t effectively fight infections off. Moreover, alcohol produces concentrated urine, and this concentrated urine can irritate your bladder’s lining. If you have a urinary tract infection in your bladder, this could undoubtedly worsen your pain.

Preventing UTIs While Drinking

There are quite a few ways to prevent UTIs while drinking.

Stay Hydrated

Since alcohol acts as a diuretic, it dehydrates your body, making it crucial to drink plenty of water both while you’re drinking and afterward. Staying hydrated helps flush out toxins and bacteria that can build up in your urinary tract system, reducing the risk of bladder irritation and urinary issues. Increased fluid intake can also help alleviate the burning sensation that sometimes accompanies bladder discomfort due to acidity levels in the body.

In addition to water, it’s a good idea to drink electrolyte-rich beverages, like Gatorade, to replace the potassium and salt that your body loses when consuming alcohol. Maintaining proper hydration is essential for minimizing the negative effects of alcohol on your system.

Practice Good Hygiene

When you’re drunk, it may be difficult to practice good hygiene. However, it’s important to wipe yourself from front to back when using the bathroom (especially for women) and to wash your hands after using the bathroom. You should also wash your hands and clean yourself after sexual activity.

Don’t Hold Your Pee In

If you’re drinking heavily with friends or alone, you may put off going to the bathroom to pee. However, this is a bad idea. The minute you feel the urge to pee, excuse yourself to go to the bathroom. Holding large amounts of urine in your bladder weakens the bladder over time, too.

Stay Away From Irritants

Heavy drinking can irritate your bladder. But if you’re drinking heavily, don’t add additional irritants like spicy foods and caffeine. Try to limit the irritants you put in your body.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Allure Detox

Heavy alcohol consumption does significant harm to your body, especially your liver and brain. The impact of alcohol extends beyond physical damage; it can weaken your immune system, dehydrate your body, and impair your judgment, all of which can indirectly lead to conditions like UTIs. While alcohol doesn’t directly cause UTIs, the relationship between alcohol and your overall health plays a significant role in increasing the risks.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol abuse, it’s important to seek medical advice and explore treatment options immediately. At Allure Detox, we offer medically supervised detox programs for both inpatient and outpatient care, ensuring you can safely detox under the guidance of experienced professionals. Our goal is to ensure your safety as you begin your addiction recovery journey.

Alcohol dependence is one of the hardest dependencies to overcome, as the effects of alcohol on the body and mind are profound. That’s why our team at Allure Detox creates a personalized treatment plan to guide you every step of the way—from detox to therapy.

Whether you’re dealing with moderate alcohol consumption or excessive alcohol consumption, we’re here to help. If alcohol intake is affecting your life, give us a call to discuss our treatment options and start your journey toward recovery today.

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Published on: 2024-10-22
Updated on: 2025-01-01