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When opioid withdrawal leaves you feeling anxious, restless, or unable to sleep, it’s natural to look for something that might help you feel better. For many people, having a beer or glass of wine at the end of a stressful day can be an easy way to unwind. But, does alcohol help with opioid withdrawal?
On the surface, it might seem like alcohol could help you relax or take the edge off. However, using alcohol can create new risks. Not only can alcohol affect your judgment, but it can also lead to dangerous side effects when used with opioids or some medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The good news is that there are safer, evidence-based ways to manage opioid withdrawal.
In this article, we’ll look at why alcohol won’t help you manage opioid withdrawal and what you can do instead.
People who are physically dependent on opioids may experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping or reducing their opioid use. Opioid withdrawal can be intensely uncomfortable.
Although symptoms can vary, withdrawal symptoms may include:
When you’re dealing with several of these symptoms at once, it’s understandable to look for something that might provide relief. People may think of drinking as a way to relax or wind down.
While drinking alcohol may temporarily change your mood or reduce worry, it doesn’t treat opioid withdrawal. In fact, alcohol use can put you at added risk of dangerous side effects during opioid withdrawal.
Using alcohol to cope with withdrawal isn’t the same as treating your symptoms. There are evidence-based ways to manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce opioid cravings.
Opioid withdrawal can cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can result in dehydration if you lose more fluid than your body needs to function. Alcohol can add to fluid loss because it makes you pee more. If you’re already losing fluids due to diarrhea or vomiting, drinking alcohol can make it harder to stay hydrated.
There’s also research that suggests alcohol isn’t a helpful way to manage opioid withdrawal. In one study of people receiving methadone-based detox, drinking was linked to more intense opioid withdrawal symptoms and stronger cravings. People with heavier alcohol use were also less likely to complete detox.
Drinking alcohol can also impact your judgment, memory, and ability to think. During withdrawal, that can make it harder to make safe decisions about opioid use, medications, or other substances. Alcohol misuse has also been linked to an increased risk of opioid overdose and relapse among people in opioid withdrawal treatment.
Alcohol is particularly concerning if you take MOUD, such as methadone and buprenorphine. Although these medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat OUD, they carry certain risks when combined with other substances like alcohol.
Both alcohol and these medications can slow activity in the central nervous system, including breathing. Taking them together can raise your risk of extreme sleepiness, dangerously slow breathing, and overdose.
Alcohol use is also fairly common among people taking MOUD. One review found that about one in three people being treated with opioid agonists, such as methadone, also misused alcohol. Misuse of alcohol was linked to higher risks of overdose, death, and poor OUD treatment outcomes.
If you’re going through opioid withdrawal, you don’t have to rely on alcohol to get through it. Medications and supportive care can ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings while helping you move into ongoing treatment for OUD.
Medication like methadone and buprenorphine can help manage opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. They can also help you stay in treatment. Other medications that can be used include lofexidine and clonidine. Lofexidine is relatively new but is FDA-approved for opioid withdrawal symptoms, while clonidine has been used for decades but is used off label.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recommends these medications rather than abruptly stopping opioids. Abruptly stopping opioids can lead to intense cravings. It can also increase your risk of relapse and overdose.
The right treatment approach will depend on your symptoms and overall health, as well as other medications you take. Talk with a healthcare professional about the treatment options that are right for you.
Medical detox — also called medically supervised withdrawal — can help make opioid withdrawal more manageable. A healthcare professional can assess your symptoms and monitor how you’re responding to treatment. This can be especially helpful when withdrawal causes vomiting, diarrhea, or intense cravings.
Depending on your symptoms, your care team may also recommend other treatments for issues like anxiety, pain, insomnia, and upset stomach. These can be used alongside MOUD to relieve a wide range of withdrawal symptoms.
It’s important to note that withdrawal management is usually only the start of treatment. Withdrawal management alone doesn’t treat OUD. When used without MOUD, it comes with a high risk of return to opioid use and overdose.
To combat these risks, ongoing treatment for OUD is recommended. In many cases, continuing medications, such as methadone, can help control cravings and support ongoing treatment.
If you’re using alcohol to get through opioid withdrawal, manage cravings, or cope with stress during recovery, talk with a healthcare professional. You don’t have to wait until drinking feels out of control.
Your care team can help you find safer ways to manage withdrawal and cravings. They can also help you address any issues related to alcohol use.
Certain signs can suggest that alcohol is becoming a problem, such as:
If you take methadone or buprenorphine, it’s important to tell your care team about your alcohol use. Drinking alcohol with these medications can increase your risk of serious side effects, including overdose.
Some people have both OUD and alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you do, it’s important that your treatment plan addresses both conditions.
Having AUD doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t receive MOUD. However, one study found that people with both OUD and AUD were less likely to receive MOUD.
Your care team can help identify which treatments are safest and most appropriate for you. If you take methadone or buprenorphine, don’t stop taking them on your own because you’re drinking alcohol.
If you drink heavily or regularly, talk with a healthcare professional before trying to stop suddenly. Alcohol withdrawal can cause serious complications, including seizures and delirium.
Alcohol and opioid withdrawal can also happen at the same time. If this occurs, treatment should aim to address both conditions. Due to the effect withdrawal medications may have on breathing and other body functions, close monitoring may be needed.
Treatment for alcohol withdrawal and OUD may include medications for both. MOUD, such as methadone, are recommended to stabilize OUD while treating alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are usually managed with benzodiazepines. Taking these medications together increases the risk of serious side effects, so it’s important to do so only under medical supervision.
A good place to start is to go to the doctor or treatment program helping you with OUD. A primary care provider or addiction specialist can also help assess your alcohol use, review your treatment options, and connect you with additional care if needed.
If you don’t have a healthcare provider, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) national helpline can connect you with treatment and support. Call 800-662-4357 for free and private information and treatment referrals. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Remember, you don’t have to manage opioid withdrawal and alcohol use on your own. Getting help can give you safer options to make sure both conditions are properly treated.
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