Drug interactions
Diazepam + Ethanol
Severity: Major
Diazepam and Ethanol: major interaction.
Last updated Sources: US FDA label
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Alcohol and diazepam together cause additive CNS and respiratory depression, with marked drowsiness, impaired coordination and judgment, and a risk of coma or death in overdose or at high alcohol intake. Driving and operating machinery become particularly hazardous.
What this interaction means in plain words
Diazepam and Ethanol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression through enhanced GABA-A activity by both agents, with possible alcohol-related changes in diazepam metabolism.
What to do
Advise patients to avoid alcohol while taking diazepam. In patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal treated with diazepam, give it under supervised dosing with monitoring of respiration and consciousness.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Diazepam and Ethanol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
References
Other interactions of Diazepam
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Diazepam with Ethanol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Diazepam and Ethanol can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Alcohol and diazepam together cause additive CNS and respiratory depression, with marked drowsiness, impaired coordination and judgment, and a risk of coma or death in overdose or at high alcohol intake. Driving and operating machinery become particularly hazardous.
How serious is the interaction between Diazepam and Ethanol?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to avoid alcohol while taking diazepam. In patients undergoing alcohol withdrawal treated with diazepam, give it under supervised dosing with monitoring of respiration and consciousness.
What other medicines interact with Diazepam?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Diazepam with, for example, Calcium / magnesium / potassium / sodium oxybates, Alfentanil, Alprazolam. The full list is on the Diazepam page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
