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Many people experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep at some point in their lives. While sleeping tablets may be prescribed for short-term insomnia in certain circumstances, combining these medicines with alcohol can create serious health risks.
Alcohol can make a person feel sleepy initially, but it can also disrupt normal sleep patterns. When it is combined with sleeping tablets, its effects may become more dangerous, increasing the risk of excessive sedation, confusion, accidents and potentially life-threatening breathing difficulties.
This is particularly important for people taking prescription sleeping medicines such as zopiclone, zolpidem or certain benzodiazepines. Some non-prescription products used to help with sleep can also cause drowsiness and interact with alcohol.
This guide explains why sleeping tablets and alcohol should not be combined, which side effects to recognise, what to do if both have been taken and how to support better sleep safely.
What Are Sleeping Tablets?
Sleeping tablets are medicines that may be used to help manage insomnia or other sleep difficulties. Depending on the medicine and the person’s circumstances, a healthcare professional may recommend a short course of treatment.
Common examples include:
Zopiclone is a prescription sleeping tablet used for short-term treatment of insomnia. It affects activity in the brain to help promote sleep.
Possible side effects include a bitter or metallic taste, dry mouth, daytime sleepiness, dizziness and reduced alertness.
Alcohol should be avoided while taking zopiclone because it can increase the medicine’s sedative effects and may cause serious breathing problems or make it difficult to wake up.
Zolpidem is another prescription medicine used for short-term treatment of severe insomnia in appropriate circumstances.
It can cause drowsiness, dizziness and reduced alertness. Some people may also experience unusual behaviours while not fully awake, such as sleepwalking.
Alcohol can intensify zolpidem’s effects and increase the risk of deep sedation, impaired breathing and difficulty waking.
Benzodiazepines Used for Sleep
Certain benzodiazepines, including temazepam, may be prescribed for short-term sleep difficulties. Other benzodiazepines are used for different medical reasons, including anxiety.
These medicines can cause drowsiness and reduce alertness. Combining them with alcohol can increase sedation and other serious risks.
The precise precautions depend on the medicine prescribed. Always follow its patient information leaflet and your prescriber’s advice.
Why Is Mixing Sleeping Tablets and Alcohol Dangerous?
Alcohol and many sleeping tablets both depress activity in the central nervous system. When taken together, their effects can reinforce one another rather than simply cancel out or produce ordinary sleepiness.
The result can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
1. Excessive Drowsiness and Deep Sedation
Both alcohol and sleeping tablets can make a person feel sleepy. Together, they may cause much stronger sedation than expected.
Someone may become confused, struggle to remain awake or become difficult to wake. This can increase the risk of falls, injuries and other accidents.
Do not assume that a person who appears to be sleeping deeply is necessarily safe.
2. Slowed or Difficult Breathing
One of the most serious concerns is respiratory depression, in which breathing becomes abnormally slow or shallow.
The risk may be greater when alcohol is combined with medicines such as zopiclone, zolpidem or benzodiazepines. The danger can be increased further by opioid painkillers or other sedating substances.
Warning signs include:
- Slow, shallow or irregular breathing
- Difficulty waking the person
- Extreme drowsiness or loss of consciousness
- Blue or grey lips or fingertips
- Collapse
3. Poor Coordination and Accidents
Alcohol and sleeping tablets can affect balance, judgement and coordination. A person may be more likely to fall, injure themselves or make unsafe decisions.
These effects can continue after the person wakes up, depending on the medicine, amount of alcohol consumed and individual response.
Do not drive, cycle or operate machinery if you feel sleepy, dizzy or impaired.
4. Memory Problems and Confusion
Some sleeping tablets can affect memory and awareness, particularly when combined with alcohol.
A person may become confused or have difficulty remembering events. Certain medicines have also been associated with unusual behaviours while not fully awake, including eating, walking or performing other activities without later remembering them.
If unusual behaviour occurs after taking a sleeping tablet, seek medical advice before taking further doses.
5. Poorer Sleep Quality
Although alcohol may initially make someone feel sleepy, it does not necessarily improve sleep quality.
Alcohol can disrupt the normal sleep cycle, increase waking during the night and contribute to less restorative sleep. As a result, someone may wake feeling tired even after spending several hours in bed.
Using alcohol alongside sleeping tablets does not provide a safe or reliable way to improve sleep.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Zopiclone or Zolpidem?
No. NHS guidance advises people not to drink alcohol while taking zopiclone or zolpidem.
Alcohol can increase the sedative effects of these medicines and may lead to very deep sleep, breathing difficulties or difficulty waking.
The safest approach is to avoid alcohol throughout treatment and follow the instructions supplied with your prescription.
If you have questions about how long alcohol may affect you or when it is safe to resume a prescribed medicine after drinking, contact your pharmacist or prescriber. There is no single waiting period that guarantees safety for every medicine and individual.
What About Over-the-Counter Sleeping Aids?
Some pharmacy products used to help with sleep contain sedating antihistamines. These can also cause drowsiness and may interact with alcohol.
Herbal products and supplements marketed for sleep should not automatically be considered safe to combine with alcohol or prescription medicines.
Before using any sleep aid, check its ingredients and patient information leaflet. Ask a pharmacist if you are unsure whether it could interact with another medicine.
Do not combine different sleeping products or add a sedating medicine to a prescription sleeping tablet unless a healthcare professional has confirmed that the combination is appropriate.
What Should You Do If You Have Already Taken Sleeping Tablets and Alcohol?
If you have already combined alcohol with a sleeping tablet, take the situation seriously because the effects can vary.
- Do not drink more alcohol.
- Do not take another sleeping tablet or add another sedating medicine. If you are unsure about your next prescribed dose, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
- Do not drive or operate machinery.
- Seek prompt medical advice. Contact NHS 111 if you are in England and need urgent advice but there are no emergency symptoms. Elsewhere in the UK, use the appropriate local urgent medical service.
If someone is unconscious but breathing normally, follow the emergency call handler’s instructions and place them in the recovery position if appropriate. Do not make them vomit or give them food, drink or further medicines.
Do not leave a severely drowsy or unconscious person alone.
Who May Be at Greater Risk?
The effects of combining sleeping tablets and alcohol can be particularly concerning for some people.
Risk may be increased in people who:
- Are older or more vulnerable to falls
- Have sleep apnoea or other breathing problems
- Have liver problems that may affect how substances are processed
- Take opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines or other sedating medicines
- Have a history of alcohol or medicine dependence
- Have taken more medicine than prescribed
These factors are important to discuss with a healthcare professional before starting treatment.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, herbal remedies and supplements you use.
How to Use Prescription Sleeping Tablets More Safely
If a healthcare professional prescribes a sleeping tablet, the following precautions can help reduce avoidable risks.
Follow the Prescribed Instructions
Take the medicine only as directed. Do not increase the amount, take an additional dose during the night or use someone else’s prescription.
Avoid Alcohol
Do not drink alcohol while taking sleeping tablets such as zopiclone or zolpidem. Follow the specific warnings supplied with your medicine.
Check for Medicine Interactions
Some medicines for pain, anxiety, allergies or other health conditions can cause drowsiness. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining treatments.
Allow Enough Time for Sleep
Some sleeping tablets can impair alertness the following morning. Follow the instructions for your specific medicine and do not drive if you remain sleepy, dizzy or less alert.
Discuss Ongoing Sleep Problems
Sleeping tablets are generally intended for short-term use in appropriate circumstances. If insomnia persists, speak with your doctor rather than increasing the amount or continuing treatment without review.
Do not abruptly stop a medicine that you have been taking regularly, particularly certain benzodiazepines, without medical advice. A gradual reduction may be needed to reduce withdrawal risks.
Safer Ways to Improve Sleep Without Alcohol
Good sleep habits may help improve sleep quality and reduce the need to rely on alcohol or unsupervised sleep aids.
Maintain a Regular Sleep Schedule
Try to go to bed and wake up at consistent times each day. A regular routine can help reinforce your body’s sleep-wake cycle.
Create a Calm Sleeping Environment
Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and comfortable. Reduce unnecessary noise and light, and choose bedding that helps you feel comfortable.
Reduce Caffeine Late in the Day
Coffee, tea, energy drinks and other caffeinated products can interfere with sleep. Consider avoiding them for several hours before bedtime.
Establish a Relaxing Evening Routine
Reading, listening to calming music or taking a warm bath may help you wind down before bed.
Limit Screen Use Before Bedtime
Bright screens and stimulating activities can make it harder to relax. Consider putting electronic devices away before going to sleep.
Seek Help for Persistent Insomnia
If sleep difficulties continue or affect your daily life, speak with a healthcare professional. They can assess possible causes and discuss suitable treatments, including cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sleeping tablets and alcohol cause an overdose?
Yes. Combining alcohol with certain sleeping tablets can cause severe sedation and potentially life-threatening breathing difficulties. The risk depends on the medicine, amount taken and other individual factors.
Can I drink alcohol the day after taking a sleeping tablet?
It depends on the medicine and your individual circumstances. Some sleeping tablets can affect alertness the following day, and there is no universal waiting period that guarantees safety. Follow the medicine’s instructions and ask your pharmacist or prescriber if unsure.
Is one alcoholic drink safe with a sleeping tablet?
Do not assume that one drink is safe. Alcohol can increase the sedative effects of sleeping medicines, and the level of risk varies. NHS advice for zopiclone and zolpidem is to avoid alcohol while taking them.
What are the warning signs of a dangerous interaction?
Extreme drowsiness, difficulty waking, slow or shallow breathing, collapse and loss of consciousness are serious warning signs. Call 999 if these occur.
Can alcohol make insomnia worse?
Yes. Alcohol may make you feel sleepy initially, but it can disrupt sleep and cause you to wake more often during the night. Reducing alcohol intake may help support better-quality sleep.
Should I stop taking my sleeping tablets if I have been drinking?
Do not make abrupt changes to regular prescribed treatment without medical advice. If you have already consumed alcohol and are unsure what to do about your medicine, contact a pharmacist, prescriber or appropriate urgent medical service for guidance.
Conclusion
Sleeping tablets and alcohol can interact in dangerous ways. Their combined sedative effects may cause excessive drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination and potentially life-threatening breathing problems.
Medicines such as zopiclone, zolpidem and certain benzodiazepines require particular care. The safest approach is to avoid alcohol while taking these medicines, follow the prescription instructions and check with a healthcare professional before combining treatments.
If you have ongoing sleep problems, seek medical advice rather than using alcohol to help you sleep or changing your medication independently. Better sleep habits and appropriate treatment can help address insomnia more safely.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always follow your prescription and the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.
