Alcohol and stimulants (ADHD meds, amphetamines, Meth, Ecstasy, Molly)

Do alcohol and stimulants cancel out each other?

Some people think that stimulants give you energy. Alcohol makes you sleepy. So they cancel out each other. That is not correct. Stimulants might cancel out the sleepy effects of alcohol. You might stay awake. But stimulants do not cancel out other effects of alcohol.

Are you planning to take stimulant stuff because you want to drink a lot?

It is not that simple

Alcohol and stimulants do not cancel each other out. When you drink, alcohol gets into every part of your body. Your brain, your muscles, your liver, your heart, your kidneys. It is similar to water soaking a cloth. It takes for time for alcohol to clear out of your body. Just as it takes time for water to dry out of cloth.

Alcohol messes up every part of your body:

1. Brain: Too much alcohol makes you sleepy, less focused.

2. Muscles: Too much alcohol relaxes your muscles. Too much alcohol can cause rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle injury).

3. Tummy: Too much alcohol hurts your tummy (acidity, heartburn).

4. Blood vessels: Too much alcohol lowers your blood pressure (feeling lightheaded, passing out).

5. Heart: Too much alcohol can make your heartbeat irregular.

6. Lungs: Too much alcohol can give you breathing problems.

7. Immunity: Too much alcohol can suppress your immunity. You have a risk of flu, diarrhea

8. Too much alcohol can give you seizures

9. Bad hangover next day (because your body takes time to get rid of alcohol and its metabolites)

Stimulants might cancel out the first effect of alcohol. You might stay awake. But stimulants do not cancel out the other effects of alcohol.

You might feel you are okay because you feel awake. You might think you can keep drinking. But you do not realize you have drunk too much. Because your mind cannot tell you how drunk you are. You can overdose on alcohol.

If you keep drinking, you are heading towards serious risks (seizures, passing out, heartburn, tummy cramps, vomiting, breathing problems, irregular heartbeat).

Page last updated: 15-October-2019