As a general rule, mixing psychoactive substances is going to increase your risk of bodily harm, and should be avoided. You should always check to make sure any substances you are deciding to take together will not result in bodily harm. This includes substances which don't get you high - particularly medications prescribed to you.
Mixing alcohol with anything (Stimulants, Depressants, Opiates, and especially Benzodiazepines) except marijuana or psychedelics is very likely to cause a dangerous interaction - many people have reported unpleasant experiences mixing psychedelics and alcohol, despite lack of physical risk.
Mixing stimulants with depressants, including opiates, increases the risks that both substances carry. This risk is highest when a large amount of both substances has been taken, and lowest when only a small amount of one or both has been taken. The mixing of stimulants and depressants has also been known to cause what are often called "delusions of sobriety" in which the effects of the dissimilar substances seem to "cancel out", leaving the user feeling as though they are significantly less impaired than they actually are. This can easily lead to someone not noticing the signs of an overdose, or to deciding they are sober enough to drive when they really aren't.
Mixing stimulants with other stimulants largely increases your risk of brain damage - such as serotonin syndrome - and overdose risk.
Mixing depressants with depressants largely increases your risk of overdose.
Unusual Interactions
The following is a list of things that are harmful to ingest together, that aren't commonly mentioned:
- Alcohol & Ibuprofen
- Atorvastatin/Lovastatin/Simvastatin/Amiodarone/Aronedarone/Nifedipine/Verapamil/Felodipine, as well as certain kinds of immunosuppressants & Grapefruit or other citrus juices
- St. John’s Wort & SSRI's (Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, etc.)
- Alcohol and LSD, though physically safe to mix, are known to cause unpleasant cognitive effects
Drug Interactions Chart
