Mixing different medications

I’ve got some urgent questions since I probably won't have internet access later:

1) Is it safe to mix diazepam with Johnson & Johnson? If not, what can I take instead: Bayer Aspirin, Tylenol Extra Strength, or something else?

3) I take Valium occasionally when things get rough mentally. If I take 10 or 20mg of Valium, how much alcohol can I drink that day? Do I have to wait a few hours after taking the dose?

4) If I take 10mg of Valium and two Johnson & Johns on the same day, can I still drink?

5) What kind of side effects am I looking at if I mix these, and at what dosage?

6) If I take 30-40mg of Valium one day, is it okay to take 200mg of Tylenol the next? Does what I took yesterday affect what I can take the following day, or does my system clear out after 24 hours?

I'm looking for real answers here, not the watered-down, overly cautious stuff you find in the fine print. Don't give me the diplomatic "consult your doctor" routine from the pamphlet—I can read the instructions myself. I want to know what actually happens. Anyone here have personal experience?

It would be great if a doctor could jump in and give me some straight answers.

Thanks in advance 😉

Look, I'm no doctor, but common sense says you shouldn't be mixing meds with alcohol. Ever. Period.

I have no idea what dose of Valium you're taking—especially if you're just making up your own numbers—but where did you even get it? Go see a real doctor to get a prescription and stop playing games with your health.

I really hope you're kidding me. 40 mg of Valium? ☕

Rachel Ruiz63 said:Look, I'm no doctor, but common sense dictates you don't mix meds with booze. Ever. No exceptions.

I don't know what dose of Valium you're talking about, but if you're just making it up as you go, where did you even get it? Go see an actual doctor to get a prescription and stop playing games with your life.

As far as I'm concerned, yeah, common sense says the same thing. But let's be real—that's not some hard scientific fact or medical data. It's just "common sense." Maybe people say that because it's printed on every label and serves as a general warning to prevent accidental overdoses from mixing pills with cheap liquor that anyone can grab off a shelf?

And what does "with alcohol" actually mean? Chugging a drink while swallowing a pill, or having a cocktail hours later—or even the next day? Does it really matter how much medication or how much booze we're talking about? Is taking 10mg of Valium with a Storyteller snack the same thing as popping a massive dose of Valium and washing it down with a shot of 80-proof whiskey? That was my point.

P.S. Personally, I spent years messing around with my own health because I refused to take anything for my condition just because it was mental. I can't say if I helped myself or not, but it took forever. Honestly, I’d be in a much better spot right now if I'd just accepted therapy and medication back then. So there's that. Just proof that there are definitely valid reasons why I occasionally use Valium now when I need to. But that’s beside the point.

Go ahead, do what you want if nobody's there to stop you... I'm joking. But seriously, how can you just play doctor and decide your own dosages? And why even bother with those cocktails? Mixing Tylenol, Valium, and alcohol is a brilliant strategy, if you're looking for trouble.
My advice? See an actual doctor who can prescribe something sensible based on an actual diagnosis—assuming you even have one. Instead of brewing up another chemical cocktail, try spending a day outdoors or finding something that actually calms you down. You aren't trying to turn yourself into a zombie, are you?

Grace Chase97 said:I’m really hoping you’re joking. 40 mg of Valium? ☕

Too little, right? 😁 🙄

Look, I wasn't being flippant. I asked those questions because I actually wanted to know what happens when you mix those specific doses with different meds or booze. Just looking for info, pure curiosity. Doesn't mean those are my doses, or that I'd ever touch that much. Besides, I don't need it.

Look, regarding what you asked—I highly doubt anyone’s gonna sit there and try to calculate your specific dosage for you. I mean, you surely realize that everyone's different, right? It’s all about how your own body reacts.

Just get a doctor to write you a proper prescription instead of doing this... what on earth are you thinking, popping that much Valium?

gentlebadger22 said:You can say whatever you want if nobody’s stopping you... just kidding. How can you decide on your own dosages? And why are you even mixing these cocktails? Tylenol, Valium, and booze... what a great combo.
My advice? Go see a doctor who will actually prescribe a reasonable dose based on a diagnosis—assuming you even have one. Instead of a chemical cocktail, try spending a day outdoors or doing something that actually relaxes you. You don't want to turn yourself into a zombie, do you?

I'm not making any "cocktails." I'm asking because I'm not in a suicidal phase right now and I don't want to kill myself. And yeah (unfortunately), I have a diagnosis.

Like I said, I'm looking for general info, not necessarily stuff tied to my specific case. But it would be good to know the potential risks beforehand. For example: As I mentioned, I occasionally take 10-20mg of Valium. I might need it once a day when a crisis hits, and then later that same day my back starts acting up. Then I need something for the pain, like two Johnson & Johnson pills, maybe more. That's exactly why I was asking about combining Valium with different painkillers.

@Grace Chase97
Yeah, I get it. Everything is individual. I don't pop Valium constantly; I take 10mg as needed. It settles me down to a moderate level within about 20 minutes. Hard to pin down the exact timing since it isn't some sudden, heavy hit that leaves me dazed, nor is it because of the dose. And hell, sometimes I might even need more, like I said, but I don't do that. I try to stick to the lowest dose possible.

Look, the healthiest thing is to take zero meds, but that's only if you aren't actually sick. Ideally, everything could be fixed with a walk in the woods, but when you're dealing with illness, the brain chemistry is usually too strong—even if I personally believe willpower is incredible. I also know about addiction, though I think people blow the risk of Valium out of proportion... regardless, I'm more aware of all this than you guys obviously think. I'm not in an autodestructive state right now. Again, I've never been a pill junkie. If I take something, there's a legitimate mental health reason for it, and for my condition, it would do more damage if I took nothing at all. I've proven that to myself plenty of times. I've dealt with this consistently for years. That was enough for me; I won't go back, even if I am on medication.

Brenda Peterson29 said:I have a few urgent questions because I probably won't have internet access later:

1) Is it okay to mix diazepam with Johnson & Johnson? If not, what can I take it with: Bayer Aspirin, Tylenol Extra Strength, or something else?

3) I occasionally take Valium (as needed for mental health issues). If I take 10 or 20mg of Valium, how much alcohol am I allowed to consume that day? Should I drink right away, or do I need to wait a few hours after taking the dose?

4) If I take 10mg of Valium and two Johnson & Johnson pills on the same day, can I still have alcohol?

5) What kind of side effects could happen from combining these drugs, and at what dosage levels?

6) If I take 30-40mg of Valium one day, can I take 200mg of Tylenol the next? Does what I took the first day affect what I take the second, or does the body completely clear itself out after about 24 hours?

I'm looking for real answers here, not the vague, exaggerated fluff you find in the official instruction leaflets. Please don't just give me the "diplomatic" version straight from the fine print—I can read the instructions myself. I want to know what actually happens in reality. Does anyone have personal experience with this?

It would be great if a doctor could weigh in, since they’d actually know the best way to answer these.

Thanks in advance 😉

1. It's better to combine diazepam/Valium with Tylenol/Bayer Aspirin, or maybe an NSAID like Ibuprofen.
3. You really shouldn't mix alcohol and diazepam. But, say you take Valium in the morning and then have a small beer in the evening? Nothing catastrophic is going to happen.
Codeine will definitely boost the effects of diazepam and similar meds.
4. Same as my answer to #3.
5. The side effects are listed in the drug's packaging insert.
6. You can take them on the same day.
The maximum daily dose for Tylenol is 4g per day.
The maximum daily dose of diazepam depends on what's being treated—like anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, seizures, premedication, whether it's IV, etc.
Tylenol is hepatotoxic at doses exceeding 6-8g, but otherwise, it's a pretty safe drug.
Aside from the risk of dependency with long-term use, the side effects of diazepam are usually mild and temporary.

Brenda Peterson29 said:...P.S. Personally, I spent years messing around with my health just because I refused to take anything for my condition, strictly because it was mental/psychological....

Sorry, but what you're doing right now is basically playing Russian roulette with your health.

40 mg of Valium?

Four pills?

My dad, being a heart patient, takes half that much...

And you're out here trying to play pharmacist and dose yourself too? 🤦

So your back aches a little and suddenly you're popping two or more Johnson & Johnson tablets? 🤦

Mixing alcohol with Valium is just going to crank up the effects way too much, and honestly, the main things you really need to stay away from are booze and Tylenol...

Brenda Peterson29 said:A bit much, don't you think? 😁 🙄

I don't think my post sounds flippant at all, I was just asking questions because I genuinely want to know what would happen with those specific doses or mixing different meds and alcohol... It's just about gathering information since I'm curious, it doesn't mean those are my doses or that I'd ever take that much, seriously... and besides, I have no reason to...

Look, you're clearly just trying to figure out how to overdose by mixing Valium, Johnson & Johnson, and booze... I actually work in this field, and I'm suggesting the mods just shut this thread down...