People love alcohol. In spite of its many well-known dangers, over 85% of adults have at least tried alcohol.¹ And over 70% have drank at least one alcoholic beverage over the past year.

Alcohol's incredibly popular and is likely to stay that way for a long time. It's been used for centuries by people all over the world.

But is it safe to drink alcohol while using nootropics? That's what we're going to explore in this post. First, though, let's look at what exactly alcohol is.

What is alcohol? 

When talking about the type of alcohol that people drink, we're talking about ethyl alcohol, aka ethanol. While there are other types of alcohol (isopropyl, aka rubbing alcohol, for example), we'll be talking exclusively about ethanol, the type that people drink.

Ethyl alcohol has been consumed by people for thousands of years. It has a variety of physical and psychological effects and has been used for both medical and recreational purposes historically.

Alcohol is a powerful antiseptic and can be used to clean wounds and sterilize medical equipment.² It is also used as a medical solvent and as an antidote to both methanol (another type of alcohol) and ethylene glycol poisoning.³

Most commonly, though, alcohol is consumed for its recreational properties. Users often experience euphoria, decreased anxiety, sedation, and increased sociability. Alcohol use is also often accompanied by a number of negative effects including impaired cognitive functioning and a nasty hangover effect the next day.

The whole point of using nootropics is to improve cognitive functioning, not impair it. While alcohol can have some effects that nootropic users seek (increased sociability, reduced anxiety, improved mood), it's certainly not considered to be a smart drug. Between alcohol's lengthy side effect profile and its potential for addiction, it wouldn't meet even the most liberal definition of the word nootropic.

Still, nootropic users often consume alcohol in spite of its anti-nootropic properties. We know that alcohol is widely used and socially acceptable. But is it safe to consume while using nootropics?

Nootropics & Alcohol

Generally, most nootropics do not have any serious interactions with alcohol. However, there are some interactions that users should be aware of.

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Mixing alcohol with other CNS depressants can increase their depressant activity. This can slow your breathing and heart rate. In extreme cases – like when alcohol is mixed with opioids, for example – it can even lead to coma and death.

Nootropics that act as CNS depressants should be used with caution when drinking alcohol. Of course, since the point of all nootropics is to boost brain power and not diminish it, there aren't any nootropics that have strong CNS-depressant activity. However, some of them may have mildly sedating properties and should be used with caution.

Lemon Balm & Valerian

Lemon balm and valerian root – two plants commonly used for sleep and relaxation that some consider to be nootropics – can be mildly sedating. Taking either (or both) of them may increase alcohol's depressant effects. Caution should be used when combining them.

L-Theanine

L-theanine usually isn't very sedating for most people. However, some users report that it can be at higher dosages. And some people report that when combined with alcohol, L-theanine makes them incredibly drowsy. Again, use caution when combining alcohol with L-theanine.

Modafinil, Armodafinil, & Adrafinil

Another thing that's generally not advised is mixing stimulants with depressants. Although modafinil isn't technically a stimulant, it does share some similarities with them. Some people find the combination to be unpleasant.

It should be noted, though, that some people actually enjoy mixing the two. Some users report that after popping a couple-hundred milligrams of modafinil, it takes longer to get drunk and that alcohol is less sedating than usual. Unfortunately, alcohol seems to reverse most if not all of modafinil's nootropic effects.

This also applies to the other eugeroics, like armodafinil and adrafinil. Alcohol will reduce their nootropic effects and it will take more alcohol than usual to feel buzzed or drunk. Be aware of these interactions when using modafinil, armodafinil, or adrafinil.

Racetams (Piracetam, Oxiracetam, etc.)

Generally, the racetams seem to be safe to use with alcohol. There are plenty of reports around the internet of people safely combining various racetams with alcohol.

Some racetams might even help reduce the negative effects of alcohol. One study found that piracetam was able to reduce alcohol-induced memory deficits.⁴ Another study found that piracetam was able to reduce the severity of alcohol withdrawal in mice without causing sedation like current pharmacological treatments do.⁵

There haven't been many studies done on racetams and alcohol specifically, but the few that have been done look promising. This is an area of research that will hopefully someday be expanded upon.

Most racetams seem to be safe to take with alcohol and may even help to reduce some of alcohol's negative effects. Still, it's always a good idea to use caution when combining them.

Other Nootropics

It's probably safe to drink alcohol while using most other nootropics. Still, you should be careful, especially with any nootropics that have the potential to be sedating.

One example of this would be the nootropic plant, ashwagandha. There are many reports of people drinking alcohol while taking it regularly who don't notice any interactions. However, some people find that alcohol is more sedating when they are taking ashwagandha.

Another interaction that is rare but has been reported is between kratom and alcohol. Some people find that drinking after taking kratom makes them extremely nauseous. However, many people use the two without issue and even enjoy the combo. 

In general, most nootropics seem to be safe for most people to use with alcohol. Some may even reduce alcohol's negative effects. But you should always do your research before mixing any two substances. And as always, you should consult with a licensed medical professional before starting any new supplements, medications, plants, exercise programs, or behavioral routines. Most doctors aren't taught about nootropics so you may have to educate yours. The References section included at the bottom of most articles on this website can be a good place to start. 

Conclusion

Most if not all of the popular nootropics being used around the world today should be safe to use with alcohol. There are countless reports of people mixing various nootropics with alcohol and serious negative interactions seem to be very, very rare. That being said, you should always err on the side of caution, do your own research about what you put in your body, and consult with a licensed healthcare professional when appropriate.

Have you noticed any interactions – negative or positive – between any of the nootropics you've tried and alcohol? What has your experience been like? Leave your answer in the comments section at the bottom. And if you haven't already, sign up for the Nootropics Zone newsletter below to learn about dozens of nootropics being used all around the world. 

References

1Alcohol Facts and Statistics. (2015). National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved March 15, 2019 from https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

2Pohorecky, L., & Brick, J. (1988). Pharmacology of ethanol. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 36(2-3):335-427.

3Scalley, R., Ferguson, D., Piccaro, J., Smart, M., & Archie, T. (2002). Treatment of ethylene glycol poisoning. American Family Physician, 66(5):807-813.

4Yang, Y., Feng, J., Xu, F., & Wang, J. (2017). Piracetam inhibits ethanol (EtOH)-induced memory deficit by mediating multiple pathways. Brain Research, 1676:83-90.

5Serby, M., Segamick, D., Cordasco, D., & Rotrosen, J. (1982). Piracetam reduces alcohol withdrawal in mice without potentiating alcohol sedative effects. Alcoholism, Clinical & Experimental Research, 6(4):520-2. 

[This article was originally published on March 22, 2019. Updated February 9, 2024.]