Dave asked
Hello I need some info about some medications I'm taking. I'm currently taking Mirtazapine and Lorazepam, a benzodiazepine. I've been getting a sore throat lately so I was going to take some Strepsils.I read the ingredients and it contains "2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol" so I didn't take it as I've been told taking benzos and alcohol together can cause respiratory failure and CNS depression. I have 2 packs of Strepsils: Strepsils blocked nose & sore throat and Strepsils VItamin C 1000mg but both contain alcohol so I need to know if it's safe for me to take Strepsils together ( on the same day) as Lorazepam?? Are there any interactions as the Strepsils contain 2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol?? Thanking you in advance for you help
Answer
Strepsils is a brand of cough drops available in the United Kingdom. As you mentioned, one of the active ingredients in Strepsils is 2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol. It also contains the active ingredient amylmetacresol.
Both 2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol and amylmetacresol have antibacterial, antiviral and local anesthetic properties. Cough drops that contain both of these ingredients have shown in studies to improve symptoms such as sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
Both of the active ingredients are chemically classified as 'alcohols', but you need not worry regarding combining them with lorazepam. Combined, both active ingredients add up to a mere 1.8 milligrams. Hardly enough alcohol to produce any sort of negative reaction with lorazepam.
Consider the amount of ethanol in one glass of beer, which, on average, is 14 grams. That is over 7,000 times the amount of alcohol that is contained in one Strepsils cough drop.
You are correct that the consumption of alcohol while on benzodiazepines is potentially dangerous. The amount of alcohol in Strepsils is insignificant in regard to a potential drug interaction however.
