I dont normally take xanax everyday. i was given only 10 pills of .5 xanax. earlier i took one . i usually drink alcohol at night to help me sleep is it safe to drink 5 hours after taking that one pill?

High risk: Both alcohol and benzodiazepines are at high risk for habit forming and use of alcohol should be reduced in order to protect sleep. Talk to your doc about goals going forward and proper ways of managing stress. The combo benzos alcohol is unhealthy at this point.

Not safe: Both alcohol and xanax have sedative/ tranquilizer actions, and combined, the effect is accentuated. If you have sleep apnea, your respiratory response could be dangerously blunted. If you suffer a sleep disorder, this require evaluation, and appropriate intervention. This needs to be handled head-on, not covered up by a trial of medication.