MEDICATION INTERACTIONS
BEWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS COMBINATION
About 2,000 over-the-counter medications are available to consumers in the US. and more than 2,800 prescription drugs are available and marketed to Americans. In fact, doctors write nearly 14 billion prescriptions a year. Approximately 70 percent of the adult population consumes alcohol. This can be a serious, if not deadly combination.
Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting and a loss of coordination. It can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems and difficulties in breathing. Mixing alcohol with tranquilizers, sleeping pills, painkillers and antihistamines can be fatal. Alcohol can also decrease the effectiveness of a medication or render it totally ineffective. For people over age 65, alcohol and medicine is a special problem because seniors are often heavy users of medications.
Below is some general information on widely used medications. The list does not cover all medication, including herbal supplements so talk to your doctor about your medication and how it may interact with alcohol.
WIDELY USED MEDICATIONS
Anesthetics. These are given before surgery, to make you unconscious and numb to pain. Constant alcohol use increases the amount of drugs the doctor must give you to make you unconscious. Plus, alcohol increases your risk of liver damage when you’re given anesthetic gases.
Antibiotics. They are used to treat various infections. Some antibiotics simply may not work effectively when taken with alcohol. Other antibiotics may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, and possibly convulsions.
Anticoagulants. Blood-thinners like coumadin (warfarin) are often prescribed to decrease the likelihood of a blood clot. Binge drinking will increase your risk for life threatening hemorrhages. And heavy, continuous drinking may result in blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks.
Antidepressants. These drugs produce drowsiness and dizziness, impairing your mental skills for driving and other activities. Alcohol will increase the sedating effects of many antidepressants like Elavil (amitriptyline), Anafranil® (clomipramine), Norpramin® (desipramine), Serzone® (nefazodone) and Desyrel® (trazodone). Also, a chemical in some beers and wine called tyramine interacts with some anti-depressants to produce a dangerous rise in blood pressure. Even one drink may cause this to happen.
Antidiabetics. These drugs help lower blood sugar levels, if you have diabetes. Alcohol will interact with some antidiabetics, producing nausea and headache. Others can produce rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, convulsions, coma and death.
Antihistamines. Drugs such as Benadryl® (diphenhydramine) and other brands are available without prescription to treat allergic symptoms and insomnia. Alcohol intensifies the sedative effect caused by some antihistamines.
Antipsychotics. Drugs like Thorazine (chlorpromazine) are used to diminish psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Binge drinking increases the sedative effect of these drugs resulting in impaired coordination and potentially fatal breathing problems.
Antiseizures. These drugs are prescribed mainly to treat epilepsy. Binge drinking increases the risk of side effects with these drugs. Constant drinking may greatly reduce your protection against epileptic seizures even if you stop drinking for a brief period.
Antiulcer Heartburn. Commonly prescribed antiulcer medications mixed with alcohol can cause rapid heartbeat and sudden changes in blood pressure.
Cardiovascular Drugs. There are a variety of prescriptions to treat ailments of the heart and circulatory system. One of the most common is nitroglycerin, which treats angina. Binge drinking while taking heart medication can cause rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure and dizziness or fainting when you stand up. Regular drinking with high blood pressure medication may reduce the drug’s effectiveness.
Narcotic Pain Relievers. Opiates like Darvon and Demerol are prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Alcohol can greatly increase the sedative effect of these drugs increasing your risk of death.
Non-narcotic Pain Relievers. Aspirin, ibuprofen and other over-the-counter pain relievers can cause stomach bleeding or inhibit your blood from clotting. Alcohol can aggravate these effects. Older people who mix alcohol with large doses of aspirin to self-medicate are at a high risk for gastric bleeding. Constant drinking transforms Tylenol® (acetaminophen) and other brands into chemicals that can cause liver damage even when used as directed. Soma® (carisoprodol) and Flexeril® (cyclobenzaprine) may cause drowsiness, dizziness and increased risk of seizures with alcohol.
Sedatives and Sleeping Pills. Drugs like Valium (diazepam) and Xanax® (alprazolam) are generally prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia. With alcohol, these strong sedatives may cause severe drowsiness and dizziness. Even low doses of Dalmane (flurazepam) can interact with low doses of alcohol to impair your ability to drive even if you drink the morning after taking Dalmane. Finally, alcohol with anxiety drugs like Ativan® (lorazepam) may cause depressed heart and breathing functions.
