If you’re among the 85% of American adults who drink alcohol, either occasionally or regularly, it’s crucial to be aware that alcohol can interact with any medications you take. This interaction risk increases if you take multiple medications or drink excessively.
Mixing alcohol with certain prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, or even supplements and herbal remedies can lead to negative interactions and adverse reactions, including the risk of overdose and even death. The effects can be unpredictable, sometimes amplifying the impact of either the medication or the alcohol, potentially diminishing the drug’s effectiveness or altering how alcohol affects you. Note that some medications, like laxatives and cough syrups, might already contain alcohol.
It’s essential to know which medications shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol. Always read medication labels carefully and consult your healthcare provider if you have any doubts.
About one in ten teenagers and adults take antidepressants or anxiety medications daily, as reported by the CDC. Many of these medications don’t mix well with alcohol, especially MAOIs like Parnate (tranylcypromine) and Nardil (phenelzine). These can dangerously elevate blood pressure when combined with tyramine-rich foods and drinks like red wine and beer. This combination also heightens the risk of overdose, increases depression symptoms, and may cause drowsiness, dizziness, impaired motor skills, breathing difficulties, abnormal behaviors, and heart or liver damage.
If you’re on any antidepressant, it’s wise to discuss alcohol consumption with your healthcare provider. Herbal supplements such as St. John’s Wort and Kava, often used for depression or anxiety, can lead to serious issues like liver damage if combined with alcohol.
Nearly half of Americans have diabetes, prediabetes, or insulin resistance, meaning millions take diabetes medications daily. Alcohol can dangerously lower blood sugar levels, leading to alarming symptoms. It’s important to consult your doctor before drinking if you’re on diabetic medications.
Every year, millions use cold, allergy, and flu medications known to cause drowsiness and dizziness. Alcohol can exacerbate these effects, impairing judgment and coordination, increasing the risk of overdose. Avoid combining alcohol with these medications.
Almost half of U.S. adults live with high blood pressure. Blood pressure medications can react badly with alcohol, causing dizziness, extreme tiredness, and heart-related issues. Always consult your healthcare provider before drinking alcohol if you’re taking these medications.
Approximately 10% of the U.S. population takes medications or supplements to sleep better. Mixing these with alcohol is a bad idea as both are sedatives, enhancing each other’s effects. This can lead to breathing problems, memory issues, strange behavior, dizziness, and coordination impairment.
Whether your pain medication is over-the-counter or prescribed, ask your healthcare provider before consuming alcohol. Mixing alcohol with pain relievers can have dangerous effects. For instance, combining them with muscle relaxants can lead to seizures or breathing difficulties. Even common painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) can cause stomach pain, ulcers, and potential heart or liver damage when mixed with alcohol.
It’s also important to avoid mixing alcohol with strong pain medications like opioids due to risks such as drowsiness, breathing difficulties, memory issues, and overdose.
Heartburn and nausea medications, including those for motion sickness, should not be combined with alcohol. This can lead to fast heartbeat and blood pressure changes, along with increased alcohol effects.
Nearly a third of American adults take cholesterol-lowering medications. As you age, this number increases, especially after 75. Mixing these with alcohol can lead to liver damage and other issues. Consulting your healthcare provider is crucial before combining alcohol with cholesterol medications.
Some people take medications for enlarged prostates, which, when combined with alcohol, can cause dizziness and fainting. Always discuss alcohol use with your healthcare provider in these cases.
ADHD medications are stimulants that increase the central nervous system’s activity, while alcohol is a sedative. Their combination can increase the chances of overdose, dizziness, concentration problems, liver damage, and heart issues. Always talk to your healthcare provider before mixing these medications with alcohol.
Arthritis medications can cause ulcers, liver damage, and stomach bleeding when combined with alcohol. Consult your healthcare provider before mixing them.
For seizure medications, including epilepsy treatments, mixing with alcohol can result in serious side effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, behavioral changes, mental health fluctuations, and more seizures.
Many medications treat various infections, and mixing them with alcohol can have dangerous consequences such as liver damage, stomach pain, and changes in blood pressure.
Certain medications like Coumadin (warfarin) for blood clots, and Isordil (isosorbide nitroglycerin) for angina, are particularly risky when mixed with alcohol. Drinking even small amounts can lead to internal bleeding or exacerbated heart issues.
It’s crucial to consult your healthcare provider before drinking alcohol if you’re on any medications. Discussing how to safely incorporate alcohol into your lifestyle is vital, as some drug-alcohol interactions can be hazardous. Always check with your healthcare provider first to prevent serious side effects.
