Mixing antidepressants with alcohol may also increase feelings of depression or hopelessness. Antihistamines can cause excessive drowsiness and may put you at risk if you’re driving a car or operating machinery—and that’s without alcohol. When you combine these drugs with alcohol, you’re even more at risk of accidents.
Alcohol and Medication Interactions
Drinking even a small amount of alcohol while taking an antibiotic called Flagyl (metronidazole) can cause a severe reaction, making you extremely sick with nausea and vomiting. You will want to avoid alcohol for three days before you start and after you stop Flagyl. So, mixing the two together increases the likelihood of overdose on either substance. Older adults (especially those who take more than one medication) are also more likely to experience problems, as the ability to clear both alcohol and drugs from the body is reduced with age. If you lie about the amount of alcohol you consume on a regular basis, your doctor can’t accurately judge the risks and benefits of prescribing a particular medication. Combining alcohol with Concerta, Ritalin, or Focalin can worsen concentration.
Diabetes medications
These beverages contain a byproduct that when consumed with MAOIs can increase the risk of high blood pressure. Both classes of drugs share some additional risks when combined with alcohol. “Mixing antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with alcohol can impair motor function and suppress breathing as well as cause unusual behavior,” says Dr. Arthur. And the NIAAA notes that combining MAOIs (like Marplan or Nardil) with alcohol “may result in serious heart-related side effects.”
If you turn to herbal remedies, like a soothing cup of chamomile or lavender tea, and accompany it with alcohol, you may feel extra drowsy. Combine alcohol with prescription treatments like Lunesta or Ambien, and you may feel unusually drowsy, sleepy, and dizzy. Those side effects may not seem so serious when you’re aiming to head to dreamland anyway. But the NIAAA also cautions that combining these prescription-strength sleep aids with alcohol could also lead to impaired motor control, unusual behavior, memory problems, and slowed or difficult breathing. Popping a couple of Advil to rid yourself of a headache, lower a fever, or ease muscle aches may not seem like a big deal. “Mixing alcohol with common over the counter anti-inflammatory pain medications like ibuprofen and Naprosyn can cause GI upset, ulcers, and even stomach bleeding,” says Dr. Arthur.
The resources below can help alert you and your patients to important potential risks. There are also medications that don’t have harmful interactions with alcohol – but it’s important to check before consuming alcohol, to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk. How soon after medication you can drink alcohol will depend on a number of factors, primarily the medication itself and how your body metabolizes certain substances. Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist—a medication that can help counteract the effects of opioid medications such as morphine, oxycodone, and heroin.
They are more likely to be taking multiple medications that can interact with alcohol, increasing the potential for negative outcomes. Additionally, older adults do not metabolize alcohol as quickly, so it stays in their system longer and has a greater chance of interacting with their medications. One of the deadliest combinations is alcohol and narcotic pain medications. On their own, opioids can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss.
Use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, as well as herbal remedies, also is extremely prevalent. Partly because of the obesity epidemic, Americans of all ages are taking more drugs to control chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol. However, even medications that don’t require a prescription can be unsafe when mixed with alcohol. For example, OTC painkillers (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause a range of symptoms from gastrointestinal upset to bleeding and ulcers in the stomach to tachycardia (racing heart).
- Even though most people over 65 drink less than the maximum recommended amount, this drinking is still considered harmful for many of them, due to their general condition, medical problems, and medications.
- Age, genetics, liver health, and what you eat can all affect your reactions.
- This can lead to very unpleasant and sometimes dangerous consequences after a small amount of alcohol, including severe vomiting and raised temperature.
- If you manage your high blood pressure with prescription medication, saying no to alcohol is extremely important.
- Some medications pose more serious risks than others, with symptoms ranging from drowsiness and dizziness to liver damage, slowed breathing, and possibly death.
How alcohol affects some medicines
- With a little knowledge and planning, you’ll avoid hidden pitfalls and feel more confident in every “cheers” or prescription refill.
- That’s true for both over-the-counter and prescription medications—and even mixing alcohol with natural remedies, like St. John’s Wort, can be problematic.
- Additionally, older adults do not metabolize alcohol as quickly, so it stays in their system longer and has a greater chance of interacting with their medications.
- People can also have problems with motor control, memory, and behavior.
Similarly, drinking alcohol while taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can enhance the intoxicating effects, leading to increased dizziness and unsteadiness. Consuming alcohol while taking opioids, for example, can lead to respiratory depression, slowed or stopped breathing, and even death. Alcohol may also intensify the side effects of antidepressants, making symptoms of depression worse. Similarly, combining alcohol with anti-anxiety medications can worsen side effects such as slowed breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss. When combined with alcohol, some medications can cause intensified drowsiness and dizziness, impairing one’s judgment, coordination, and ability to operate machinery or drive a vehicle.
Muscle relaxants are commonly used to treat back and neck pain, as well as certain kinds of headaches. One ingredient in some cough suppressants called dextromethorphan (DXM) can be especially dangerous because it can cause extreme sedation and respiratory depression. Some research has found that alcohol does not appear to worsen liver inflammation in certain people who take medication for their cholesterol. A 2006 Harvard study found that moderate alcohol use did not have a significant negative effect on the livers of men taking statins after heart surgery.
Cholesterol Medications
Alcohol may also worsen certain medical conditions and trigger others. For example, alcohol can increase the risk of liver damage, especially when combined with certain medications. The combination of acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol) and alcohol is a leading cause of severe liver damage, sometimes requiring a liver transplant.
She has a wide range of clinical experiences, ranging from years of traditional clinic practice to hospitalist care to performing peer quality review to ensure optimal patient care. Where possible, tell emergency responders all medications the person has been taking and how much alcohol they have consumed. Sertraline is another SSRI that is often used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and some anxiety disorders.
You will suffer from drowsiness and depression if you exhibit excessive inhibition. Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. By Buddy TBuddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
It’s important not drink alcohol if you are prescribed these, too, so the medicine is able to work as intended. Two examples of antibiotics that are never safe to combine with alcohol are metronidazole and tinidazole, but there are others too. That’s why it’s vital to read the leaflet and check with your pharmacist or doctor, if necessary, before consuming any alcohol when you’re taking antibiotics. You might also be advised to avoid alcohol for up to 72 hours after finishing the course. Depending on what you’re taking and your health condition, drinking can make medication less effective, or lead to dangerous health consequences. With such widespread use, inevitably, some people looking to drink alcohol will also be taking some form of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Alcohol consumption should be limited or avoided when taking bupropion due to the risk of seizures and the effect bupropion has in reducing alcohol tolerance. 14 However, patients who use alcohol heavily should not stop or dramatically reduce their alcohol use immediately before taking is it safe to drink alcohol while taking medication bupropion, as this can also increase the risk of seizures. Discussions with a medical practitioner are essential in this situation. You might not need to completely avoid alcohol if you are taking a blood thinner. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting your intake to no more than one or two occasional drinks if you are on anticoagulant therapy. If you mix any type of anti-nausea drug with alcohol, the side effects of the medication can become more intense.
Other Medication Interactions
If you’re taking medication, always consult with your doctor or pharmacist if you think you might want to drink any alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking gabapentin can also increase notable side effects, like sleepiness or dizziness.18 Talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol while taking gabapentin. It is generally safe to consume moderate amounts of alcohol at the same time as taking moderate amounts of acetaminophen.