Antihistamines are also used in some cold and flu medicines, like NyQuil, and in some nighttime sleep aids like ZzzQuil. (For women, that’s no more than one serving a day.) "Mixing alcohol and medication for chest pain like nitroglycerin [the generic name for Nitrostat, Rectiv, and Nitrolingual]...can cause dangerously low blood pressure or … When a medication side effect like drowsiness is magnified by the use of alcohol it is called an additive effect. Bottom line: Don’t risk it—not even with one or two drinks. Springtime sniffles may have you reaching for allergy meds, which are known for interacting poorly with alcohol. Mixing Adderall, Vyvanse, or Dexedrine with alcohol increases the risk for heart problems, and drinking on Strattera carries a risk for liver damage, the NIAAA notes. 1.1. You might feel drowsy or dizzy, or, even experience difficulty breathing, impaired motor control, unusual behavior, or memory problems. Drinking while you're taking a prescription or OTC medication may not seem like a big deal. Mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines—drugs that help relieve anxiety and panic attacks—can result in life-threatening symptoms. Drugs without any apparent medical utility are automatically placed in the most dangerous category—and subjected to the strictest criminal penalties—regardless of the risk they pose. Clean out expired products and clutter to make way for a healthier you. If you suffer from motion sickness, you might take a preventative dose of Antivert or Dramamine to ward off nausea and dizziness. Unfortunately, many people overlook this. This combination can cause an overdose which may be fatal. Combining medications that can lead to liver toxicity with alcohol may further increase that risk. You’ve probably seen this warning on medicines you’ve taken. From over-the-counter allergy meds to prescription sleeping pills and everything in between, here are some of the scary consequences that can result if you ignore that alcohol warning on a pill bottle. According to the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), mixing over-the-counter sniffle stoppers with booze can leave you feeling drowsy or dizzy. Alcohol, Heroin and Crack—in That Order TIME – Catherine Mayer. Mixing diabetes medication with alcohol is never a good idea. "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. Alcohol can also keep your antidepressant from working as well as it should, and can make your underlying depression worse. Even though alcohol is a major addictive drug and a primary reason for nearly 100,000 annual deaths in the U.S., we see it as vastly different than other drugs. If you’ve ever turned down a happy hour invite because you’re on antibiotics, you probably know that alcohol and medication can be a bad, even dangerous combination. Including brand-name drugs like: Coumadin, Eliquis, Bevyxxa, Pradaxa. Research shows that alcohol consumption can impair reaction times and decision-making at blood-alcohol levels lower than the 0.08 legal intoxication level at 0.05 BAC. Including brand-name drugs like: Flomax, Uroxatral, Cardura, Minipress, Rapaflo. Including brand-name drugs like: Antivert, Dramamine, Phenergan. But don’t make it a habit, and be careful not to overdose on either. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. That's silly. Alcohol can make some of the unpleasant side effects of these drugs, like upset stomach and dizziness, worse than normal. The consequences of drinking while taking medications can range from minor (feeling a bit dizzy, for instance) to fatal. Another side effect worth noting: Drinking while taking Focalin, Concerta, or Ritalin, can actually result in impaired concentration—the exact reverse of the medication’s purpose. According to the National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, prescription-strength painkillers and opioids, This Is Your Body On Alcohol (Infographic), 4 Ways To Prevent A Common Medication Mix-Up. (Unless you’re on MAIOs, she adds; then you should avoid alcohol completely. If this occurs repeatedly, the individual is likely to develop stomach ulcers, bleeding from the stomach lining or intestines, and liver damage. Like sleeping pills, antidepressants can cause drowsiness and dizziness that can be made worse with alcohol; this can raise your risk for falls and car accidents. Here’s Rech’s advice on drinking when you’re taking any of these common meds. Heart rate can raise, which is dangerous for those who may have a heart condition. Overdose symptoms might include breathing problems, blurred vision, coma, constipation, seizures, nausea, and vomiting, among other things, according to the NIH. For those who suffer from polydrug addictions, however, medical detox can be more complicated than for single drug addictions. In fact, more Americans die of drug overdoses than in car accidents each year. “If it’s just an isolated incident—you pop two Tylenol during the day for a headache and then you go to happy hour, it’s probably not going to increase your risk [of liver damage] that much,” says Rech. If this product gets in your eyes, nose, mouth, rectum, or vagina, rinse with water. Mixing medicine and alcohol can have all kinds of negative side effects. And, of course, prescription painkillers—such as Vicodin, Percocet, or Demerol—are serious business. Both classes of drugs share some additional risks when combined with alcohol. Including brand-name drugs like: Isordil, Nitrostat, Rectiv, Nitrolingual. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can cause stomach upset if a person takes them with alcohol once. Alcohol withdrawal is common, but delirium tremens only occurs in 5% of people who have alcohol withdrawal. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Prescription medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are considered central nervous system stimulants. Lithate and Lithobid (generic: lithium) are antimanic agents prescribed to both treat and prevent manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. "Mixing alcohol and medication for chest pain like nitroglycerin [the generic name for Nitrostat, Rectiv, and Nitrolingual]...can cause dangerously low blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythms," Dr. Arthur says. And mixing certain antibiotics with alcohol—specifically metronidazole, tinidazole, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole—can be downright dangerous. Dr. Arthur echos these warnings, adding that mixing alcohol with blood thinners can also increase or decrease the thickness of the blood and can cause dangerous bleeding or hemorrhage. Some cold-and-flu formulas also contain acetaminophen, as well—all the more reason not to mix them with beer, wine, or liquor. Drinking while taking a seizure medication like Keppra or Dilantin can leave you feeling drowsy or dizzy, and can actually increase the risk of a seizure. Side effects may worsen if you drink alcohol and take one of these drugs along with an antidepressant. These drugs include commonly known medications, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan), as well as clonazepam (Klonopin), oxazepam (Serax), and temazepam (Restoril). “[MAOIs] have an enzyme that interacts with a byproduct of beer and wine and can cause serious side effects, including death,” says Rech. Drinking alcohol Cholesterol medications, on the other hand, are metabolized in the liver, which can lead to liver damage and bleeding if you’re drinking frequently or excessively. And that’s not a good thing: Even one drink can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and slowed breathing when taken with another sedative. Health.com may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "I'm petrified," the actress said when she shared the news that her breast cancer came back. Even antihistamines that are advertised as non-drowsy (such as Claritin and Allegra) can have this effect in some people, says Rech, especially when paired with alcohol. Is Your Doctor Gaslighting You? Including brand-name drugs like: Celebrex, Naprosyn, Voltaren. Or, you might try Phenergan, which can also be used to manage nausea and vomiting that may occur post-surgery, according to the NIH. "While the effects of alcohol on virtually all classes of medication can be dangerous, what is scarier is the unpredictability," he notes.Fortunately, we can anticipate some of the potential side effects that can occur when you imbibe while on medications. If you’re one of many Americans with high cholesterol, you might be managing it with the help of a medication like Lipitor (generic: atorvastatin). Over-the-counter allergy remedies like Benadryl and Zyrtec contain antihistamines, a class of drug that can cause excessive drowsiness and may put you at risk if you’re driving a car or operating machinery—even more so when you’ve also had a drink or two. "Stimulant drugs like those for ADHD...can have wildly activating effects when mixed with alcohol," says Dr. Cutler. Reasons Why Alcohol Is Dangerous as Medicine. We’ve all seen the cautionary label on pill bottles, telling us in big, bold letters to avoid drinking while taking the medication. Here are the ones you need to pay attention to, and how to know if you may have an anxiety disorder.   Being physically and mentally impaired by alcohol can have dangerous consequences. Alcohol is a common cause of heartburn, sour stomach,and indigestion, so you probably don't want to head to happy hour if you're experiencing any of these issues. Of course, some potential interactions are more worrisome than others. Many medications can cause problems when taken with alcohol — including anti-anxiety medications, sleep medications and prescription pain medications. There’s a reason why prescription medication packages are marked with a “DO NOT MIX WITH ALCOHOL” label—it’s dangerous. Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. “So it has the potential to interact with a whole host of drugs, including things you might not think are related at all.”. It also carries an increased risk for overdose. “Medicines for hypertension work by lowering blood pressure, but alcohol can have an additive effect and make blood pressure drop too low, causing dizziness or fainting,” she says. Drinking while taking Flomax (generic: tamsulosin) or other drugs prescribed for an enlarged prostate, could lead to feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or even fainting. In fact, the CDC recently advised women who weren't on birth control because they were trying to get pregnant to steer clear of alcohol due to the dangers of drinking in the early stages of pregnancy. Doing so can result in abnormally low blood sugar levels, nausea, vomiting, headaches, a rapid heartbeat, or a sudden change in blood pressure, according to the NIAAA. Not only will you want to avoid drinking while using the drug, but you should also avoid alcohol for several days afterward, too. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. All products and services featured are selected by our editors. Three drugs have FDA approval for alcohol use disorder, and each works differently. Individuals who abuse alcohol are also more likely to abuse other substances, like prescription or illicit drugs. Why? It could also leave you feeling dizzy, faint, or drowsy. Including brand-name drugs like: Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Effexor, Marplan, Lexapro. And the NIAAA notes that combining MAOIs (like Marplan or Nardil) with alcohol "may result in serious heart-related side effects.". “But if you take pain meds every day, say for arthritis, and you also drink to excess on several occasions, that could really cause problems.”. Including brand-name drugs like: Lunesta, Ambien, Sominex, Prosom, Unisom. “Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, and a lot of drugs are metabolized via the same pathways,” Rech says. One of the side effects of valproic acid is sleepiness, and alcohol can increase that effect, the NIH says. The NIAA notes that drinking while taking muscle relaxants can also lead to an increased risk of seizures, impaired motor control, unusual behavior, and memory problems. But when it’s combined with alcohol or taken in high doses, Tylenol can cause serious liver damage. How to handle a physician who doubts or dismisses your symptoms. 1 . Heavier drinking may also cause internal bleeding, as well as blood clots, stroke, or heart attack, the NIAAA warns. Combining them with alcohol can lead to dizziness and drowsiness. There’s a similar warning for an other type of angina medication called isosorbide. There are additional concerns, too. The harm that alcohol does exceeds the dangers of even heroin and crack cocaine when the overall danger to the user and others is taken into account. Alcohol makes the effects of sleeping pills—both over-the-counter and prescription varieties—stronger. Stay in your living room and still spike your heart rate. The NIAAA also notes that alcohol can increase side effects of nitroglycerin including dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. Acetaminophen by itself can lead to overdose… The… 1. But here’s the kicker: The risk of these potentially severe side effects increases when you drink alcohol, according to the NIH, especially for older adults and those who are already in poor health. A potent narcotic drug that is known as an opioid, Oxycontin is a powerful central nervous system depressant, and when taken with alcohol these drugs … Including brand-name drugs like: Accupril, Lopressor, Norvasc, Hytrin. Be cautious about imbibing too much—which can not only cloud your judgment, but could also lead to vomiting up a recently taken pill. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 13  ), ​RELATED: If You're Taking an Antidepressant for a Reason Besides Depression, You Should Read This. Drinking can cause arrhythmia or a change in your heartbeat. Depending on the magnitude of physical dependence, additional symptoms may continue to arise beyond 24 hours, with some potentially severe effects emerging 2 to 4 days after abstinence. Prescription drug abuse can increase the risk of experiencing the adverse side effects of alcohol. And no matter what medication regimen you’re on, don’t drink more than moderate amounts. Disulfiram In 1951, this was the first drug that the FDA approved for alcohol use disorder. If you experience chest pains, your doctor may prescribe a drug to prevent attacks. 3 If that’s the case for you, be sure to avoid alcohol. These drugs contain enzymes that react with alcohol and can cause headache, flushing, a rapid heartbeat, nausea, and vomiting. If you drink while taking Glucophage (generic: metformin), you may also experience feelings of weakness. Including brand-name drugs like: Reglan, Zantac, Tagamet, Maalox, Rolaids, Nexium, Prilosec. But the danger of mixing drugs, supplements, and/or alcohol is very real. Including brand-name drugs like: Keppra, Dilantin, Topamax. This group of addictive drugs includes heroin, morphine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine.Narcotic prescription painkillers are dangerous enough on their own, but mixing these drugs with alcohol increases their relaxing, … There are basically two types of drug interactions with alcohol. The Most Dangerous Drugs? The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments. Getty Images, Is It Risky to Drink While You’re on Medication? Even though it is the deadliest drug, alcohol is legal in the U.S. and Britain, as well as many other countries around the world. When mixed with booze, cholesterol medications can cause liver damage. Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, including over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), can increase your risk of stomach bleeding and ulcers; adding alcohol can make these side effects even more likely. “That’s reason enough to use alcohol sparingly while your body is healing.”. Not sure what class of drug you’re taking? If you manage your high blood pressure with prescription medication, saying no to alcohol is extremely important. 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