There are several ways alcohol can interact with medications. One interaction involves taking alcohol (which depresses the nervous system) with medications that also depress the nervous system. Overly depressing the nervous system can be dangerous because the nervous system is the electrical system of the body, playing a role in every critical body function. Nerves keep the important control centers of our brain functioning, enabling our heart to beat and our lungs to continue to draw breath. When the nervous system is depressed too much by alcohol, medications or other sources, these critical body systems don’t work like they should or possibly even fail.
For example, combining moderate to large amounts of alcohol with certain pain medications that depress the nervous system can be dangerous. Oxycodone, oxycontin and hydrocodone are examples of such pain medications. They can cause depression of the nervous system, even without alcohol.
Cough and cold medications often contain antihistamines that can depress the nervous system. This is important to know since we tend to catch our share of cold and flu bugs during the cold holiday months. Antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine and brompheniramine can interact. Even less-drowsy options like loratadine and certirizine can be somewhat sedating and should not be taken with alcohol. When purchasing an over-the-counter cough or cold remedy it is always a good idea to ask the pharmacist if there are any ingredients that can interact with alcohol.
Other pain medications like acetaminophen can interact with alcohol if taken on a regular basis. Chronic acetaminophen and alcohol consumption can lead to liver problems. NSAIDS (i.e. ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen) can increase the risk stomach ulcers, especially when combined with chronic alcohol consumption. It is important to keep in mind, however, that drinking a glass of champagne at New Year’s in combination with these medications is hardly cause for alarm.
There are some anti-infective medications that can interact with alcohol. For example, one should not consume alcohol when taking metronidazole or tinidazole. Taking these medications with alcohol can cause increased heart rate, seriously low blood pressure, shortness of breath, nausea and flushing of the face. To be safe, do not consume any alcohol while taking these medications and for several days after stopping the medications.
Diabetes medications can also interfere with alcohol. Taking diabetes medications or insulin with alcohol increases the risk of severely low blood sugar. It may be wise to limit yourself to one drink if you are taking medications or insulin for diabetes.
Alcohol can also affect how the body breaks down certain drugs like warfarin. Warfarin is taken to help ‘thin the blood’ in people with certain conditions who are prone to blood clots. Drinking large amounts of alcohol while taking warfarin can result in an increased risk of bleeding. In other words, the blood ‘gets too thin’. This can cause nose bleeds and bruising. More importantly it can increase the risk of brain hemorrhage and stroke.
If you are planning in partaking in the many spirits this holiday season has to offer and are taking medications, it may be wise to talk with your pharmacist to see if there are any possible drug-alcohol interactions you should be aware of and plan appropriately. It is one of the small steps you can take to help ensure a safe and happy holiday season.
