Medications You Should Never Mix With Alcohol

Medications You Should Never Mix With Alcohol Addiction Alcohol Use Print The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol and Medications By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on October 27, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on October 27, 2019 Sally Anscombe / Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery If you take medication of any sort, even over-the-counter or herbal remedies, drinking alcohol can have serious consequences. In some cases, alcohol can make the medications less effective, interfering with their absorption in the digestive tract. At other times, it can increase the bioavailability of a drug, potentially raising blood concentration to toxic levels. Whether or not the drug label warns against alcohol use, do not assume that the absence of a warning means that everything is okay. If in doubt, contact your doctor and ask if alcohol should be avoided with any of the drugs you are taking, especially chronic or prescription medications. In some cases, you may be advised to avoid alcohol for either four hours before or after a dose.?? In others, you may need to switch drugs or avoid drinking alcohol altogether. Medications Not to Take With Alcohol According to the National Institute on alcohol abuse and alcoholism, here is a shortlist of brand-name drugs and some possible reactions that might occur if taken with alcohol. Allergy, Cold, and Flu Medications You should avoid drinking if taking allergy medications and any multi-symptom cold and flu formulation. Drowsiness and dizziness are common, interfering with your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery.?? Because the combined use can impair judgment, there is also an increased risk of overdose. Avoiding using alcohol with: AlavertAllegra or Allegra-DBenadrylClarinexClaritin or Claritin-DDimetapp Cold and AllergySudafed Sinus and AllergyTriaminic Cold and AllergyTylenol Cold and FluZyrtec Angina Medications Angina, also known as ischemic chest pain, is a type of pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. Taking alcohol with the angina medication nitroglycerin can lead to a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.?? Avoid drinking when taking any brand of nitroglycerin including: NitrostatNitromistNitroquickNitrolingualNitro-DurMinitranNitro-BidNitronol Anti-Anxiety and Epilepsy Medications The combined use of alcohol and anti-anxiety and epilepsy medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss.?? Avoid taking alcohol with: AtivanKlonopinPaxilValiumXanax Antibiotics The combined use of alcohol and certain antibiotics can cause rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), sudden changes in blood pressure, stomach pain, vomiting, headache, flushing, and liver damage. Avoid taking alcohol with: AmoxicillinFlagylNizoralNydrazidTindamax Antidepressants As a rule, the combined use of alcohol and antidepressants can cause drowsiness, dizziness, increased feelings of depression. Avoid taking alcohol with: AnafranilCelexaEffexorElavilLexaproLuvoxNorpraminPaxilSerzoneWellbutrinZoloft Anti-Nausea Medications The combined use of alcohol and anti-nausea medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired motor control.?? Avoid taking alcohol with: AntivertAtaraxDramaminePhenergan Anti-Seizure Medications The combined use of alcohol and anti-seizure medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and even the very seizures they are meant to prevent. Avoid taking alcohol with: DilantinKlonopin Arthritis Medications The combined use of alcohol and certain arthritis medications can cause ulcers, stomach bleeding, and liver problems. Avoid taking alcohol with: CelebrexNaprosynVoltaren Blood Thinners Blood thinners are used to prevent the formation of blood clots. Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding. Heavier drinking can also cause bleeding or have the opposite effect, enhancing blood clot formation and increasing the risk of stroke or heart attacks. Avoid taking alcohol with: Coumadin (warfarin) Cholesterol Medications The combined use of alcohol and certain cholesterol-lowering medications can cause flushing, itching, stomach bleeding, and liver damage. Avoid taking alcohol with AdvicorAltocorCrestorLipitorMevacorNiaspanVytorinZocor Cough Suppressants As with cold and flu remedies, the combined use of alcohol and cough medications can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, and motor impairment. Avoid taking alcohol with: Robitussin A-C or Robitussin CoughDelsym Diabetes Medications The combined use of alcohol and certain diabetes medications can cause abnormally low blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, and sudden changes in blood pressure. Avoid taking alcohol with: GlucophageMicronaseOrinase Heartburn Medications The combined use of alcohol and certain heartburn medications can cause rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), sudden changes in blood pressure, and enhanced alcohol effect. Avoid taking alcohol with: AxidReglanTagametZantac High Blood Pressure Medications The combined use of alcohol and hypertension medications can cause dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).?? Avoid taking alcohol with: AccuprilCapozideCarduraCatapresCozaarHytrinLopressor HCTLotensinMinipressVaseretic Muscle Relaxants The combined use of alcohol and muscle relaxants can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, memory loss, and seizures.?? Avoid taking alcohol with: FlexerilSomaAntivertAtarax Narcotic Pain Medications As a rule, the combined use of alcohol and narcotic pain medications can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, memory loss, and an increased risk of overdose. Avoid taking alcohol with: Darvocetâ€"NDemerolFiorinalPercocetVicodin Over-the-Counter Pain Medications The combined use of alcohol and painkillers (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause stomach upset, stomach bleeding, stomach ulcers, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), and liver damage. Avoid taking alcohol with: AdvilAleveExcedrinMotrinTylenolAny drug or multi-symptom remedy containing ibuprofen Prostate Medications The combined use of alcohol and prostate medications can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. Avoid taking alcohol with: CarduraFlomaxMinipress Sleep Aids As a rule, the combined use of alcohol and sleep medications should be avoided. It can cause slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, memory loss, and fainting. Avoid taking alcohol with: AmbienLunestaProsomRestorilUnisom