Drinking Alcohol While Using Other Drugs Can Be Deadly Alcohol Use
As with cold and flu remedies, combining alcohol with medications used to treat a cough can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and motor impairment. The effects of the mix can be especially serious—if not deadly—when the cough medicine also contains alcohol. In some cases, a fatal overdose can occur if sleep aids are mixed with alcohol because both substances affect the body’s central nervous system (which controls your breathing, heart rate, and brain function). The effects of mixing alcohol with medication also depend on certain individual factors. For example, women can experience the effects of mixing alcohol and medications more severely than men because of differences in metabolism. In some cases, mixing alcohol with medications can lead to an overdose or alcohol poisoning—both of which are potentially life-threatening medical emergencies.
If you are not sure if it is safe to drink alcohol while you are taking medication, call a local pharmacy or talk to your doctor about the potential interactions. Narcan (naloxone hydrochloride) is an opioid agonist—a medication that can help counteract the effects of opioid medications such as morphine, oxycodone, and heroin. Naloxone can rapidly reverse opioid overdose by quickly restoring normal respiration to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped due to mixing opioid pain medications with alcohol. Drowsiness and dizziness are common side effects of medications used to treat allergies, colds, and the flu. When the substances are combined, the effect is intensified, and your judgment and focus will be further impaired. Additionally, if you have an underlying health condition like heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension), mixing alcohol with your medications can put you at risk for complications.
Medical Professionals
- 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.
- Because of this, they do not metabolize alcohol as efficiently, putting them at greater risk for high blood alcohol levels after drinking the same amount of alcohol as a man.
- If you are not sure if it is safe to drink alcohol while you are taking medication, call a local pharmacy or talk to your doctor about the potential interactions.
- Antidepressants can cause drowsiness and dizziness that can be made worse with alcohol.
- Small amounts of alcohol can make it dangerous to drive, and when you mix alcohol with certain medicines you put yourself at even greater risk.
When mixed with beer or wine, they can also cause dangerously high blood pressure due to an alcohol byproduct called tyramine. Mixing alcohol and medicines puts you at risk for dangerous reactions. Protect yourself by avoiding alcohol if you are taking a medication and don’t know its effect. To learn more about a medicine and whether it will interact with alcohol, talk to your pharmacist or other health care provider. Prescription drugs and alcohol can be a dangerous combination, Volkow says.
Why is alcohol a drug?
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are a what is the strongest vodka group of enzymes found throughout the body, primarily in the liver. They help to break down drugs so they can be excreted from the body. There are many different types of enzymes with different names, indicated by letters and numbers. It can be dangerous to use two or more drugs at the same time, or within a short time of each other.
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Two groups of synthetic drugs — synthetic cannabinoids and substituted or synthetic cathinones — are illegal in most states. The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known. If you or your loved one are battling an alcohol and/or oxycodone addiction, it is important to seek out treatment. There are different treatment options, depending on the situation and individual’s needs.
Signs and symptoms of inhalant use vary, depending on the substance. Some commonly inhaled substances include glue, paint thinners, correction fluid, felt tip marker fluid, gasoline, cleaning fluids and household aerosol products. Due to the toxic nature of these substances, users may develop brain damage or sudden death.
Consult with a medical provider about how any alcohol use may interact with your medications, including any supplements, vitamins, or contraception. Each person’s metabolism, alcohol tolerance, and other individual health factors will determine specifically how long you need to wait before it’s safe to drink. They found that over 70% of U.S. adults regularly drink alcohol, and roughly 42% of those who drink also use medications that can interact with alcohol. Utilizing a large database of over 1,300 medications, they found that 45% of these medications had the potential to interact with alcohol.