Photo: MART PRODUCTION / Pexels
Mixing alcohol with medications is dangerous. Even those over-the-counter medicines without a prescription and that you do not suspect that there may be a bad reaction, such as some painkillers, flu or cough medicines, when consumed with alcohol could trigger negative side effects.
The mixture of medicines and alcohol can cause nausea and headaches to breathing difficulties and internal bleeding. Even in small amounts, alcohol can also intensify the side effects of medications.
Negative effects of mixing alcohol and medicines
1. Increase in blood alcohol levels more than normal
Some medications may block alcohol metabolism causing blood alcohol levels to be higher than normal after consuming smaller amounts.
two. Decrease the effectiveness of medications or render them useless
Alcohol can make a medicine less effective or even useless. Also make the medicine harmful or toxic to the body. Drinkaware Trust explains that excessive alcohol consumption can cause changes in liver function, which means the medicine may not be absorbed as well as it should.
3. Extreme drowsiness
When alcohol is combined with medications sedative effect such as some antidepressants, antihistamines and sedatives , can induce a very deep sleep and cause difficulty waking up.
4. Breathing and memory problems
The Institute National on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) shares that some medications for anxiety, sleep problems and epilepsy if mixed with alcohol they can cause drowsiness and dizziness; increased risk of overdose; slowness or difficulty breathing; impaired engine control; unusual behavior; as well as memory problems.
5. Nausea, dizziness and drowsiness
Alcohol and certain antibiotics such as metronidazole and tinidazole can cause nausea, vomiting, redness of the skin, fast heart rate, dizziness or drowsiness .
Also combine alcohol with painkillers as tramadol, gabapentin and codeine can cause drowsiness, nausea and dizziness; The same is true for some medications for allergies, colds and coughs.
6. Suicidal thoughts
Consumption of antidepressant medications together with alcohol can cause drowsiness and dizziness. There is also the risk of serious effects such as overdose, increased feelings of depression or hopelessness, and liver damage.
7. Internal bleeding
Combine diclofenac, naproxen, ibuprofen and celecoxib with alcohol can cause ulcers, stomach bleeding and liver damage.
Alcohol and medications for high cholesterol can also increase stomach bleeding.
The NIAAA share that consuming anticoagulants as warfarin with alcohol can cause bleeding or contrary to it, possible blood clots, strokes or heart attacks.
8. Heart problems
The medications for heartburn and indigestion along with alcohol can cause sudden changes in blood pressure.
Medications for hypertension combined with alcohol can cause regular heartbeat. Alcohol and medicines for chest pain can cause rapid heartbeats, sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness and fainting.
Medicines for Depression such as tranylcypromine and phenelzine along with alcohol can also cause serious heart-related side effects.
9. Low blood sugar levels
Medications for diabetes combined with alcohol can cause abnormally low blood sugar levels, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat as well as changes in blood pressure.
10. Fainting
Consuming alcohol along with medication for High blood pressure, chest pain, and an enlarged prostate can lead to fainting.
Consult the list of commonly used medications that interact with alcohol in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
It may interest you: