7 Medications You Shouldn’t Mix with Alcohol
Alcohol has become a big part of American culture, and while the risks associated with moderate drinking are low, heavy consumption or the mixing of alcohol with other substances, such as prescription pills, can be dangerous and life-threatening. Seven types of medications you shouldn’t mix with alcohol include allergy, anxiety, ADHD, cough, depression, nausea, and pain medications.
Mixing alcohol with prescription drugs can also create dependencies and lead to drug abuse. If you do not know or are unsure about the effect of mixing alcohol with a currently prescribed medication it is best to avoid alcohol entirely until after speaking with your pharmacist or health care provider.
Mixing Prescription Pills and Alcohol
Over sixteen million Americans age twelve and older abuse prescription drugs each year. Combine that number with the number of Americans who report binge drinking and it makes sense that a large number of people will mix prescription drugs with alcohol each year. Research suggests that as many as 42 percent of adults who drink also use medications known to interact with alcohol. Combining prescription and over-the-counter drugs with alcohol can have unpredictable and unwanted consequences.
Dangers of Mixing Prescription Pills and Alcohol
Many common drugs have potential interactions with alcohol, with consequences ranging from reduced medicinal efficacy to serious potential harm or danger. For example, antibiotics, which most people reading this have likely been prescribed at some point, can have reduced efficacy when combined with alcohol. Furthermore, as both are processed by the liver, consuming alcohol while also taking antibiotics could cause liver damage. While these effects are dangerous for everyone, the elderly or those with compromised livers are especially at risk when mixing prescription drugs and alcohol.
Drugs that are especially likely to be abused can also have potentially life-threatening interactions. Opioids, for example, combined with alcohol can cause severe respiratory system malfunction that can lead to death, in addition to the damage it causes to the liver. Some cold medicines already contain alcohol and can lead to dangerous levels of alcohol consumption if combined with regular drinking. Antihistamines can have reduced efficacy and can potentially cause liver damage when mixed with alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has a table showing the harmful effects of commonly used prescription and over-the-counter drugs when used with alcohol. Consider the following table from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism regarding the harmful effects of commonly used prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs when paired with alcohol.
Commonly Used Medicines (Both Prescription and Over-the-Counter) That Interact With Alcohol
| Symptom/Disorder | Medication (Brand Name) | Possible Reactions with Alcohol |
|---|---|---|
| Allergies/Colds/Flu | Benadryl; Claritin, Claritin-D; Sudafed Sinus & Allergy; Tylenol Cold and Flu | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
| Anxiety/Epilepsy | Valium; Xanax; Klonopin | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems |
| Attention and Concentration | Adderall; Ritalin; Vyvanse | Drowsiness, dizziness; impaired concentration; possible increased risk for health problems |
| Cough | Robitussin | Drowsiness; dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
| Depression | Cymbalta; Lexapro; Prozac | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; increased feelings of depression or hopelessness
|
| Nausea and Motion Sickness | Dramamine | Drowsiness; dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
| Pain/Minor Arthritis/ Fever/Inflammation | Advil; Excedrin; Motrin; Tylenol | Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage; rapid heartbeat |
Source: NIAAA
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Kendra Bean is from Maui, Hawaiʻi. She is currently enrolled at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, specializing in Epidemiology. She is passionate about improving health literacy and access to care, specifically in rural areas.