medication safety

The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol with Drugs

Medications are safe and effective when used appropriately and under the guidance of a medical doctor.

Remember, your doctor will take a full medical history prior to prescribing medication in order to best meet your medical needs and for safety precautions as well.

Many medications including those that are prescribed, over the counter medication and herbal remedies can interact negatively with alcohol.

Alcohol can be dangerous when mixed with other recreational drugs and or medications.

It is essential that you talk with your doctor and or your pharmacist to learn about any possible drug interactions when considering mixing with alcohol.

See http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm

for further information.

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm

1. What is the medication and what exactly is it supposed to do?

2. When and how should I be taking this medication and at what frequency?

3. What if I miss a recommended dosage? 4. Should I avoid alcohol, any other medicines,

food, and/or activities while I am taking this medication?

5. Are there any side effects that may come from taking this drug?

6. There is a religious holiday coming up where I am planning to fast which would include not taking my medication, what can the possible impact be? (You may also wish to communicate with your religious leader and or spiritual advisor as well about your concerns. Most faiths will state that your health is most important)

7. How should this medication be stored?

Common myths about consuming alcohol while taking other drugs:

This is a myth. There are many prescription medications that can harmfully interact with alcohol. If there is any chance you will be consuming alcohol while taking any prescription medication make sure to talk with your doctor and or pharmacist to discuss possible interactions and effects.

This is a myth. Combining any of these drugs with alcohol can increase your risk of GI bleeding and ulcers.

Combining alcohol with Tylenol is dangerous and can lead to liver toxicity and or damage.

Combining alcohol with any narcotic drug (Oxycotin, Codeine, etc.) can be extremely dangerous. Because both are depressants (sedatives) when taken together the sedative effect of both increases significantly. This can lead to respiratory depression (you stop breathing), coma and or death.

Also, many narcotics are pre-mixed with Tylenol (acetaminophen) which when combined with alcohol can lead to liver damage.

Alcohol can interfere with the effects of various diabetes medications including insulin. Depending on the amount consumed, alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to drop to dangerous levels. Also, alcohol can cause dizziness and disorientation which are similar to symptoms of hypoglycemia. Confusing alcohol related issues with hypoglycemia can be extremely dangerous because the treatment for each is very different.

This is a myth. Alcohol has been shown to interfere with sleep cycles and when consumed on a regular basis may be contributing factor to a sleep disorder.

Alcohol can also contribute negatively to sleep apnea and may cause sleep apnea for some people.

Alcohol should never be mixed with drugs used to treat sleep disorders. Possible interactions include dizziness, slowed breathing, impaired motor control and memory loss.

This is a myth. Mixing alcohol with any seizure medication can actually increase your risk of having a seizure.

This is a dangerous myth. Mixing alcohol with any stimulant can be extremely dangerous. Our brain has natural mechanisms that serve as personal life saving tools. An example of this would be passing out after alcohol consumption. Your brain is trying to prevent any more toxins from being ingested into the body.

When mixing a stimulant with alcohol (energy drinks included) a person is at greater risk for alcohol poisoning and other dangerous effects from combining the two drugs.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. When mixing alcohol with other mood altering drugs (antidepressants) the individual may experience a synergistic effect. What that means is that the different drugs can intensify the effects of each other. Because alcohol is a depressant it impacts the higher center of our brain (which controls breathing, balance and judgment) and its effects can be intensified when mixed with other medications. Alcohol may also increase anxiety levels and may also trigger panic attacks.

This is a myth. Combining alcohol with marijuana decreases your motor control and can significantly impact mental concentration. Marijuana can also suppress your gag reflex, preventing your body from ridding itself (vomiting) of toxins when necessary.

If taking medication to correct chemical imbalance in brain chemistry (eg: depression, ADD/ADHD) smoking marijuana is counterintuitive. Marijuana affects brain dopamine and will only cause havoc with an already imbalanced system.

Symptom/DisordersMedication

(Brand name)Medication

(Generic name)Some possible reactions with

alcohol

Allergies/Colds/Flu • Alavert® Loratadine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of alcohol poisoning, overdose.

Impaired psychomotor performance and sedation

• Allegra®, Allegra-D® Fexofenadin

• Benadryl® Diphenhydramine

• Clarinex® Desloratadine

• Claritin®, Claritin-D® Loratadine

• Dimetapp® Cold & Allergy Brompheniramine

• Sudafed® Sinus & Allergy Chlorpheniramine

• Triaminic® Cold & Allergy Chlorpheniramine

• Tylenol® Allergy Sinus Chlorpheniramine

• Tylenol® Cold & Flu Chlorpheniramine

• Zyrtec® Cetirizine

Anxiety and epilepsy • Ativan® Lorazepam Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; and memory problems

• Klonopin® Clonazepam

• Librium® Chlordiazepoxide

• Paxil® Paroxetine

• Valium® Diazepam

• Xanax® Alprazolam

• Herbal preparations (Kava Kava)

Liver damage, drowsiness




alcohol

Psychosis, delusions and hallucinations

• Thorazine®

• Haldol®

Chlorpromazine

Haloperidol

Impaired coordination, intensified sedation and breathing difficulties.

Impaired psychomotor performance and CNS depression.

•Seroquel®

•Abilify®

Aripiprazole

Olanzapine




alcohol

Arthritis • Celebrex® Celecoxib Ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver problems

• Naprosyn® Naproxen

• Voltaren® Diclofenac

Blood clots • Coumadin®

•Plavix®

•Aspirin

Warfarin

Clopidogrel

Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking also may cause bleeding or may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks




alcohol

Depression • Anafranil® Clomipramine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; increased feelings of depression or hopelessness

• Celexa® Citalopram

• Desyrel® Trazodone

• Effexor® Venlafaxine

• Elavil® Amitriptyline

• Lexapro® Escitalopram

• Luvox® Fluvoxamine

• Norpramin® Desipramine

• Paxil® Paroxetine

• Prozac® Fluoxetine

• Serzone® Nefazodone

• Wellbutrin® Bupropion

• Zoloft® Sertraline

• Herbal preparations (St. John’s Wort)




alcohol

Diabetes • Glucophage® Metformin Increased risk for lactic acidosis

Abnormally low blood sugar levels, flushing reaction (nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure), diabetic coma, increased risk of alcohol poisoning

Alcohol may prolong glipzide’s effect on blood glucose by delaying glipzide absorption and elimination.

• Micronase® Glyburide

Glipizide

Glimeperide

•Lantus®

•Humalog ® (Humulin)

•Novolog ® (Novolin)

•Byetta®




alcohol

Heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach

• Axid® Nizatidine Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide); increased alcohol effect

• Reglan® Metoclopramide

• Tagamet® Cimetidine

• Zantac® Ranitidine




alcohol

High blood pressure • Accupril® Quinapril Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness; heart problems such as changes in the heart’s regular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Hypotension, especially in those of Asian descent (tend to have deficiencies in aldehyde dehydrogenase).

• Capozide® Hydrochlorothiazide

• Cardura® Doxazosin

• Catapres® Clonidine

• Cozaar® Losartan

• Hytrin® Terazosin

• Lopressor® HCT Hydrochlorothiazide

• Lotensin® Benzapril

• Minipress® Prazosin

• Vaseretic® Enalapril




alcohol

High cholesterol • Advicor® Lovastatin + Niacin Liver damage (all medications); increased flushing and itching (niacin), increased stomach bleeding (pravastatin + aspirin)

• Altocor® Lovastatin

• Crestor® Rosuvastatin

• Lipitor® Atorvastatin

• Mevacor® Lovastatin

• Niaspan® Niacin

• Pravachol® Pravastatin

• Pravigard™ Pravastatin + Aspirin

• Vytorin™ Ezetimibe + Simvastatin

• Zocor® Simvastatin




alcohol




alcohol

Infections • Amoxil® Amoxicillin Upset stomach, dizziness, drowsiness, flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, liver damage

• Augmentin® Co-amoxiclav

• Penicillin V® Phenoxymethylpenicillin

• Erymax® Erythromycin

• Keflex® cefalexin

• Tetracycline®

• Flagyl® Metronidazole

• Vancocin® Vancomycin

Muscle pain • Flexeril® Cyclobenzaprine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems

• Soma® Carisoprodol




alcohol

Nausea, motion sickness • Antivert® Meclizine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose

• Atarax® Hydroxyzine

• Dramamine® Dimenhydrinate

• Phenergan® Promethazine




alcohol

Pain (such as headache, muscle ache, minor arthritis pain), fever, inflammation

• Advil® Ibuprofen Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat

• Aleve® Naproxen

• Excedrin® Aspirin, Acetaminophen

• Motrin® Ibuprofen

• Tylenol® Acetaminophen




alcohol

Severe pain from injury, postsurgical care, oral surgery, migraines (narcotic pain relievers)

• Darvocet–N® Propoxyphene Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems

• Demerol® Merepidine

• Fiorinal® with codeine Butalbital + codeine

• Percocet® Oxycodone

• Vicodin® Hydrocodone




alcohol

Seizures • Dilantin® Phenytoin Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures

• Klonopin® ClonazepamPhenobarbital




alcohol

Sleep problems • Ambien® Zolpidem Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems. Alcohol actually interferes with the sleep cycle

• Lunesta™ Eszopiclone

• Prosom™ Estazolam

• Restoril® Temazepam

• Sominex® Diphenhydramine

• Unisom® Doxylamine

• Herbal preparations (chamomile, valerian, lavender)

Increased drowsiness




alcohol

Substance Abuse • Dolphine® Methadone Respiratory depression, increased risk of drug toxicity, accidental overdose and significant drug interactions

• Suboxone® Buprenorphine/Naloxone



(Generic name)Some possible reactions

with alcohol

Ulcers and other Gastrointestinal problems

• Axid ® nitzatidine Increased presence of drug, may also trigger gastrointestinal problems and symptoms•Carafate ® sucralfate

•Cytotec ® misoprostol

• Pepcid® famotidine

•Prilosec ®•Tagament®

•Zantac®

Omeprazole

Cimetidine

Ranitidine Hydrochloride



(Generic name)Some possible reactions

with alcohol

Alavert ® : ◦ http://www.alavert.com/

Allegra ® : ◦ http://www.allegra.com/

Benedryl ®:◦ http://www.benadryl.com/?s_kwcid=benadryl|

1568482296&gclid=CISq8eTxn6ACFVl35QodBE70bg ◦ http://www.benadryl.com/?s_kwcid=benadryl|

1568482296&gclid=CISq8eTxn6ACFVl35QodBE70bg Claritin ® :

◦ http://www.claritin.com/claritin/home/index.jspa?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=claritin&utm_content=general-branded&utm_campaign=branded&buf=99999999

Sudafed ®:◦ http://sudafed.com/?utm_campaign=Sudafed%20Branded%20-%20General

%202009&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Sudafed%20PE&utm_ Triaminic ®:

◦ http://www.triaminic.com/ Tylenol ®:

◦ http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/sinus/main.inc&_requestid=1253080 ◦ http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/cold/main.inc&_requestid=1253098

Zyrtec ®:◦ http://www.zyrtec.com/econsumer/zyrtec/product.view?body=/zyrtec/pages/prod_all.jsp

Ativan®◦ http://www.biovail.com/english/products/default.asp?

s=1&product=403&viewer=doctor&state=displayProduct&country=USA

Klonopin®◦ http://www.gene.com/gene/products/information/

klonopin/ Librium®

◦ http://www.gsk.com/products/prescription-medicines/paxil.htm

◦ http://www.roche.com/products/product-list.htm?type=diseases&id=5

Xanax® Thorazine®

◦ http://www.drugs.com/pdr/chlorpromazine.html Haldol®

◦ http://www.drugs.com/pro/haloperidol-tablets.html

Naprosyn® ◦ http://www.novartis.com/products/pharmaceuticals-v.shtml ◦ http://www.coumadin.com/ ◦ http://www.tevausa.com/default.aspx?pageid=76 ◦ http://www.celexa.com/ ◦ http://www.tevausa.com/default.aspx?pageid=76 ◦ http://www.effexorxr.com/

Elavil® ◦ http://www.lexapro.com/ ◦ http://www.tevausa.com/default.aspx?pageid=76◦ http://www.luvoxcr.com/LUVOX-CR-PI.pdf ◦ http://www.sanofi-aventis.us/live/us/en/layout.jsp?scat=BD0DB

735-32D7-41C4-898F-74F67D343145 ◦ http://www.gsk.com/products/prescription-medicines/paxil.htm ◦ http://www.prozac.com/Pages/index.aspx ◦ http://www.tevausa.com/default.aspx?pageid=76 ◦ http://www.wellbutrin.com/ ◦ http://www.zoloft.com/

Glucophage® ◦ http://www.pfizer.com/products/rx/prescription.jsp ◦ http://www.pfizer.com/products/rx/prescription.jsp ◦ http://www.axidos.com/

Reglan® ◦ http://www.essentialsforlivingwell.com/products/tagamethb/default.aspx?

redirectfrom=www.tagamethb.com ◦ http://www.zantacotc.com/ ◦ http://www.pfizer.com/products/rx/rx_product_accupril.jsp ◦ http://www.tevausa.com/default.aspx?pageid=76 ◦ http://carduraxl.com/

Catapres® ◦ http://www.cozaar.com/losartan_potassium/cozaar/curtain.jsp

Hytrin® ◦ http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/products/name/lopressorhct.jsp?

usertrack.filter_applied=true&NovaId=2935376848933120249 Lotensin®

◦ http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/products/name/lotensin.jsp?usertrack.filter_applied=true&NovaId=2935376848933200938

Minipress® Vaseretic®

◦ http://www.advicor.com/

Altocor® ◦ http://www.crestor.com/c/home.aspx ◦ http://www.lipitor.com/content/index.aspx

Mevacor® ◦ http://www.niaspan.com/ ◦ http://www.pravachol.com/pages/default.aspx

Pravigard™ ◦ http://www.vytorin.com ◦ http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/z/zocor.html

Amoxil® Augmentin® Penicillin V® Erymax®

◦ http://www.keflex.com/ Tetracycline® Flagyl®

◦ http://www.viropharma.com/patients/vancocin.aspx

Flexeril® ◦ http://www.soma250.com/?

utm_campaign=Branded&utm_source=msn&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Soma%20250%20Co%20Pay&utm_term=carisoprodol%20co%20pay

Antivert® Atarax®

◦ http://dramamine.com/ Phenergan®

◦ http://www.advil.com/ ◦ http://www.aleve.com/index.html ◦ http://www.excedrin.com/index.shtml ◦ http://www.motrin.com/ ◦ http://www.tylenol.com/

Darvocet–N® Demerol® Fiorinal® with codeine Percocet® Vicodin® Dilantin® Klonopin®

◦ http://www.ambiencr.com/ ◦ http://www.lunesta.com/

Prosom™ ◦ http://pharmaceuticals.mallinckrodt.com/products/

product.asp?productID=5392 ◦ http://www.essentialsforlivingwell.com/products/

sominex/default.aspx?redirectfrom=www.sominex.com ◦ http://www.unisom.com/

Dolphine® ◦ http://suboxone.com/ ◦ http://www.axidos.com/

Carafate ® Cytotec ®

◦ http://pepcid.com/ ◦ http://prilosecotc.com/en_US/consumer/ ◦ http://www.essentialsforlivingwell.com/products/

tagamethb/default.aspx?redirectfrom=www.tagamethb.com

◦ http://www.zantacotc.com/

medication safety

Documents

consuming alcohol

dangers of mixing alcohol

counter medication

dangerous levels

medical doctor

possible interactions

sleep apnea

possible drug interactions