March 26th, 2008 by jgold454

Many types of drugs can create harmful interactions when they are taken with alcohol. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medications as well as illegal or street drugs. Symptoms of interactions between alcohol and a medication can range from fatigue or dizziness to even coma, heart attack, or death. Many factors, including the user’s body chemistry, amount of time between ingestion of the two substances, how much medication is taken, and ingredients in the drug determine what the outcome will be.

A lot of people don’t realize how harmful a simple medication can become when it is mixed with alcohol. For example, even aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen have the potential to lead to significant health problems when taken along with alcohol. The possible reactions for this combination are listed as rapid heartbeat, liver damage, and stomach upset, stomach bleeding, and ulcers. Antibiotics with alcohol can cause vomiting or convulsions, and mixing drinking with some antidepressants can lead to dangerously elevated blood pressure. Many medications become less effective with alcohol, and drinking while there is another substance in one’s body that is also a depressant can be especially risky. These are just a few examples of potential interactions that can be harmful.

Individuals with an alcoholism or alcohol abuse problem may not think to be concerned about the consequences of mixing drinking with over-the-counter or prescription drugs. However, it’s important to pay attention to which drugs or medications are ingested with alcohol. Doctors and pharmacists can provide accurate information. In some situations, letting them know about an alcoholism problem could be essential for one’s medical safety when a drug becomes necessary for a health condition. Older people are especially at risk for the harmful effects of drug and alcohol interactions because they’re most likely to be taking medications on a daily basis.