Mixing Alcohol With Other Drugs
Mixing Alcohol with other drugs--prescription and non prescription--can have complicated, and at times dangerous interactions. Alcohol is a Central Nervous System Depressant literally hundreds of medications can lead to alcohol (also called ethanol) interactions, it is important to review your medicines with your pharmacist or other health care provider to check for clinically significant drug-alcohol reactions. Even though some research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption is heart healthy, certain medications and alcohol have the capacity to interfere with your successful treatment The danger is real. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body.
Some medicines that you might never have suspected can react with alcohol, including many medications which can be purchased “over- the-counter”—that is, without a prescription. Even some herbal remedies can have harmful effects when combined with alcoho Check with You Doctor and/or Pharmacist. Medications typically are safe and effective when used appropriately. Your pharmacist or other health care provider can help you determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol.
Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
Allergies/Colds/Flu • Alavert® Loratadine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose • Atarax® Hydroxyzine
• Clarinex® Desloratadine
• Claritin®, Loratadine Claritin-D®
• Dimetapp® Brompheniramine Cold &Allergy
• Sudafed® Chlorpheniramine Sinus & Allergy
• Triaminic® Chlorpheniramine Cold & Allergy
• Tylenol® Chlorpheniramine Allergy Sinus
• Tylenol® Cold Chlorpheniramine & Flu
• Zyrtec® Cetirizine
Angina (chest pain), • Isordil® Isosorbide Rapid heartbeat, coronary heart disease Nitroglycerin sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting
Anxiety and epilepsy • Ativan® Lorazepam Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; • BuSpar® Buspirone Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
• Klonopin® Clonazepam slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; • Librium® Chlordiazepoxide unusual behavior; memory problems • Paxil® Paroxetine
• Valium® Diazepam
• Xanax® Alprazolam
• Herbal Liver damage, preparations drowsiness (Kava Kava)
Arthritis • Celebrex® Celecoxib Ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver damage • Naprosyn® Naproxen
• Voltaren® Diclofenac
Attention and • Adderall® Amphetamine/dextro- Dizziness, concentration amphetamine drowsiness, impaired (Attention concentration deficit/hyperactivity (methylphenidate, disorder) • Concerta®, Methylphenidate dexmethylphenidate); Ritalin® possible increased risk for heart problems • Dexedrine® Dextroamphetamine (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, • Focalin® Dexmethylphenidate lisdexamfetamine); liver damage (atomoxetine) • Strattera® Atomoxetine
• Vyvanse® Lisdexamfetamine
Blood clots • Coumadin® Warfarin 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
Cough • Delsym®, Dextromethorpan Drowsiness, Robitussin dizziness; increased Cough® risk for overdose
• Robitussin A– Guaifenesin + codeine C®
Depression • Abilify® Aripriprazone Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; • Anafranil® Clomipramine increased feelings of depression or hopelessness (all • Celexa® Citalopram Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
• Clozaril® Clozapine medications); impaired motor control (quetiapine, • Cymbalta® Duloxetine mirtazapine); increased alcohol effect (bupropion); • Desyrel® Trazodone liver damage (duloxetine) • Effexor® Venlafaxine
• Elavil® Amitriptyline Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as • Geodon® Ziprasidone tranylcypromine and phenelzine, when combined with • Invega® Paliperidone alcohol, may result in serious heart-related • Lexapro® Escitalopram side effects. Risk for dangerously high blood pressure is • Luvox® Fluvoxamine increased when MAOIs are mixed with tyramine, a • Nardil® Phenelzine byproduct found in beer and red wine • Norpramin® Desipramine
• Pamate® Tranylcypromine
• Paxil® Paroxetine
• Pristiq® Desevenlafaxine
• Prozac® Fluoxetine
• Remeron® Mirtazapine
• Risperdal® Risperidone
• Seroquel® Quetiapine
• Serzone® Nefazodone
• Symbyax® Fluoxetine/Olanzapine
• Wellbutrin® Bupropion
• Zoloft® Sertraline
• Zyprexa® Olanzapine
• Herbal preparations (St. John’s Wort)
Diabetes • Diabinese® Chlorpropamide Abnormally low blood sugar levels, flushing reaction • Glucotrol® Glipizide Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
• Glucophage® Metformin (nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, sudden • Glynase®, Glyburide changes in blood DiaBeta®, pressure); symptoms Micronase® of nausea and weakness may occur (metformin) • Orinase® Tolbutamide
• Tolinase® Tolazamide
Enlarged prostate • Cardura® Doxazosin Dizziness, light headedness, fainting
• Flomax® Tamsulosin
• Hytrin® Terazosin
• Minipress® Prazosin
Heartburn, • Axid® Nizatidine Rapid heartbeat; indigestion, sour increased alcohol stomach effect; sudden • Reglan® Metoclopramide changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide) • Tagamet® Cimetidine
• Zantac® Ranitidine
High blood pressure • Accupril® Quinapril Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness; heart problems such as • Calan® Verapamil changes in the heart’s regular heartbeat (arrhythmia) • Capozide® Hydrochlorothiazide
• Cardura® Doxazosin
• Catapres® Clonidine
• Cozaar® Losartan
• Hytrin® Terazosin
• Lopressor® Hydrochlorothiazide HCT
• Lotensin® Benzapril
• Minipress® Prazosin
• Norvasc® Amlodipine mesylate
• Prinivil®, Lisinopril Zestril®
• Vaseretic® Enalapril
High cholesterol • Advicor® Lovastatin + Niacin Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
• Altocor® Lovastatin
• Crestor® Rosuvastatin
• Lipitor® Atorvastatin
• Mevacor® Lovastatin Liver damage (all medications); increased flushing • Niaspan® Niacin and itching (niacin), increased stomach • Pravachol® Pravastatin bleeding (pravastatin + aspirin)
• Pravigard™ Pravastatin + Aspirin
• Vytorin™ Ezetimibe + Simvastatin
• Zocor® Simvastatin
Infections • Acrodantin® Nitrofurantoin Fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; • Flagyl® Metronidazole stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, headache, or flushing • Grisactin® Griseofulvin or redness of the face; liver damage • Nizoral® Ketoconazole (isoniazid, ketoconazole)
• Nydrazid® Isoniazid
• Seromycin® Cycloserine
• Tindamax® Tinidazole
• Zithromax® Azithromycin
Mood stabilizers • Depakene®, Valproic acid Drowsiness, Depakote® dizziness; tremors; increased risk for side effects, such as • Eskalith®, Lithium restlessness, impaired Eskalith®CR, motor control; loss of Lithobid appetite; stomach upset; irregular bowel movement; joint or muscle pain; depression; liver damage (valproic acid)
Muscle pain • Flexeril® Cyclobenzaprine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; • Soma® Carisoprodol increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
Nausea, motion • Antivert® Meclizine Drowsiness, sickness dizziness; increased risk for overdose • Dramamine® Dimenhydrinate
• Phenergan® Promethazine
Pain (such as muscle • Advil® Ibuprofen Stomach upset, ache, minor arthritis bleeding and ulcers; pain), fever, liver damage inflammation • Aleve® Naproxen (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat • Excedrin® Aspirin, Acetaminophen
• Motrin® Ibuprofen
• Tylenol® Acetaminophen
Seizures • Dilantin® Phenytoin Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures • Horizant®, Gabapentin (levetiracetam, Neurontin® phenytoin); unusual behavior and changes in mental health • Keppra® Levetiracetam (such as thoughts of suicide) (topiramate) • Klonopin® Clonazepam
Phenobarbital
• Lamictal® Lamotrigine
• Lyrica® Pregabalin
• Tegretol® Carbamazepine
• Topamax® Topiramate
• Trileptal® Oxcarbazepine
Barbiturates
Severe pain from • Darvocet–N® Propoxyphene Drowsiness, injury, postsurgical dizziness; increased care, oral surgery, risk for overdose; migraines • Demerol® Merepidine slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; • Fiorinal® with Butalbital + codeine unusual behavior; codeine memory problems
• Percocet® Oxycodone
• Vicodin® Hydrocodone
Sleep problems • Ambien® Zolpidem Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness; slowed or difficulty • Lunesta™ Eszopiclone Medication Some possible Medication (Generic Symptom/Disorders (Brand reactions with name) name) alcohol
• Prosom™ Estazolam breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; • Restoril® Temazepam memory problems
• Sominex® Diphenhydramine
• Unisom® Doxylamine
• Herbal Increased drowsiness preparations (chamomile, valerian, lavender)
Commonly Used Medicines (Both Prescription and Over-the-Counter) That Interact With Alcohol
Additional Resources
MedlinePlus A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
Provides information on prescription and over-the-counter medications.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism http://www.niaaa.nih.gov Phone number: 301–443–3860
Makes available free informational materials on alcohol use, alcohol abuse, and alcoholism.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research: http://www.fda.gov/cder
Drug Interactions: http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/ucm163354.htm
Source: National institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/harmful-interactions-mixing-alcohol-with-medicines , retrieved and updated July 31, 2020
More Information about mixing alcohol and other drugs can be found at: https://www.drugs.com/article/medications-and-alcohol.html (Drugs.com)