Pills and alcohol. Are they compatible?

We have heard not once that pills and alcohol aren’t compatible. But are they?

There are a lot of people who have taken pills for years, so that means they never drink alcohol.

There are a lot of questions that people need answers to.

Holidays are coming and everybody wants to have a good, warm holiday meal and alcohol.

Champagne, wines, and different holiday cocktails always have the main position on every table.

If you are on pills it will be a problem for you to fully have fun on New Year's Eve.

That’s why it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if you can drink alcohol with the pills that you are taking. It is interesting to note that nowadays both alcohol and pills can be reached by online delivery.

Numerous drugs and alcohol can interact, changing how they are metabolized or how they affect the body. Even at modest drinking levels, some of these interactions can happen and harm the drinker's health. There are two sorts of interactions between alcohol and medications: pharmacokinetic interactions, in which alcohol obstructs the medication's metabolism, and pharmacodynamic interactions, in which alcohol intensifies the medication's effects, particularly on the central nervous system.

In the liver, where alcohol and numerous drugs are typically processed by the same enzymes, pharmacokinetic interactions typically take place. Antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, histamine H2 receptor antagonists, muscle relaxants, non-narcotic painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and warfarin are just a few of the groups of prescription drugs that can interact with alcohol. In addition, taking alcohol and a lot of over-the-counter and herbal drugs together can have detrimental effects.

Any pharmacy chain will offer you information on these drugs.

What happens when you mix pills and alcohol

Numerous immediate and long-term consequences of alcohol on the body are possible. Because prescription medications and alcohol might interact differently, mixing the two can be risky. Having alcohol while taking certain drugs can:

• lessen the medication's efficiency
• make the drug hazardous to your body by making it.
• make the medication's side effects worse
• make you feel sick and give you new symptoms
• make the alcohol make you feel drunker

Age has an impact on how alcohol affects the body. Because the body breaks down alcohol more slowly in older persons, their tolerance levels are lower. Additionally, older people are more likely to take medication. As a result, they are more likely to experience alcohol and drug interactions. In addition, after consuming the same amount of alcohol, women have higher blood alcohol levels than men. Consequently, women should generally exercise particular caution when drinking alcohol.

The 3 drugs that, when combined with alcohol, can have negative effects are discussed below. But bear in mind that taking other medications while intoxicated is risky as well.

 

Anxiety medicines

 

Combining alcohol with sleeping aids or anxiety drugs could have detrimental effects. These drugs and alcohol both affect the brain in comparable ways. The potential for harmful side effects such as excessive sleepiness and breathing slowdown is increased by this combination.

Anxiety medicine examples include:

Lorazepam (Ativan) (Ativan)

Diazepam (Valium), Alprazolam (Xanax), and Clonazepam (Klonopin)

These are some instances of sleeping pills:

Zolpidem (Ambien) (Ambien)

Eszopiclone (Lunesta) (Lunesta)

Zaleplon (Sonata) (Sonata)

 

Antidepressants

 

Antidepressants come in a variety of varieties. Depending on the prescription, drinking alcohol has different risks. For instance, significant drowsiness and blackouts can occur when antidepressants like amitriptyline are combined with alcohol. Alcohol and medications like sertraline (Zoloft) together can make depression symptoms worse.

Other, more prevalent negative effects of taking certain drugs with alcohol include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• difficulties moving
• liver injury
• significant heart effects

Additionally, it's best to avoid combining alcohol with antipsychotic medications like quetiapine. Alcohol can exacerbate negative effects and decrease a medication's efficacy.

Blood pressure medicines and nitrates

 

Regular alcohol consumption might cause blood pressure to rise. As a result, blood pressure drugs have a tougher time working. Numerous blood pressure medicines are available. Heart medicines are also frequently recommended, including nitrates for chest discomfort. It is not advised to combine these drugs with alcohol use.

When alcohol and either of these heart medications is used together, the risk of:

Dizziness

Fainting

Drowsiness

Irregular cardiac rhythm or a quicker heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Numerous immediate and long-term effects of alcohol use on the body. Numerous drugs may also interact with it. Alcohol and some antibiotics, anxiety medicines, and painkillers can be risky combinations.

It's critical to be open and honest with your healthcare professional about your drinking habits. They can assist you in comprehending the dangers of consuming alcohol while taking prescription medications.

What happens when alcohol and drugs are combined? Considering that countless medications have the potential to interact with alcohol, it is crucial to evaluate your prescription list with your pharmacist or another healthcare professional to look for clinically relevant drug-alcohol reactions. Even though some studies suggest that drinking alcohol in moderation is good for your heart, other drugs and alcohol can affect how well you respond to treatment.

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