8 medications that should not be mixed with alcohol
Here are eight types of medications that must never be consumed with alcohol.
1. Painkillers (Opioids and NSAIDs)
You should never combine opioids with NSAIDs when taking pain medication that includes codeine, oxycodone, morphine, ibuprofen and naproxen. When opioids combine with alcohol, the breathing rate of patients decreases to dangerous levels which may result in death. Consuming NSAIDs with alcohol heightens the risk of stomach bleeding, along with ulcers.
2. Antidepressants and Anti-Anxiety Medicines
SSRIs and benzodiazepines together with antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications including Zoloft, Prozac, Valium and Xanax require alcohol-free use. Their deadly combination results in severe sleepiness and dizziness, together with confusion. This further aggravates depressive episodes, and the risk of overdose increases manifold.
3. Antibiotics
Metronidazole (Flagyl) and tinidazole along with isoniazid, react negatively when combined with alcohol.
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The combination of these substances leads to nausea, vomiting, headaches, flushing as well as heart-related problems. Avoid drinking alcohol throughout your antibiotic treatment period, (make sure you do not have it at any time during the course), and even several days after finishing the medication.
4. Blood Thinners
The effectiveness of warfarin blood thinners becomes less stable or their use becomes riskier, when patients consume alcohol.
These medications become less safe when alcohol consumption occurs, because it elevates the danger of bleeding complications while forming blood clots. Before taking blood thinners, you should consult with your doctor regarding alcohol consumption.
5. Antipsychotic Medications
The consumption of alcohol remains prohibited for patients who take antipsychotic drugs, used to treat schizophrenia alongside Quetiapine/Seroquel. The combination of alcohol with these medications leads to severe side effects including dizziness and drowsiness, as well as concentration issues and heart-related complications and seizure risks.
6. Diabetes Medications
Taking insulin or diabetes pills with alcohol consumption will lead to harmful blood sugar reductions. The inability to detect blood sugar symptoms such as dizziness or confusion due to alcohol, makes it more likely for patients to experience severe complications.
7. Seizure Medications
The combination of epilepsy and seizure medications including phenytoin, gabapentin and clonazepam should never occur with alcohol consumption.
Using these substances together leads to excessive sleepiness and dizziness, and abnormal behavior and higher seizure risks.
8. ADHD Medications
Adderall and Ritalin along with other stimulant medications used for ADHD, interact negatively when consumed with alcohol. The combination of these substances produces heightened side effects which include dizziness and drowsiness together with heart complications and decreased concentration abilities.
Why Mixing Alcohol and Medication is Risky
Medicines undergo altered absorption or breakdown processes in the body due to alcohol consumption, which leads to reduced effectiveness or increased toxicity. The consumption of alcohol enhances medication side effects including drowsiness and dizziness while simultaneously inflicting severe damage to liver function and stomach health and heart systems and nervous system tissue. Certain dangerous drug interactions can even be fatal.
Sources
PubMed
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
WebMD
Healthdirect Australia
Drugs.com
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