Harmful Interactions: Alcohol and Drugs

Harmful Interactions: Alcohol and Drugs

You’ve probably seen this warning on medicines you’ve taken. The danger is real. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting; headaches; drowsiness; fainting; loss of coordination; and can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. Alcohol also can decrease the effectiveness of a medication or make it totally ineffective.


Many of these medications can be purchased “over–the–counter” without a prescription, including herbal remedies and others you may never have suspected of reacting with alcohol. This pamphlet describes the harmful effects of drinking while taking certain medicines. Brand names are used only to help you recognize a medicine you may be taking. The list presented here does not include all the medications that may react with alcohol. Most important, the list does not include all the ingredients in every medication. Medications are safe and effective when used appropriately. Your pharmacist or health care provider can help you determine which medicines interact harmfully with alcohol.
Symptoms/Disorders Common medications and selected brand names Some possible reactions with alcohol

Angina (chest pain), coronary heart disease Isordil® (isosorbide), nitroglycerine Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure

Anxiety Xanax® (alprazolam); Klonopin® (clonazepam); Valium® (diazepam); Ativan® (lorazepam) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose

Blood clots Coumadin® (warfarin) Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks

Colds, coughs, flu, allergies Benadryl® (diphenhydramine); Tylenol® Cold and Flu (chlorpheniramine); Robitussin AC® (codeine) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose

Depression Elavil® (amitriptyline); Anafranil® (clomipramine); Norpramin® (desipramine); Serzone® (nefazodone); Desyrel® (trazodone) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose

Diabetes Micronase® (glyburide); Glucophage® (metformin); Orinase® (tolbutamide) Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; convulsions, coma, death

Heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach Tagamet® (cimetidine); Axid® (nizatidine); Zantac® (ranitidine); Reglan® (metoclopramide) Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide); increased alcohol effect

Infections Grisactin® (griseofulvin); Flagyl® (metronidazole); Acrodantin® (nitrofurantoin); Septra® (sulfamethoxazole); Nydrazid® (isoniazid); Seromycin® (cycloserine) Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; liver damage (isoniazid)

Muscle pain Soma® (carisoprodol); Flexeril® (cyclobenzaprine) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; increased risk for overdose

Nausea, motion sickness Antivert® (meclizine); Atarax® (hydroxyzine); Phenergan® (promethazine) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose

Pain such as that from headache, fever, muscle ache, arthritis; inflammation Aspirin (salicylates); Advil®, Motrin® (ibuprofen); Tylenol®, Excedrin® (acetaminophen); Vioxx® (rofecoxib); Celebrex® (celecoxib); Naprosyn® (naproxen) Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat

Seizures Klonopin® (clonazepam); phenobarbital; Dilantin® (phenytoin) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures

Severe pain from injury; postsurgical care; oral surgery; migraines Fiorinal® with codeine (butalbital and codeine); DarvocetN® (propoxyphene); Vicodin® (hydrocodone); Percocet® (oxycodone) Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose

Sleep problems Restoril® (temazepam); Prosom™ (estazolam); Sominex® (diphenhydramine)
Herbal preparations (Chamomile, Valerian, Lavender) Drowsiness, dizziness

Increased drowsiness


Did you know?
Many types of medication can make you sleepy. Taking these medicines while drinking can make you even more drowsy, dizzy, and light–headed. You may have trouble concentrating or performing mechanical skills. Mixing alcohol with certain medicines makes it dangerous for you to drive. Combining alcohol with some medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially among older people.
Some medications, including many popular painkillers and cough, cold, and allergy remedies, contain more than one ingredient that can react with alcohol. Read the label on your medication bottle to find out exactly what ingredients it contains.
Certain medicines contain up to 10 percent alcohol. Cough syrup and laxatives have some of the highest alcohol concentrations.
Women and older people are at higher risk for harmful alcoholmedication reactions.
Alcohol and medicines can interact harmfully even if they are not taken at the same time.

Remember...

Mixing alcohol and a medication puts you at risk for dangerous reactions. Protect yourself by avoiding alcohol if you are taking a medication and don’t know its effect. To learn more about a medicine and whether it will interact with alcohol, talk to your pharmacist or health care provider.