So, how do meds and alcohol interact? Well, there are a few main issues that can pop up when you mix the two:
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- Alcohol can mess with how your body processes the medication. It can speed up or slow down how quickly the drug leaves your system, which can either raise or lower the drug levels in your blood.
- Some meds can affect how your body absorbs and processes alcohol. This can lead to higher alcohol levels in your blood, making you feel worse and taking longer to sober up.
- Alcohol can change how the medication works. This is risky because it might make the drug stronger or weaker than it should be.
Which Meds Are Risky with Alcohol?
Some medications come with a clear warning: “Don’t mix with alcohol.” And you really should pay attention to that! There are certain meds that can seriously mess you up if you drink while taking them.
In this article, we’ll cover five common types of medications that don’t play nice with alcohol. There are definitely more out there, and drugs can interact with each other and even with food. So, always check the warnings on your meds and be cautious.
Antidepressants
Even though these are called antidepressants, they’re used for a bunch of things like anxiety, panic attacks, and even nerve pain from diabetes. There are different types of antidepressants, and they all react differently with alcohol. Here are some risky combos:
- Duloxetine: This one treats severe depression and anxiety but can harm your liver, especially if you drink.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: Mixing these with alcohol that has tyramine (like beer or wine) can spike your blood pressure dangerously.
- General side effects: Alcohol can amp up drowsiness and confusion from antidepressants, messing with your judgment and coordination even more than alcohol alone.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
You can grab NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin without a prescription, and most people have at least one in their medicine cabinet. They’re great for pain relief and reducing inflammation, but they can be risky with alcohol.
Even without booze, long-term use of NSAIDs can lead to stomach bleeding and ulcers. Add alcohol into the mix, and the risk goes up.
Paracetamol is another common painkiller. While it’s generally safe, mixing it with alcohol can seriously damage your liver, especially if you’re drinking more than three servings of alcohol a day. Just to give you an idea, one serving is about:
- 350 ml of beer (5% alcohol)
- 230 ml of beer (7% alcohol)
- 150 ml of wine (12% alcohol)
- 50 ml of strong liquor (40% alcohol) like vodka or whiskey.
So, it’s best to play it safe and avoid mixing these meds with alcohol!
