A Danger Mix!

Medications & Alcohol

NIAAA NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ALCOHOLISM

You've probably seen this warning 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.

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.

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is created when fruits, vegetables, or grains are fermented, that is, when a process using yeast or bacteria causes the sugars in the original food product to change chemically into alcohol. Fermentation is used to produce many necessary items, such as cheeses, penicillin and other medications, B-complex vitamins, and citric acid. Alcohol has different forms and can be a useful product; it can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.

So if alcohol is a natural product...

Why do need to be concerned about drinking it?

When people drink, alcohol is absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. That's why drinking small amounts of alcohol reduces anxiety. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters your perceptions, your emotions, and even your movements, vision, and hearing.

More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Intoxication can make people very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly, when they're not. They may act totally out of character.

Pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should not drink at all. Alcohol consumption interferes with growth and development of the fetus, causing reduced birth weight, birth defects, learning and behavior disorders, and newborn distress.

For most adults, moderate alcohol use - up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people - generally does not result in health problems. However, alcoholism, or alcohol addiction, is a progressive disorder and, in 2004, more than 15 million Americans ages 12 or older were classified as being dependant on or had abused alcohol (2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health).

When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning and alcoholism can result. Alcohol poisoning is very dangerous. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom, as the body tries to rid itself of the alcohol. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.

Alcoholism may include the following symptoms - craving: a strong need or urge to drink; loss of control: not being able to stop once drinking has begun; physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, shakiness; and tolerance: the need to drink greater amounts to get "high" or experience and altered state of mind.

People in recovery from an alcohol-related disorder should not drink. More than one-half of American adults have direct family experience with alcohol problems, which cost Americans more than 100,000 lives and approximately $185 billion each year. For individuals in recovery from alcohol abuse or dependence, small amounts of alcohol typically lead to relapse. People who are younger than the legal drinking age should not consume alcohol.

If you or a loved-one is struggling with an alcohol-related addiction, consult with a medical doctor about possible treatment options. YOU NEED HELP! For you and your love ones look for help in your community resources.

The County of San Diego-Alcoholics and drugs telephone is : 619-692-5727. The 24 hours Help line is: 1-800-333-4036 or for more information log onto www.healthyminds.org or visit the American Psychiatric Association website at http://www.psych.org and http://www.healthyminds.org.

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose more than 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use disorders.