Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol

• Depressants (Xanax, Valium) combined with alcohol have a synergistic effect, with potential for dangerous and even lethal consequences, with rapid onset of dizziness, stumbling, loss of sphincter control, memory loss and potential death.
• Stimulants (e.g., Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta) combined with alcohol conceal alcohol’s effects, so people cannot gauge their level of intoxication, which can result in over-consumption, e.g. significant impairment of coordination and judgment, alcohol blackout, pass out and potential death.
• Prescription opiates (e.g., Vicodin, OxyContin, Tylenol 3 with codeine, Percocet) combined with alcohol can result in slowed or arrested breathing, lowered pulse and blood pressure, unconsciousness, coma, and potential death.

• When people do not know that there are significant drug interactions and are caught by surprise when they inadvertently drink while using prescription medication
• Intetionally mixing prescription drugs and alcohol because they mistakenly believe it will be a “better” or “enriched” intoxication
• As a tool to facilitate a crime (sexual assault, robbery, etc) by making a victim incapacitated

What are the Side Effects of Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol?

Prescription drugs have various side effects when taken alone, including drowsiness, nausea, changes in blood pressure, and loss of coordination. There are also long-term side effects to prescription drug use that may include liver damage, internal bleeding, and heart problems. The side effects vary from drug to drug, so it’s important to use a prescription medication ONLY as it’s prescribed to prevent any unnecessary effects and be sure to consult your doctor if you have any questions.

While prescription drugs have side effects when taken exclusively, these effects can be exacerbated when combined with alcohol. Not only does alcohol impact the effects of prescription drugs, it can also change the performance of the medications. In some cases, alcohol can completely negate the effectiveness of prescription drugs. In other instances, it can enhance their effects. Each substance has its own list of potentially negative impacts that can be severely heightened when mixed with alcohol. Side effects may include:

What Prescription Drugs Should Someone Never Mix with Alcohol?

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Painkillers

If you’re taking ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), drinking alcohol can lead to an upset stomach, stomach bleeding, or ulcers.

Drinking alcohol while taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also risky. Alcohol and acetaminophen are both broken down in the liver. When the liver is busy breaking down alcohol, it can’t deal with acetaminophen, and so the drug builds up in the body and can cause serious liver damage.

The greatest risk, though, is drinking alcohol with any prescription opioid painkillers, such as codeine, hydrocodone, or oxycodone. Unlike ibuprofen and acetaminophen, these are prescription medications for people dealing with severe pain from injuries, postsurgical care, oral surgery, and migraines. 

Combining them with alcohol can cause excessive drowsiness, slowed breathing, and even death. Avoid alcohol completely if you’re taking any of these painkillers.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Anti-Anxiety Medications and Sleeping Pills

Using alcohol while taking anti-anxiety medications or sleeping pills can cause serious problems, too. Examples of anti-anxiety medications include:

These medications are sedatives, and taken together with alcohol, can make you drowsy or even unconscious.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizers

All antidepressants should be taken with care when drinking alcohol. The effect on your body will depend on the type of antidepressant, but the risks are real and can include:

Similar risks exist if you take alcohol with mood stabilizers and antipsychotics such as aripiprazole (Abilify), Divalproex (Depakote), or lithium.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – ADHD Medications

ADHD treatments such as amphetamine (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) can interact with alcohol, causing any of the following symptoms:

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Antibiotics

Metronidazole (Metrogel, Flagyl) is a common antibiotic, and drinking any amount of alcohol with it will cause violent nausea and vomiting. Other antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin), isoniazid (Laniazid), and azithromycin (Zithromax) can all cause unpleasant reactions when mixed with alcohol.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Nitrates and Other Blood Pressure Medications

Lots of blood pressure medications and anti-angina medications (nitrates) can interact dangerously with alcohol. Common effects include:

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Diabetes Medications

If you take any medications for diabetes, drinking alcohol can lead to:

• Very low blood sugar levels
• Flushing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sudden changes in blood pressure

These medications include insulin or pills like metformin (Glucophage), glyburide (Micronase), and glipizide (Glucotrol). Take great care with these.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Coumadin

Alcohol has an unpredictable effect on warfarin (Coumadin). If you drink alcohol while taking warfarin, you will need close monitoring to make sure your blood is not too thin.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Over-the-Counter Cold and Flu Treatments

Most over-the-counter cold and flu remedies such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), guaifenesin (Mucinex), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) contain a mix of different painkillers, antihistamines, and decongestants, and some (like NyQuil) even contain alcohol. On their own, these medications can make you drowsy and dizzy. Mixing prescription drugs with alcohol can make the drowsiness and dizziness worse, and increase your risk of overdosing. Check the ingredients on the box before taking any of these with alcohol.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol – Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Taking alcohol with medications like tadalafil (Cialis), sildenafil (Viagra), and vardenafil (Levitra) can significantly lower blood pressure and cause dizziness, flushing, or a headache. Alcohol can also cause erectile dysfunction, so if you’re struggling with ED, it might be best to avoid alcohol altogether anyway.

Who is Most at-Risk for Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol?

Current research on undergraduate students found that 12.1% of people misused prescription drugs and alcohol. Also, 5% of current problem drinkers claim they’d mixed both prescription and illegal drugs with alcohol, not including marijuana. 

The risk factors for prescription drug and alcohol abuse included the following:

• Being young, between the ages of 18 and 25.
• Being single
• Having a pattern of heavy drinking or binge drinking behaviors.

Does Alcohol Impact Everyone the Same Way?

A lot of people think that alcohol affects everyone the same way. So, they tend to drink equally as their peers, only to end up the most intoxicated in the group. The truth is each individual experiences the effects of alcohol in a different way.

There are many factors that influence the effect of ethanol on the human body. Take a look at the guidelines below and see which factors affect your system the most.

Body Weight

The main, and probably the most obvious factor in how people handle alcohol is their body weight. Even if a 265-pound and a 100-pound person drinks an equal amount of alcohol, the smaller individual will become more sensitive to the effects. Their body fat and weight affect the alcohol absorption rate. Simply put, the bigger the body, the slower the absorption rate.

It will take a while for alcoholic beverages to reach the brain and alter their physical and mental functions in overweight individuals. That’s why the smaller individual will get drunk a lot faster.

Another factor is the food they eat. People who consume diets high in fat, fiber, or protein when they drink alcohol, will reduce the absorption rate. However, carbonated beverages will force the ethanol to be absorbed by the body more quickly.

Gender

Gender plays a predominant role in the way alcohol affects people. There are certain physiological differences between the female and the male body. Women tend to experience the effect of alcohol more acutely than men, even in studies accounting for body weight and height.

Type of Drink

Not every drink is equally intoxicating. Some beverages contain more alcohol or ethanol than others. The alcohol by volume (ABV) is a typical measure of how much ethanol is in one alcoholic beverage. Each beverage has an average ethanol content that affects the body differently.

For example, people who enjoy wine or beer tend to experience the effects of alcohol a little less. It’s all because of the water in the drink compared to alcohol content.

Beer and wine contain high amounts of water, which adds volume to the drink. But hard liquor is different because it is much more potent. When paired with carbon dioxide, the hard liquor accelerates the alcohol absorption rate and intoxicates drinkers a lot faster.

Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol can lead to addiction and dangerous side effects, including a greater risk of overdose. People with a history of problem drinking and alcohol dependence will need to inform their doctor about these problems. In addition, it’s crucial that these individuals get help from a qualified addiction rehabilitation center. If you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol or prescription medication addiction, please reach out to a drug abuse counselor today to explore your treatment options. Call us today here at We Level Up New Jersey to get into proper treatment. Above all, recovering from a substance use disorder does not need to be overwhelming or burdensome.