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, or loss of coordination.
It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing. In addition to these dangers, alcohol can make a medication less effective or even useless, or it may make the medication harmful or toxic to your body.
Some medicines that you might never have suspected can react with alcohol, including many medications which can be purchased “over-the-counter”—that is, without a prescription. Even some herbal remedies can have harmful effects when combined with alcohol.
This pamphlet lists medications that can cause harm when taken with alcohol and describes the effects that can result. The list gives the brand name by which each medicine is commonly known (for example, Benadryl®) and its generic name or active ingredient (in Benadryl®, this is diphenhydramine). The list presented here does not include all the medicines that may interact harmfully 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 other health care provider can help you determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol.
Did You Know…
Did You Know…
Mixing alcohol and medicines can be harmful. Alcohol, like some medicines, can make you sleepy, drowsy, or lightheaded. Drinking alcohol while taking medicines can intensify these effects. You may have trouble concentrating or performing mechanical skills. Small amounts of alcohol can make it dangerous to drive, and when you mix alcohol with certain medicines you put yourself at even greater risk. Combining alcohol with some medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, especially among older people.
Medicines may have many ingredients
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 the medication bottle to find out exactly what ingredients a medicine contains. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about how alcohol might interact with a drug you are taking.
Some medicines contain alcohol
Certain medicines contain up to 10 percent alcohol. Cough syrup and laxatives may have some of the highest alcohol concentrations.
Alcohol affects women differently
Women, in general, have a higher risk for problems than men. When a woman drinks, the alcohol in her bloodstream typically reaches a higher level than a man’s even if both are drinking the same amount. This is because women’s bodies generally have less water than men’s bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol is more concentrated in a woman’s body than in a man’s. As a result, women are more susceptible to alcohol-related damage to organs such as the liver.
Older people face greater risk
Older people are at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol– medication interactions. Aging slows the body’s ability to break down alcohol, so alcohol remains in a person’s system longer. Older people also are more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol—in fact, they often need to take more than one of these medications.
Timing is important
Alcohol and medicines can interact harmfully even if they are not taken at the same time.
Remember…
Remember…
Mixing alcohol and medicines 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 other health care provider.
Symptom/Disorders Medication
(Brand name)Medication
(Generic name)Some possible reactions with alcohol Allergies/Colds/Flu • Alavert® Loratadine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose • Allegra®, Allegra-D® Fexofenadin • Benadryl® Diphenhydramine • Clarinex® Desloratadine • Claritin®, Claritin-D® Loratadine • Dimetapp® Cold & Allergy Brompheniramine • Sudafed® Sinus & Allergy Chlorpheniramine • Triaminic® Cold & Allergy Chlorpheniramine • Tylenol® Allergy Sinus Chlorpheniramine • Tylenol® Cold & Flu Chlorpheniramine • Zyrtec® Cetirizine Angina (chest pain), coronary heart disease • Isordil® Isosorbide Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting Nitroglycerin Anxiety and epilepsy • Ativan® Lorazepam Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; and memory problems • Klonopin® Clonazepam • Librium® Chlordiazepoxide • Paxil® Paroxetine • Valium® Diazepam • Xanax® Alprazolam • Herbal preparations (Kava Kava) Liver damage, drowsiness Arthritis • Celebrex® Celecoxib Ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver problems • Naprosyn® Naproxen • Voltaren® Diclofenac Blood clots • Coumadin® Warfarin Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking also may cause bleeding or may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks Cough • Delsym®, Robitussin Cough® Dextromethorpan Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose • Robitussin A–C® Guaifenesin + codeine Depression • Anafranil® Clomipramine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; increased feelings of depression or hopelessness in adolescents (suicide) • Celexa® Citalopram • Desyrel® Trazodone • Effexor® Venlafaxine • Elavil® Amitriptyline • Lexapro® Escitalopram • Luvox® Fluvoxamine • Norpramin® Desipramine • Paxil® Paroxetine • Prozac® Fluoxetine • Serzone® Nefazodone • Wellbutrin® Bupropion • Zoloft® Sertraline • Herbal preparations (St. John’s Wort) Diabetes • Glucophage® Metformin Abnormally low blood sugar levels, flushing reaction (nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure) • Micronase® Glyburide • Orinase® Tolbutamide Enlarged prostate • Cardura® Doxazosin Dizziness, light headedness, fainting • Flomax® Tamsulosin • Hytrin® Terazosin • Minipress® Prazosin Heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach • Axid® Nizatidine Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide); increased alcohol effect • Reglan® Metoclopramide • Tagamet® Cimetidine • Zantac® Ranitidine High blood pressure • Accupril® Quinapril Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness; heart problems such as changes in the heart’s regular heartbeat (arrhythmia) • Capozide® Hydrochlorothiazide • Cardura® Doxazosin • Catapres® Clonidine • Cozaar® Losartan • Hytrin® Terazosin • Lopressor® HCT Hydrochlorothiazide • Lotensin® Benzapril • Minipress® Prazosin • Vaseretic® Enalapril High cholesterol • Advicor® Lovastatin + Niacin Liver damage (all medications); increased flushing and itching (niacin), increased stomach bleeding (pravastatin + aspirin) • Altocor® Lovastatin • Crestor® Rosuvastatin • Lipitor® Atorvastatin • Mevacor® Lovastatin • Niaspan® Niacin • Pravachol® Pravastatin • Pravigard™ Pravastatin + Aspirin • Vytorin™ Ezetimibe + Simvastatin • Zocor® Simvastatin Infections • Acrodantin® Nitrofurantoin Fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face; liver damage (isoniazid, ketokonazole) • Flagyl® Metronidazole • Grisactin® Griseofulvin • Nizoral® Ketokonazole • Nydrazid® Isoniazid • Seromycin® Cycloserine • Tindamax® Tinidazole Muscle pain • Flexeril® Cyclobenzaprine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems • Soma® Carisoprodol Nausea, motion sickness • Antivert® Meclizine Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose • Atarax® Hydroxyzine • Dramamine® Dimenhydrinate • Phenergan® Promethazine Pain (such as headache, muscle ache, minor arthritis pain), fever, inflammation • Advil® Ibuprofen Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat • Aleve® Naproxen • Excedrin® Aspirin, Acetaminophen • Motrin® Ibuprofen • Tylenol® Acetaminophen Seizures • Dilantin® Phenytoin Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures • Klonopin® Clonazepam
PhenobarbitalSevere pain from injury, postsurgical care, oral surgery, migraines • Darvocet–N® Propoxyphene Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems • Demerol® Merepidine • Fiorinal® with codeine Butalbital + codeine • Percocet® Oxycodone • Vicodin® Hydrocodone Sleep problems • Ambien® Zolpidem Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems • Lunesta™ Eszopiclone • Prosom™ Estazolam • Restoril® Temazepam • Sominex® Diphenhydramine • Unisom® Doxylamine • Herbal preparations (chamomile, valerian, lavender) Increased drowsiness via @http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm
