Alcohol and medication side effects may be especially prevalent in women. In fact, women may be at a greater risk of side effects due to alcohol and drug interactions than men. Women have a lower percent of body water and greater percent of body fat. Because of this, they do not metabolize alcohol as efficiently, putting them at greater risk for high blood alcohol levels after drinking the same amount of alcohol as a man. Add a drug, for example a drug that causes drowsiness or sedation to the mix, and the risk for dangerous side effects can skyrocket. Drinking alcohol with anxiety medications or sleeping pills may lead to serious consequences.

The holiday season is here, and with that comes many opportunities to indulge. But some indulgences—namely, the alcoholic ones—do not mix with certain medications. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, there are literally hundreds of medications that can cause harm when combined with booze. The lists presented in this review do not include all the medicines that may interact harmfully with alcohol.

drugs you should not mix with alcohol

Below, we discuss 10 medications that can cause harmful effects when mixed with alcohol. But keep in mind these aren’t the only medications that can be dangerous to take when drinking. In https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-and-pills-what-are-the-effects-of-mixing/ 2019, about 70% of adults in the U.S. said they drank alcohol in the past year. That same year, over 45% of the population reported taking a prescription medication in the past 30 days.

Heavy drinkers may need hands-on medical care and monitoring, or a proper “detox” in a health care facility, to manage their symptoms. The latest research indicates that alcohol consumption increases risks for more than 200 health problems, including heart disease, liver disease, depression, anxiety, stroke and cancer. And experts stress that those increased risks are incurred at every level of consumption — from a drink or two a day to heavier habits. And if you are among the 18.1% of Americans living with an anxiety disorder, holiday-induced stress may feel unbearable at times. To keep yourself safe, plan to wait at least 24 hours between taking your medication and having that drink (and vice versa).

What to expect when you stop drinking

Some research has found that alcohol does not appear to worsen liver inflammation in certain people who take medication for their cholesterol. A 2006 Harvard study found that moderate alcohol use did not have a significant negative effect on the livers of men taking statins after heart surgery. You might not need to completely avoid alcohol if you are taking a blood thinner. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends limiting your intake to no more than one or two occasional drinks if you are on anticoagulant therapy. If you mix any type of anti-nausea drug with alcohol, the side effects of the medication can become more intense.

Certain types of anti-nausea medication can be used to help someone who is trying to stop drinking alcohol. When used under medical supervision, the combination can be an effective way to treat alcohol withdrawal. Medications that are prescribed to treat nausea can make you feel drowsy, dizzy, and may impair your motor control—symptoms that can also be caused by alcohol.

Cholesterol-Lowering Meds

And alcohol can interact with other diabetes medications in a different way. Drinking raises the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in people living with diabetes. Adding medications to the mix raises the risk of this potentially dangerous condition even further. It’s important to speak with your healthcare provider about what the safe amount of alcohol to consume is, especially if you take these OTC medications regularly. In addition, herbal sleep remedies, like chamomile, valerian, and lavender, can cause increased drowsiness when mixed with alcohol.