NIAAA Resource: Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines
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October 17, 2008
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has posted a new Web page
and pamphlet to its Web site warning the public of the dangers of mixing alcohol and medications.
The dangers include nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. It also can put a person 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 the body.
The resources list medications that can cause harm when taken with alcohol and also describe the effects that can result. The list gives the brand name by which each medicine is commonly known and its generic name or active ingredient. The list does not include all medications that may interact harmfully with alcohol, nor does it include all ingredients in every medication, so it is best to consult a pharmacist or other health care provider to determine which medications interact harmfully with alcohol.
For more information, read the pamphlet or visit the Web page.