Mixing medicines with alcohol
When you purchase prescribed medication from a chemist there is a piece of paper contained in the box that people often choose to ignore. Let’s get serious, when was the last time you read the information sheet in the medication box? One of the warnings usually contained on that paper involves the risks associated with mixing medicines with alcohol.
Some medicines should not be taken in combination with alcohol. For certain others, the combination does not represent a problem. If it’s best not to drink alcohol during a particular course of medication, the fact should be stated in the instructions for use of the medicine. Alcohol and medicines may influence each other in three ways. Firstly, medicines can delay the elimination of alcohol. A toxic decomposition product of alcohol thus remains longer in the body. This can produce unpleasant effects, such as a hot, flushed face, nausea, headache, a fall in blood pressure, and palpitations. Secondly, alcohol can delay the breakdown of certain medicines; these medicines therefore remain longer in the body. A possible consequence is an overdose of a medicine. Finally, in some cases alcohol can increase the effects and side effects of certain medicines.
When you start a new medication or change the dose, it is usually best not to drink. If you do, the results can be unpredictable, and the alcohol may make your symptoms and/or side effects worse. Once you have been on the medication for a while, check with your doctor to see if a glass or two of alcohol is okay.
Some of the drugs that have negative effects when taken with alcohol include antidepressants, antibiotics and pain medications. Antidepressants, such as Prozac, are usually (but not always) prescribed to relieve depression. In the first few weeks on an antidepressant, alcohol may make your symptoms of depression or anxiety worse, and you may have increased side effects. Once you are feeling well, one or two drinks should be all right -”but you need to remember that one drink will have the effect of two or maybe three drinks. Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are used to fight infections. Some antibiotics don’t work as well when combined with alcohol, or the combination can cause nausea or upset stomach. One antibiotic in particular, Flagyl, can cause a potentially severe reaction when combined with alcohol; you can get a headache and become flushed, sweaty, nauseous and very sick. Pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen can be bought without a prescription. However, combining alcohol wit these medications can damage your stomach lining, which can cause stomach bleeding.
Just because you get the drug from a doctor does not mean it is safe, and combining any drug with alcohol greatly increases the risk of something going wrong.
Remember: if you do not want any negative consequences, do not use the drug and, no matter how many times you have used a substance, never be blas?/p>
