Did you know that the medications you take could impact your body’s ability to handle alcohol? When your body can’t process alcohol correctly, you can end up looking much more intoxicated than you are. Additionally, you could face trouble with the law because you may have symptoms of impairment, even when you’re sober.
There are a few medications that should simply never be mixed with alcohol, because the results could be dangerous. These include both prescription and over-the-counter products, which is what surprises most people. If you’re going to be taking a new medication, talk to your doctor about how it could be affected if you drink alcohol, so you avoid any surprises.
What can happen if alcohol mixes with the wrong medications?
In a worst-case scenario, mixing alcohol with a medication could lead to a fatal interaction. For most people, the side effects are less severe, but they could be dangerous. Some common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Changes in behavior
- Blood pressure changes
- Lack of coordination
- Drowsiness
Some medications that are known to interact with alcohol include:
- Cetirizine
- Loratadine
- Nitrostat
- Xanax
- Klonopin
- Metronidazole
- Amoxicillin
- Citalopram
- Sertraline
- And dozens of others.
If you plan to drink, make sure you get clearance from your medical provider. Some of the interactions that could result from mixing medications and alcohol may lead to impairment as well as serious, potentially life-threatening side effects.
Our website has more information on what to do if you