Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Mixing alcohol with medicines
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The most common medications reported to interact with alcohol are antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, H2 blockers, muscle relaxants, opioids, and warfarin. Alcohol may affect pharmacodynamics and/or pharmacokinetics of medications and result in altered therapeutic effects as well as adverse reactions.
Commonly Used Medicines (Both Prescription and Over-The-Counter) That Interact With Alcohol
Commonly Used Medicines (Both Prescription and Over-The-Counter) That Interact With Alcohol
| Symptom/Disorders | Medication (Trade Name) |
Medication (Generic Name) |
Possible Reactions With Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergies/Colds/Flu | Alavert® | Loratadine | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
| Allegra®, Allegra-D® | Fexofenadine | ||
| 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® | Dextromethorphan | 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 | ||
| 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, ketoconazole) |
| Flagyl® | Metronidazole | ||
| Grisactin® | Griseofulvin | ||
| Nizoral® | Ketoconazole | ||
| 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
, Phenobarbital | ||
| Phenobarbital | Phenobarbital | ||
| Severe 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® | Meperidine | ||
| 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 |
References
References
- ↑ “http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm”. External link in
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]