According to statistics found online, roughly 14 billion prescriptions are written every year in the US. It is also said that around 70 percent of adults consume alcohol even once in a while. Given these statistics the potential for occasional cases of alcohol and medication interaction is obvious. As with any other type of medical event, the effects may vary from person to person. The individual’s health and age will influence the outcome of such interactions. The severity of any interaction will also be dependent on the type of medication and alcohol consumed.
Understanding Drug and Alcohol Interactions
The interaction of medication and alcohol is based on the fact that the body metabolizes both in a similar fashion. One of the most basic ways a person’s medication can be affected by the use of alcohol is that the drug’s effectiveness may be minimized. Simply put, both the alcohol and the drug will compete for the body’s resources so that they can be broken down. The longer the drug stays in the body, the greater the likelihood of the patient experiencing side effects.
For those who have been consuming alcohol for a long time, less of the drug will be available to the body. The alcohol stimulates the production of certain enzymes that have the effect of metabolizing the drugs quickly. The end result is that there is not much of the drug left in the body to do its work. The effects of long term alcohol use in this respect can be felt even for weeks after the person has stopped drinking. To counteract this, doctors may prescribe the drug in higher doses which poses an increased risk of side effects.
Another dangerous consequence of this interaction occurs when enzyme production stimulated by persistent alcohol use converts certain drugs into poisonous compounds. This can lead to organ damage, particularly the liver. Alcohol use can also intensify the effects of certain sedatives, which could have serious implications for the brain.
Medications That Interact With Alcohol
• Antibiotics: When these drugs are mixed with alcohol the result could be headaches, nausea and vomiting. Examples of antibiotics that interact negatively with alcohol are metronidazole and furazolidone.
• Anticoagulants: Patients using alcohol while taking blood thinners could be at risk for haemorrhages as the alcohol tends to intensify the effects of the drug. On the other hand long term use of alcohol retards the drug’s effectiveness putting the patient at risk for the illness for which they are being treated.
• Antihistamines: Some antihistamines have a sedative effect which can be increased by alcohol use. Some patients have reported becoming dizzy from the combination of drugs and alcohol.
• Antidepressants: This is a tricky subject since some people who are depress turn to alcohol. The combination can temporarily diminish mental capacity, and the sedative effects of antidepressants will be intensified. There have also been cases of elevated blood pressure arising from these interactions.
• Medications for diabetes: Alcohol consumption can limit the effectiveness of drugs used to treat diabetics. This exposes the patient to any number of complications. There have been reported cases of headaches and nausea as well.
This list is not extensive, but it shows that anyone on medication should be informed as to possible interactions with alcohol, especially for victims with alcohol addiction. The use of illicit drugs and alcohol also poses risks to an individual’s health. It is estimated that medication and alcohol interaction may be responsible for as much as 25% of all emergency room admissions. There is a reason why most medication indicates that they should not be taken with alcohol.
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