What Effect Does Alcohol Have on Medication?
Older adults take more prescription and over-the-counter drugs
than younger adults. If you are on prescription
medication, and/or take over-the-counter drugs and still drink
alcohol, then you are at risk for a potential interaction.
Certain drugs carry greater risks, and need proper supervision.
For example,
- benzodiasepines (i.e: valium, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin)
- sedatives and hypnotics (i.e: Dalmane, Halcion Restoril)
- anti-depressants (i.e: Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor)
Telling your medical provider exactly what you are taking
will ensure proper treatment. If you use these drugs you will
experience more adverse effects
than you did when you were younger. These effects include
- Excessive daytime sedation
- Increased risk of falling
- Memory and cognitive problems
- Drug related delirium or dementia (may also wrongly be
labeled Alzheimer's disease)
- Falls from reduced physical and cognitive capacity
- Hospitalization and a lengthy rehabilitation from falls
- Slower reaction time (which may impair your ability to
drive, cause car accidents, and/or lead to loss of license)
All of these factors alone, and combined, may result in your
family, spouse, or physician requesting you be evaluated for
nursing home or assisted living care in an institution.
Drug-Alcohol Interactions and Abuse Effects
Acetaminophen: Severe hepatoxicity
with therapeutic doses of acetaminophen in chronic
Alcoholics
Antidepressants, tricyclic: Combined
central nervous system depression decreases
psychomotor performance, especially in the first week of treatment
Aspirin/anti-inflammatory drugs:
Can increase the possibility of gastritis
and gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Barbiturates: Can increase central
nervous system depression
Benzodiazepines: Can increase central
nervous system depression
Caffeine: Possible further decreased
reaction time
Lithium: Can increase lithium toxicity
Nitroglycerin: Possible hypotension
Tetracyclines: Can decrease effect
of doxycyclin
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