Many common medications—even over-the-counter remedies—can have serious negative side effects, including risk of death, when combined with alcohol. These include:
What to know about medication interactions
Pain relievers
Examples of pain relievers include acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and aspirin. Taking these with alcohol can lead to increased risk of liver failure and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Blood thinners
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) is a blood thinner that is taken orally. Binge drinking (five or more drinks at a time) can raise warfarin levels and make bleeding more likely. Daily drinking can have the opposite effect. It can lower warfarin levels and raise the risk of a blood clot.
Blood pressure medications
Drinking while taking certain antihypertensives known as “alpha blockers” can cause dangerously low blood pressure. When combined with commonly prescribed blood pressure medication, alcohol can also cause heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias).
Benzodiazepines
Among the most common benzodiazepines are Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan. Taking these with alcohol can increase the risk of injuries (e.g. driving accidents, falls), memory issues, difficulty breathing, and overdose.
Antidepressants
Alcohol may increase the potential side effects of antidepressants, such as drowsiness and dizziness. Alcohol may also reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants.
Insomnia medications
Increased risk of medication side effects such as impaired motor coordination, increased fall risk, memory problems, and blackouts.
Opioids
Common opioids include morphine, methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and hydrocodone. Using alcohol while taking an opioid pain reliever is a dangerous combination. These drugs can cause you to stop breathing. Even moderate amounts of alcohol combined with opioids can cause an overdose.
Ask about interactions
Drug interactions can vary from person to person based on health history and status, age, and other factors. Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about the potential impact of alcohol with the medications you take.