Which Drugs Should Not Be Taken with Alcohol
Eating medicine and drinking alcohol can be a deadly combination! You may not know that some drugs are "incompatible" with alcohol, which can worsen liver function and even lead to liver failure, coma, and death!
So, remember these drugs and never drink alcohol while taking them! When someone offers you a drink, simply say, "I'm sorry, I'm taking medication."
These drugs should not be taken with alcohol!
1. Cold Medicine + Alcohol = Liver Failure
Most cold medicines contain acetaminophen, which is used to treat colds, fevers, and pain relief. During the biotransformation process, acetaminophen produces a toxic metabolite that needs to bind with protective factors in the body, such as reduced glutathione, to reduce toxicity.
Excessive alcohol consumption depletes the body's glutathione, preventing the toxic metabolite of acetaminophen from binding with glutathione and increasing the risk of liver failure.
2. Cephalosporin + Alcohol = Poison
Cephalosporin antibiotics combined with alcohol are equivalent to poison. The main component of alcohol is ethanol, which is converted to acetaldehyde in the body and then further metabolized into water and carbon dioxide with the help of enzymes.
Cephalosporin antibiotics inhibit the continued conversion and elimination of acetaldehyde, and the accumulation of acetaldehyde can cause symptoms such as facial and systemic flushing, nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, chest tightness, palpitations, blurred vision, abdominal pain, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and sweating, and even severe symptoms such as hypotension, respiratory distress, acute heart failure, myocardial infarction, and shock.
Symptoms can occur 5 to 10 minutes after drinking alcohol, and the reaction can last from 30 minutes to several hours. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
3. Antihypertensive Drugs + Alcohol = Hypotensive Shock
During the use of antihypertensive drugs such as Lopressor, Capoten, Nitroglycerin, Hydralazine, Hydralazine Hydrochloride, and Dibazol, drinking alcohol can cause vasodilation, leading to hypotensive shock, which can be life-threatening.
Alcohol has the effect of dilating blood vessels, inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system, and reducing myocardial contractility, which can enhance the effect of antihypertensive drugs, causing headaches and even shock. Some antihypertensive drugs, such as Compound Hypotensive Tablets and Compound Hydralazine Hydrochloride and Isosorbide Dinitrate, may also cause a sudden increase in blood pressure when combined with alcohol.
4. Anti-angina Drugs + Alcohol = Headaches, Shock
Anti-angina drugs such as Isosorbide Isosorbide Dinitrate, and Nitroglycerin, if taken with alcohol, can cause excessive vasodilation, leading to severe headaches, sudden drop in blood pressure, and even shock.
5. Antipyretic and Analgesic Drugs + Alcohol = Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Antipyretic and analgesic drugs such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Diclofenac, if taken with alcohol in large quantities, can cause double stimulation to the gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to gastric ulcer or bleeding.
6. Hypoglycemic Drugs + Alcohol = Hypoglycemic Shock
During the use of hypoglycemic drugs such as Euglucon, Diamicron, Metformin, and Insulin, drinking alcohol is not recommended. Alcohol enhances the effect of these drugs, and the combination can cause symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, cold sweats, and trembling hands, which are signs of hypoglycemic reactions. Severe cases can lead to hypoglycemic shock, which is life-threatening.
7. Sleeping Pills + Alcohol = Fatal
Sedative-hypnotic drugs such as Diazepam, Nitrazepam, Lorazepam, Triazolam, Barbiturates, and Chloral Hydrate have inhibitory effects on respiration and heart rate. Alcohol also has the same effect. The combination of the two can cause double stimulation, making a person slow to react, drowsy, and even comatose, with suppressed respiratory and circulatory centers, resulting in slow breathing, low blood pressure, shock, and even respiratory arrest and death.
It is said that comedy master Charlie Chaplin and famous American singer Whitney Houston died from taking sleeping pills after drinking alcohol, so it is important to avoid drinking alcohol while taking sleeping pills.
Why is it dangerous to drink alcohol while taking medication? What medicines should not be taken with alcohol? How to self-help in case of alcohol and drug poisoning?
8. Antiepileptic Drugs + Alcohol = Drug Ineffectiveness
Long-term alcohol consumption can decrease the concentration and efficacy of antiepileptic drugs such as Phenobarbital. If alcohol is consumed at the same time or shortly after taking the medication, the drug's effectiveness will be rapidly lost, significantly reducing its therapeutic effect and making seizure control difficult.
9. Antihistamines + Alcohol = Drowsiness, Coma
Antihistamines such as Diphenhydramine, Chlorpheniramine, and Promethazine, if taken with alcohol, can cause drowsiness, mental confusion, and even coma. Therefore, alcohol should be avoided during the use of second-generation antihistamines to reduce the risk of adverse reactions.
In addition, it is not advisable for people who need to concentrate on tasks such as driving or working at heights to take these medications.
10. Gastroenteritis Drugs + Alcohol = Increased Alcohol Intoxication
Loperamide, mainly used for gastrointestinal discomfort such as bacterial dysentery and enteritis, can quickly relieve gastrointestinal discomfort. However, if alcohol is consumed at this time, it can cause a faster intoxication than usual, with symptoms such as thirst, dizziness, facial and systemic flushing, palpitations, and a drunken appearance.
Loperamide not only has antibacterial effects but also is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. After taking it, it generates metabolites of hydroxyethane in the intestines, which enhances the body's sensitivity to alcohol. Therefore, even a small amount of alcohol can easily cause intoxication. Therefore, drinking alcohol is prohibited when taking loperamide tablets, and alcohol should not be consumed until two weeks after stopping the medication. This is because the inhibited activity of monoamine oxidase in the body by loperamide gradually returns to normal levels after two weeks of stopping the medication.
Friendly Reminder:
During medication and two weeks after stopping the medication, alcohol should be avoided. It is also important to avoid foods or medications that contain alcohol, such as liqueur chocolates, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, and alcoholic beverages.
Three Tips to Reduce Liver Damage:
Alcohol concentration is mainly calculated based on the concentration of ethanol, and different components of different alcoholic beverages also play a certain role. The approximate ethanol concentrations of different alcoholic beverages are: beer 3-5%, yellow wine 12-15%, wine 10-25%, and spirits 40-60%. When these alcohols enter the digestive tract, 80% is rapidly absorbed, and 90% of it is metabolized by the liver.
The most significant impact of alcohol on the human body is the ethanol content. The higher the ethanol content and the more alcohol consumed, the higher the requirement for liver metabolism. Therefore, it is important to avoid excessive and rapid consumption of alcohol, and it is especially important to avoid frequent toasting. When a large amount of alcohol enters the digestive tract, the absorption of alcohol by the gastrointestinal tract is accelerated, resulting in a rapid increase in blood alcohol concentration, which increases the burden on the liver.
1. It is best to eat something before drinking to slow down the absorption of alcohol by the stomach and reduce the burden on liver metabolism.
2. Drink some milk or eat some meat before drinking to create a protective layer in the stomach, which can slow down the absorption of alcohol. Eating foods rich in B vitamins, such as coarse grains, dairy products, egg yolks, and mushrooms, can help with the metabolism of alcohol in the liver. If alcohol is consumed slowly, enough time is given for alcohol to evaporate, the damage to the liver will be reduced, and it will be less likely to get drunk.
3. It is not recommended to drink alcohol with carbonated beverages, but drinking fruit juice is beneficial. In addition to containing vitamins, fruits and fruit juices contain fructose, which can help oxidize ethanol, thereby accelerating its metabolism and volatilization.
