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AlcoholandDrugInteraction|AWARE|UniversityCounselingCenter|UniversityofWyoming

AWARE
UNIVERSITYCOUNSELINGCENTER

AlcoholandDrugInteraction

Theinteractionbetweenmanymedicationsandalcoholcanleadtoasignificantincreaseinone'sriskofillness,injury,orevendeath.Whencertainmedications
andalcoholcompeteinthebodyforabsorption,thepotencyofthemedicationand/oralcoholisoftenincreased.Thereisnosetformulaforwhatwillhappen
whenanindividualconsumesbothalcoholandamedication.Eachpersonisdifferent,andtheresultsofthistypeofpotentiallyfatalcocktailvarybasedonthe
typeandquantityofmedicationandalcoholingested,thetimeframeinvolved,theindividual'stolerancetoboththemedicationandtoalcohol,aswellasaseries
ofunpredictable,uniquefactors.Tobesafe,nevermixalcoholwithanytypeofmedication,whetherprescriptionoroverthecounter,beforefirstcheckingwitha
licensedhealthcareprofessional.

AlcoholDrugInteractions
Drug
PrescribedPurpose
Anesthetics
(ex:Diprivan,
Ethrane,
Fluothane)

Interaction

Administeredprior
tosurgeryto
increasedamountofdrugrequiredtoinducelossof
renderapatient consciousness
unconscious
andinsensitiveto increasedriskofliverdamage
pain
reduceddrugeffectiveness
nausea/vomiting

Antibiotics

Usedtotreat
infectiousdiseases headache

convulsions

Usedtotreat
Antidepressants depressionand
(ex:Elavil)
otherformsof
mentalillness

Antidiabetic
medications

increasedsedativeeffects
maydecreaseeffectivenessof
antidepressant
potentialfordangerousriseinblood
pressure

Usedtohelplower
reduceddrugeffectiveness
bloodsugar
nausea
levelsindiabetic
headache
individuals
Usedtotreat

Antihistamines allergic
symptomsand
(ex:Benadryl)
insomnia

Antipsychotic
medications
(ex:Thorazine)
Antiseizure
medications
(ex:Dilantin)
Antiulcer
medications
(ex:Tagamet,
Zantac)
Cardiovascular
medications
(ex:nitroglycerin,
Apresoline,
Ismelin,Inderal)
Narcoticpain
relievers
(morphine,
codeine,Darvon,
Demerol)

intensifiedsedation
excessivedizziness

Usedtodiminish
psychotic
intensifiedsedation
symptomssuchas impairedcoordination
delusionsand
potentiallyfatalbreathingdifficulties
hallucinations

Usedtotreat
epilepsy

decreasedprotectionagainstseizures
increasedriskofdrugrelatedsideeffects

Usedtotreatulcers
increasedpresenceofdrugincreasedriskof
andother
sideaffects
gastrointestinal
problems
Widevarietyof
medicationsusedto
treatailmentsofthe extremedizzinessorfainting
heartandcirculatory reduceddrugeffectiveness
system

Usedtoalleviate
moderateto
severepain

intensifiedsedation
increasedpossibilityofafataloverdose

http://www.uwyo.edu/ucc/aware/alcoholanddruginteraction.html

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AlcoholandDrugInteraction|AWARE|UniversityCounselingCenter|UniversityofWyoming
increasedriskofstomachbleeding

Nonnarcoticpain
Usedtoalleviate
relievers
mildto
(aspirin,ibuprofen, moderatepain
acetaminophen
Sedativesand
hypnotics
Usedtoalleviate
(Valium,
anxietyand
Dalmane,Ativan,
insomnia
sleepingpills)

increasedriskoftheinhibitionofblood
clotting
increasedeffectsofconsumedalcohol
*acetaminophen(Tylenol)takenduringorafterdrinking
maysignificantlyincreaseone'sriskofliverdamage

severedrowsiness
depressedcardiacandrespiratoryfunctions
increasedriskofcomaorfatality

Allinformationonthispageisfrom:http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/healthtopics/Alcohol/interactions.html
(http://www.rochester.edu/uhs/healthtopics/Alcohol/interactions.html)

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