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Pharmacological Effects of Alcohol with Medication
| PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL WITH MEDICATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Generic | Brand | Potential Reactions |
| ALLERGIES/COLD/FLU | ||
| brompheniramine | Dimetapp Cold & Allergy | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose |
| cetirizine | Zyrtec | |
| chlorpheniramine | Sudafed Sinus & Allergy, Tylenol Cold & Flu | |
| desloratadine | Clarinex | |
| diphenhydramine | Benadryl | |
| hydroxyzine | — | |
| loratadine | Alavert, Claritin, Claritin‑D | |
| ANGINA | ||
| isosorbide | Isordil | Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting |
| nitroglycerin | Nitrostat | |
| ANXIETY/EPILEPSY | ||
| alprazolam | Xanax | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose, slowed or difficulty breathing, impaired motor control, unusual behavior, memory problems |
| buspirone | — | |
| clonazepam | Klonopin | |
| chlordiazepoxide | — | |
| diazepam | Valium | |
| lorazepam | Ativan | |
| paroxetine | Paxil | |
| herbal preparations | Kava Kava | Liver damage, drowsiness |
| ARTHRITIS | ||
| celecoxib | Celebrex | Ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver damage |
| diclofenac | — | |
| naproxen | Naprosyn | |
| ATTENTION AND CONCENTRATION (ADHD) | ||
| amphetamine/dextroamphetamine | Adderall XR | Dizziness, drowsiness, impaired concentration (methylphenidate, dexmethylphenidate); possible increased risk for heart problems (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine); liver damage (atomoxetine) |
| atomoxetine | Strattera | |
| dexmethylphenidate | Focalin | |
| dextroamphetamine | Dexedrine | |
| lisdexamfetamine | Vyvanse | |
| methylphenidate | Concerta, Ritalin | |
| Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) | ||
| doxazosin | Cardura | Dizziness, light headedness, fainting |
| tamsulosin | Flomax | |
| terazosin | — | |
| BLOOD CLOT | ||
| warfarin | — | Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking also may cause bleeding or may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks |
| COUGH | ||
| dextromethorpan | Delsym,Robitussin Cough | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose |
| guaifenesin + codeine | — | |
| DEPRESSION | ||
| amitriptyline | — | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose, increased feelings of depression or hopelessness (all medications); impaired motor control (mirtazapine); increased alcohol effect (bupropion); liver damage (duloxetine); serious cardiac effects, increased risk of hypertensive crisis (phenelzine, tranylcypromine) |
| bupropion | Wellbutrin XL | |
| citalopram | Celexa | |
| clomipramine | Anafranil | |
| desipramine | Norpramin | |
| desvenlafaxine | Pristiq | |
| duloxetine | Cymbalta | |
| escitalopram | Lexapro | |
| fluoxetine | Prozac | |
| fluoxetine/olanzapine | Symbyax | |
| fluvoxamine | — | |
| mirtazapine | Remeron | |
| nefazodone | — | |
| paroxetine | Paxil | |
| phenelzine | Nardil | |
| sertraline | Zoloft | |
| tranylcypromine | Parnate | |
| trazodone | — | |
| venlafaxine | Effexor XR | |
| herbal preparations | St. John’s Wort | |
| DIABETES | ||
| chlorpropamide | — | Hypoglycemia, flushing reaction (nausea, vomiting, headache, tachycardia, sudden changes in BP); nausea and weakness (metformin) |
| glipizide | Glucotrol XL | |
| glyburide | Diabeta, Glynase | |
| metformin | Glumetza | |
| HEARTBURN/GERD | ||
| cimetidine | — | Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide), increased alcohol effect |
| metoclopramide | Reglan | |
| nizatidine | — | |
| Generic | Brand | Potential Reactions |
| HYPERLIPIDEMIA | ||
| atorvastatin | Lipitor | Liver damage (all medications); increased flushing and itching (niacin) |
| ezetimibe + simvastatin | Vytorin | |
| lovastatin | Altoprev | |
| niacin | Niaspan | |
| pravastatin | — | |
| rosuvastatin | Crestor | |
| simvastatin | Zocor | |
| HYPERTENSION | ||
| amlodipine | Norvasc | Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, cardiac effects (eg, arrhythmia) |
| benzapril | Lotensin | |
| clonidine | Catapres | |
| enalapril | Vasotec | |
| hydrochloro– thiazide | — | |
| lisinopril | Zestril | |
| losartan | Cozaar | |
| prazosin | Minipress | |
| quinapril | Accupril | |
| verapamil | Calan SR | |
| INFECTION | ||
| azithromycin | Zithromax | Fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face; liver damage (isoniazid, ketoconazole) |
| cycloserine | Seromycin | |
| griseofulvin | — | |
| isoniazid | — | |
| ketoconazole | — | |
| metronidazole | Flagyl | |
| nitrofurantoin | Macrobid, Macrodantin | |
| tinidazole | Tindamax | |
| INSOMNIA | ||
| diphenhydramine | Sominex | Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness, slowed or difficulty breathing, impaired motor control, unusual behavior, memory problems |
| doxylamine | Unisom | |
| estazolam | — | |
| eszopiclone | Lunesta | |
| temazepam | Restoril | |
| zolpidem | Ambien | |
| herbal preparations | Chamomile, Valerian, Lavender | Increased drowsiness |
| MUSCLE PAIN | ||
| carisoprodol | Soma | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk of seizures, increased risk for overdose, slowed or difficulty breathing, impaired motor control, unusual behavior, memory problems |
| cyclobenzaprine | — | |
| NAUSEA | ||
| dimenhydrinate | Dramamine | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose |
| meclizine | Antivert | |
| promethazine | — | |
| PAIN/FEVER/INFLAMMATION/MIGRAINE | ||
| acetaminophen | Tylenol | Upset stomach, bleeding, ulcers, rapid heartbeat; liver damage (acetaminophen) |
| acetaminophen + aspirin | Excedrin | |
| ibuprofen | Advil, Motrin | |
| naproxen | Aleve | |
| butalbital + codeine | — | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose, slowed or difficulty breathing, impaired motor control, unusual behavior, memory problems |
| hydrocodone | — | |
| meperidine | — | |
| oxycodone | Percocet | |
| PSYCHOSIS/MOOD DISORDERS | ||
| aripiprazole | Abilify | Drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose, increased feelings of depression or hopelessness (all medications); impaired motor control (quetiapine) |
| clozapine | Clozaril | |
| olanzapine | Zyprexa | |
| paliperidone | Invega | |
| quetiapine | Seroquel | |
| risperidone | Risperdal | |
| ziprasidone | Geodon | |
| lithium | Lithobid | Drowsiness, dizziness, tremors, increased risk for restlessness/impaired motor control, loss of appetite, stomach upset, irregular bowel movement, joint or muscle pain, depression; liver damage (valproic acid) |
| valproic acid | Depakote | |
| SEIZURE | ||
| carbamazepine | Tegretol | Drowsiness, dizziness (all medications); increased risk of seizures (levetiracetam, phenytoin); unusual behavior, mental health changes, suicidal thoughts (topiramate) |
| clonazepam | Klonopin | |
| gabapentin | Horizant, Neurontin | |
| lamotrigine | Lamictal | |
| levetiracetam | Keppra | |
| oxcarbazepine | Trileptal | |
| phenobarbital | — | |
| phenytoin | Dilantin | |
| pregabalin | Lyrica | |
| topiramate | Topamax | |
| REFERENCES | ||
|
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines. NIH Publication No. 13-5329. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Harmful_Interactions.pdf. Published 2003. Revised November 2020. Accessed June 29, 2022.
Not an inclusive list of medications that may interact with alcohol. Please see drug monograph at www.eMPR.com and/or contact company for full drug labeling. (Rev. 1/2023) |
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