Medicines That Interact With Alcohol
Topic Overview
Many prescription and
over-the-counter medicines interact with alcohol. For
example, drinking while taking a
diabetes medicine such as metformin (Glucophage) could
result in very low blood sugar levels. Drinking while taking medicine for
heartburn such as cimetidine (Tagamet) or ranitidine
(Zantac) could result in a fast heartbeat.
Common medicines that interact with alcohol include:
- Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
- Antibiotics.
- Antihistamines.
- Tranquilizers.
- Aspirin and other medicines to prevent
clotting of blood (anticoagulants).
- Some medicines to treat
depression (antidepressants).
- Medicines to treat diabetes
(hypoglycemics).
If you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medicine, ask
your doctor or pharmacist whether you can safely drink alcohol.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction |
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| Last Revised | January 18, 2012 |
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Last Revised:
January 18, 2012
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