Many of these medications can be purchased “over–the–counter”
without a prescription, including herbal remedies and others you may never
have suspected of reacting with alcohol. This pamphlet describes the harmful
effects of drinking while taking certain medicines. Brand names are used
only to help you recognize a medicine you may be taking. The list
presented here does not include all the medications that may react with
alcohol. Most important, the list does not include all the ingredients
in every medication. Medications are safe and effective when
used appropriately. Your pharmacist or health care provider can help you
determine which medicines interact harmfully with alcohol.
Symptoms/Disorders
|
Common medications and selected brand
names
|
Some possible reactions with alcohol
|
Angina (chest pain), coronary heart disease
|
Isordil® (isosorbide), nitroglycerine
|
Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure
|
Anxiety
|
Xanax® (alprazolam); Klonopin® (clonazepam); Valium® (diazepam);
Ativan® (lorazepam)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
|
Blood clots
|
Coumadin® (warfarin)
|
Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking
may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots,
strokes, or heart attacks
|
Colds, coughs, flu, allergies
|
Benadryl® (diphenhydramine); Tylenol® Cold and Flu (chlorpheniramine);
Robitussin AC® (codeine)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
|
Depression
|
Elavil® (amitriptyline); Anafranil® (clomipramine); Norpramin®
(desipramine); Serzone® (nefazodone); Desyrel® (trazodone)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
|
Diabetes
|
Micronase® (glyburide); Glucophage® (metformin); Orinase® (tolbutamide)
|
Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; convulsions,
coma, death
|
Heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach
|
Tagamet® (cimetidine); Axid® (nizatidine); Zantac® (ranitidine);
Reglan® (metoclopramide)
|
Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide);
increased alcohol effect
|
Infections
|
Grisactin® (griseofulvin); Flagyl® (metronidazole); Acrodantin®
(nitrofurantoin); Septra® (sulfamethoxazole); Nydrazid® (isoniazid);
Seromycin® (cycloserine)
|
Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; liver damage
(isoniazid)
|
Muscle pain
|
Soma® (carisoprodol); Flexeril® (cyclobenzaprine)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; increased risk
for overdose
|
Nausea, motion sickness
|
Antivert® (meclizine); Atarax® (hydroxyzine); Phenergan® (promethazine)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
|
Pain such as that from headache, fever, muscle ache, arthritis;
inflammation
|
Aspirin (salicylates); Advil®, Motrin® (ibuprofen); Tylenol®, Excedrin®
(acetaminophen); Vioxx® (rofecoxib); Celebrex® (celecoxib); Naprosyn®
(naproxen)
|
Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen);
rapid heartbeat
|
Seizures
|
Klonopin® (clonazepam); phenobarbital; Dilantin® (phenytoin)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures
|
Severe pain from injury; postsurgical care; oral surgery; migraines
|
Fiorinal® with codeine (butalbital and codeine); DarvocetN® (propoxyphene);
Vicodin® (hydrocodone); Percocet® (oxycodone)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
|
Sleep problems
|
Restoril® (temazepam); Prosom™ (estazolam); Sominex® (diphenhydramine)
|
Drowsiness, dizziness
|
|
Herbal preparations (Chamomile, Valerian, Lavender)
|
Increased drowsiness
|
Mixing alcohol and a medication puts you at risk for dangerous reactions.
Protect yourself by avoiding alcohol if you are taking a medication and
don’t know its effect. To learn more about a medicine and whether
it will interact with alcohol, talk to your pharmacist or health care
provider.
NIH Publication No. 035329
Printed February 2003