“I didn’t think anything of taking cough syrup right before I went out, but I got drunk off two beers and blacked out later that night. I will never do it again!” -Chelsea, a senior at Oklahoma State University
So, what happened? Two drinks should be harmless, right? But Chelsea was taking antibiotics for a sinus infection, and mixing alcohol with medication can be dangerous – and in some cases, even deadly. To understand the ins and outs of this scary combination, we talked to Dr. Jason Burke, an anesthesiologist and founder of Hangover Heaven, a Las Vegas-based medical practice dedicated to the study, prevention, and treatment of hangovers.
Which types of medication are dangerous to mix with alcohol?
Because most medication manufacturers do not test their product with alcohol consumption, a complete list of drugs that react poorly with alcohol hasn’t yet been created. But here’s a basic list of medications you should avoid:
- Drugs with acetaminophen: Tylenol, Vicodin, Percocet
- Blood-thinners
- Anti-seizure medications
- Antibiotics
- Anti-depressants
- Adderall
- Pain medications (including Oxycontin)
- Tetracycline
- Sudafed
- Cough syrup
Depending on what type of medication you take and how much you drink, any number of reactions can occur. You might black out after only a couple of drinks, have a heinous hangover, vomit up your medication and reduce its effect, stop breathing, go into liver failure, or worse.
Scary, huh? It’s important to note, though, that mixing alcohol and medication isn’t always dangerous – sometimes, your body handles the mix just fine. But even if you’ve mixed alcohol and medications without feeling the dangerous side effects before, it isn’t a safe habit. “You never know how bad the outcome will be,” Dr. Burke explains. A night of partying isn’t worth risking your health!
Her Campus investigated how different types of common medications react when mixed with alcohol.
Acetaminophen, blood-thinners, and anti-seizure medications
Acetaminophen (a major ingredient in Tylenol, Vicodin, and Percocet), blood-thinners, and anti-seizure medications are all metabolized in the liver. And since alcohol targets your liver, too, the combination stresses out the organ and isn’t healthy.
“Regular alcohol intake speeds up liver metabolism,” Dr. Burke explains. “So, if you are on a drug that is metabolized by the liver, you may notice less of an effect from that drug since your body is chewing it up faster.”
Tylenol seems like an innocent, over-the-counter drug, but it’s a definite no-go if you plan on drinking that night or have already had something to drink. According to Dr. Burke, Tylenol and alcohol can lead to liver failure if taken repeatedly over time or in large quantities.
Alcohol in combination with Vicodin or Percocet can lead to serious breathing complications, including the possibility that a person will stop breathing altogether. And even if consequences aren’t that serious, both of these drugs lead to seriously nauseating hangovers.
Adderall
You may think Adderall and alcohol might lead to an epic night of partying… until you crash. Once the Adderall high wears off, you’re left with heart palpitations, anxiety, paranoia, and severe depression. The hangover will be bad enough that you’ll never want to even think about going out again. “Some [people who mix Adderall and alcohol] have to go to the ER due to the severity of their hangovers,” Dr. Burke says.
Pain medications
Like Vicodin and Percocet, pain medications decrease breathing, especially if you just recently started taking the medication. And because some pain medications don’t kick in immediately, you may not feel the warning signs of mixing alcohol and medication until hours later. Dr. Burke offers a sobering warning. “When the full impact of the drug kicks in and mixes with the alcohol in your system, that toxic mixture can lead to death.”
Antibiotics
Vanderbilt University sophomore Stacey says, “I took antibiotics and drank during my first semester of freshman year. I got completely drunk off of what I normally drink to get tipsy. Thankfully, I didn’t go overboard that night or something really bad could have happened!”
Stacey’s mistake is more common that you might think. Sophia, a junior at University of New Hampshire, also drank while on antibiotics, albeit with worse side-effects. “I thought one drink wouldn’t hurt me, but then one turned into two and I blacked out,” she says. “When I woke up, I felt horrible and spent hours puking.”
According to Dr. Burke, alcohol makes it tougher for antibiotics to be absorbed into the bloodstream, so the medicine won’t be as effective. Your recovery could stall or your infection could return.
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Which types of medication are safe to mix with alcohol?
Anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil, ibuprofen, Aleve, or naprosyn are safe to mix with alcohol and will help with hangover symptoms. These medications are most effective when you take them after eating. But if you typically experience an upset stomach when you drink, anti-inflammatory medications will actually make your stomach feel worse, so you may want to also take a zantac or pepcid pill (heartburn medications).
And before you start worrying about your daily Pill, know that it’s safe to take when you’re drinking! “Birth control pills are hormonally mediated,” Dr. Burke explains, “so alcohol will typically not affect them as much.” There isn’t any medical evidence that alcohol compromises the effectiveness of the Pill, but it’s still important to exercise caution.
Like with any other medication, if you take the Pill and vomit, your dose may be compromised. And if a night of drinking leads you to forget the Pill entirely, that puts you at risk for pregnancy and STDs if you have sex without a condom. If you’re prone to forgetting the Pill, consider taking it every afternoon, when you know you’ll be awake and sober.
Is there a safe way to drink while on medication?
If you are a very light drinker, medication may not be much of a problem. “If you drink two or three beers once or twice a week, I probably wouldn’t be as concerned,” Dr. Burke says. “However, if you are doing keg stands on a regular basis and are taking antidepressants, antibiotics, or chronic pain medications, you should really talk to your doctor and discuss the potential risks and reactions.”
Since there are so many variables involved in your specific medical history, medication type, and drinking habits, there’s no hard and fast rule about how many hours you should wait between taking medication and drinking alcohol. If you’re not clear on how you should handle your medication, schedule a consult with your doctor.
Mixing alcohol with medication is rarely a good idea. When in doubt, err on the side of taking the night off from drinking. One night of partying isn’t worth an awful hangover, blacking out, or worse. Stay safe!