Mixing Alcohol and Drugs: Side Effects and Dangers

Drowsiness and dizziness are common side effects of medications used to treat allergies, colds, and the flu. When the substances are combined, the effect is intensified, and your judgment and focus will be further impaired. Here is a short list of the most common prescription and OTC drugs that can pose a risk to mixing alcohol and drugs causes an effect called your health if mixed with alcohol, as well as what can happen if the substances are combined. Additionally, if you have an underlying health condition like heart disease or high blood pressure (hypertension), mixing alcohol with your medications can put you at risk for complications. Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance use disorder, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions.

Biological Mechanism of Alcohol-Drug Interactions

When substances taken by a person have synergistic effects, it may either be beneficial or harmful. Mucinex products that contain guaifenesin and no other medications are unlikely to cause dangerous interactions with alcohol. However, some Mucinex combination products also contain dextromethorphan and acetaminophen. Mixing alcohol and Mucinex products that are designed to treat cold, flu or allergy symptoms can cause liver damage and other serious side effects. Medications used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder help people with ADHD concentrate.

• Mixing alcohol and cocaine increases heart rate, causing stress on the heart.
• In the case of illegal drugs, it is never wise to mix them with alcohol.
• The label on your medication may not specifically warn against consuming alcohol while you are taking the drug, so it’s important not to assume that the absence of a warning means it is safe to mix the two.
• This effect can be particularly useful for those who suffer from anxiety, tense muscles, or experience seizures related to overactive neural activity.

How to Recognize Polysubstance Abuse

This can cause the drinker to consume large amounts of alcohol without passing out, and alcohol poisoning becomes a real possibility. Even if you avoid caffeine pills, the most common source of caffeine overdose, the energy drinks being sold today pack huge amounts of caffeine. Enough that it can challenge the cardiovascular system by producing severely high heart rates if consumed in excessive amounts. Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, can conceal the effects of alcohol when individuals consume both drugs.

Side Effects of Mixing Medications With Alcohol

This is especially true if you are taking a medication that makes you sleepy or causes https://ecosoberhouse.com/ sedation. More intense side effects mean you might be more impaired after having one drink than you would typically be. The mixture of opiates and alcohol, for example, can cause your breathing to stop and is a common cause of death. Whether you are a person with a drug use disorder or have an AOD after taking alcohol and painkillers together, the most important thing is to find treatment today. Studies have indicated that people with co-occurring alcohol and drug use disorders have found success by using medications to treat addiction.

• There are hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter medications that are not safe to mix with alcohol.
• If you are mixing alcohol with other drugs and are worried about the effects, help is available.
• Alcohol and antidepressants magnify the impacts of each other, meaning someone may feel more intoxicated than they would otherwise.
• If you suspect that someone you know may be struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, approaching the situation with empathy, understanding, and non-judgment is essential.

Director / State Public Health Officer

Some people choose to mix drugs and alcohol because they know it will enhance or boost Drug rehabilitation the high. While any substance or drug out there can be mixed with alcohol, there are several that are known to have an enhancing effect when taken along with drinking. Supplements that are marketed as mood enhancers may also interact dangerously with alcohol. Some people have reported blacking out or having seizures after combining alcohol with 5-HTP, a supplement that may improve symptoms of depression. Most NyQuil products contain dextromethorphan, acetaminophen and doxylamine.

It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery. Combining two substances may intensify the effects of each substance in a phenomenon called synergism. A synergistic interaction happens when the combined effects of drugs or alcohol are greater than their individual effects.

• You must have a prescription to obtain them in order to be sure that you 1.
• As with cold and flu remedies, combining alcohol with medications used to treat a cough can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and motor impairment.
• A few of the above listed substances are not used for the purpose of getting high, but for medicinal reasons, however, they can be adversely affected when mixed with alcohol.
• Combining these drugs with alcohol can make the risks and side effects worse, especially if you have liver disease.