This is a very popular question, believe it or not! The standby answer is don’t drink alcohol with any of your medications. However, since the majority of people are on at least one medication…who is drinking all the alcohol?! When this post says it is okay to drink, we are talking about an occasional drink –not chronically nor to excess! 🙂 Also, these answers are generalized because there are so many medications out there and because each person is unique! It is always best to double check with you pharmacist or physician.
If you have any specific questions, just ask or leave a comment below.
“Can I drink with my antibiotic?” It is okay to have a drink with most antibiotics. It is definitely best to check with your pharmacist first (or email us) so you can avoid any interactions.
Alcohol should be avoided with Flagyl (metronidazole) –including vaginal metronidazole, ketoconazole and tinidazole. These can cause a disulfiram reaction (ie projectile vomiting). It is also best to avoid alcohol with griseofulvin, isoniazid and rifampin because of interactions and possible liver issues.
“Can I drink with Tylenol?” It is okay to have a drink or two a day when taking Tylenol (acetaminophen), Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxyn), etc. If you drink more regularly, like 3+ drinks/day -it is best to avoid taking these OTC meds –it can lead to liver issues and increase bleeding risks.
“Can I drink with my warfarin?” If you have a stable Coumadin (warfarin) level, it should be okay to have an occasional drink. A drink once in a while should be okay with Pradaxa and Plavix (clopidogrel) as well.
“Can I drink with my blood pressure meds?” An occasional alcoholic drink should be okay. Just be aware that alcohol can interact with blood pressure medications and cause temporary hypotension (low blood pressure) especially upon standing up. Also, chronic drinking 2+ drinks/day can increase blood pressure.
“Can I drink with my antidepressant meds?” It is best to avoid drinking alcohol with antidepressants. Alcohol can interact with some antidepressants to cause increased risk of low blood pressure, seizures, dizziness and such. In addition, alcohol can worsen depression –so best to avoid for that reason too! Side note, it is best to avoid caffeine as well. Caffeine can worsen symptoms of depression.
“Can I drink with my diabetes meds?” Not a good idea! Alcohol can interact with meds and cause dangerously low blood sugars temporarily. In addition, alcohol can make it difficult for your body to control its blood sugar levels. If you are taking a sulfonylurea (like glyburide, tolbutamide, chlorpropamide) it is best to completely avoid alcohol because it can cause a disulfiram reaction.
“Can I drink with my antihistamine allergy medicine?” Mostly yes. Antihistamines like Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec should be okay with alcohol. Take care at first because it may increase risk of causing dizziness and sedation. Definitely avoid with first-generation antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine).
It is best to avoid drinking with these medications:
All controlled pain medications (opioids) such as Vicodin, Lortab, Oxycontin
All benzodiazepines (usually used as antianxiety, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants and sleep aids) such as Xanax, temazepam, clonazepam, Valium.
Some extended release (ER) medications can increase alcohol absorption. This can lead to higher amounts of drug to be released all at once which can cause an overdose. Never drink alcohol with Nucynta ER, Zohydro ER, Opana ER or Embeda because there is a high risk of overdose.
So there you have it, an overview on alcohol and meds! If you have any comments or questions -please leave them below! We would love to hear from you 🙂