Why shouldn't people mix ...................................?

Question

medication and alcohol?

What's the worst that could happen?

I really am just curious. I took a painkiller about an hour ago and read that you can't take it with alcohol. I am not an alcoholic and I certainly would not take meds with alcohol.

Answer 1

it could kill you.

Answer 2

Some painkillers react with alcohol by making you sleepy to the point of being difficult to wake up. In the same way, they can depress your breathing to the point that you might stop breathing. There are other medications, that mixed with alcohol, can cause irreversible liver damage.

Either way, medication mixed with alcohol is a poor combination. It's best to check with your pharmacist or doctor first before you mix them.

Answer 3

The worst that could happen is an interaction between depressants and alcohol (which is also a depressants). Most barbutiates, and benzodiazapenes (along with some opiod painkillers) cause respiratory depression (your breath becomes slowed and shallow). By combining the two you are increasing your chance of not breathing at all.

Answer 4

Alcohol can increase the effects of mood-altering medications, even to the point of costing your family a lot of money for flowers. Alcohol can completely destroy the effects of some medications. If you are going to use alcohol and are on any medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you put your life at risk.

Answer 5

im not exactly sure about this, but i heard you can get ill and some medications say not to mix it because there is something in there that could make you very sick. Some medications are stimulants and alcohol can make you sleepy and energetitic so your body doesnt know which one to do; sleep or stay awake and it cant take that kind of stress. Bottom line is dont do it!

Answer 6

Sometimes in medicine, factors like protein binding put a disconnect to the math, so two plus two can equal ten when it comes to dosing drugs. Narcotic analgesics and alcohol are both sedatives that can cause respiratory depression, and mixing them can have both act more strongly than you'd expect. If you stop breathing, your survivors will look upon it as a significant side-effect.

Answer 7

There are different reasons depending on what kind of medication you are taking. Narcotic pain relievers, for instance, like morphine, vicodin, oxycodone, etc., are affected by alcohol because alcohol increases the effects of the medication (called "potentiation). Narcotics are a central nervous system depressant, which causes a lower heart rate, and lower respiratory rate in addition to their pain-relieving effects. When you add alcohol, it decreases heart rate and respiratory rate even further - increasing your risk for complete cessation of breathing and heart failure = death.

Answer 8

Well lets see....past celebrities have DIED from the combination. But other than that alcohol can prevent medications from working.

Answer 9

Some antibiotics actually get you drunk faster! Sweeeet. I think the only one you really want to watch is bloodthinners... mix that with a shot of cuervo and you're in for some trouble.

Answer 10

It's called synergy.
The effects of some drugs are multiplied out of proportion by the presence of others.
If the label says don't do it, then don't do it.

Answer 11

I do not know and will not venture in answering this question
" desolado ángel "
Your question can only be answered by professionals like Md's , qualified nurses or pharmacists.