Interactions with other medications

Anesthetics and alcohol

Anesthetics are administered before surgery or a painful procedure to render a patient unconscious and create an insensitivity to pain. Chronic alcohol intake will increase the dose of medications required to induce unconsciousness or insensitivity and increase the chances of liver damage that could be caused by the anesthetic gas enflurane (Ethrane). [7]

Anticoagulants and alcohol 

Warfarin is prescribed to prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger in your blood and blood vessels. Acute alcohol dosage will enhance the drug’s availability and increase the patient's risk for life-threatening hemorrhages. Chronic alcohol intake, on the other hand, will reduce drug's effects, decreasing the patient's safety from the consequences of blood-clotting disorders. It is, however, safe to consume alcohol with warfarin if alcohol consumption is within recommended guidelines. [8]

Antidepressants and alcohol

Since alcoholism and depression are frequently associated, a high potential for alcohol-antidepressant interactions exists. Acute alcohol consumption increases the availability of certain tricyclics, potentially increasing their sedative effects while chronic alcohol consumption increases the availability of some tricyclics and decreases the availability of others. However, the significance of these interactions is unclear. These chronic effects persist in recovering alcoholics. [9]

A chemical called tyramine, present in some beers and wine, acts together with some antidepressants, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, to produce a dangerous rise in blood pressure.

Anti-diabetic medications and alcohol 

Oral hypoglycemic drugs are used to lower blood glucose in people who have diabetes and are also able to make some insulin. While acute alcohol consumption prolongs, chronic alcohol consumption decreases the availability of tolbutamide. Alcohol can also interact with some drugs of this class to produce symptoms of nausea and headache. [10]

Antihistamines and alcohol 

Antihistamines are available without a prescription to treat allergic symptoms and insomnia. Alcohol has been found to intensify the sedation caused by some antihistamines. Since these drugs cause excessive dizziness and sedation in older persons, this population should be extremely wary of possible adverse reactions that could results when combining alcohol and antihistamines. [11]

Cardiovascular medications and alcohol 

Acute alcohol consumption interacts with some of the cardiovascular medications and may cause dizziness or fainting upon standing up.[1]

These drugs include:

• Nitroglycerin used to treat angina, 
• Reserpine,
• Methyldopa,
• Hydralazine, and
• Guanethidine used to treat high blood pressure.

Chronic alcohol consumption decreases the availability of Propranolol, used to treat high blood pressure, potentially reducing its therapeutic effects.

Conclusion

Individuals who drink alcoholic beverages should know that simultaneous use of alcohol and medications does have the potential to cause problems.