Mixing alcohol with medicines

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The most common medications reported to interact with alcohol are antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, H2 blockers, muscle relaxants, opioids, and warfarin. Alcohol may affect pharmacodynamics and/or pharmacokinetics of medications and result in altered therapeutic effects as well as adverse reactions.

Commonly Used Medicines (Both Prescription and Over-The-Counter) That Interact With Alcohol

Commonly Used Medicines (Both Prescription and Over-The-Counter) That Interact With Alcohol

Symptom/Disorders	Medication (Trade Name)	Medication (Generic Name)	Possible Reactions With Alcohol
Allergies/Colds/Flu	Alavert®	Loratadine	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
	Allegra®, Allegra-D®	Fexofenadine
	Benadryl®	Diphenhydramine
	Clarinex®	Desloratadine
	Claritin®, Claritin-D®	Loratadine
	Dimetapp® Cold & Allergy	Brompheniramine
	Sudafed® Sinus & Allergy	Chlorpheniramine
	Triaminic® Cold & Allergy	Chlorpheniramine
	Tylenol® Allergy Sinus	Chlorpheniramine
	Tylenol® Cold & Flu	Chlorpheniramine
	Zyrtec®	Cetirizine
Angina (chest pain), coronary heart disease	Isordil®	Isosorbide	Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting
		Nitroglycerin
Anxiety and epilepsy	Ativan®	Lorazepam	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; and memory problems
	Klonopin®	Clonazepam
	Librium®	Chlordiazepoxide
	Paxil®	Paroxetine
	Valium®	Diazepam
	Xanax®	Alprazolam
	Herbal preparations (Kava Kava)	—	Liver damage, drowsiness
Arthritis	Celebrex®	Celecoxib	Ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver problems
	Naprosyn®	Naproxen
	Voltaren®	Diclofenac
Blood clots	Coumadin®	Warfarin	Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking also may cause bleeding or may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks
Cough	Delsym®, Robitussin Cough®	Dextromethorphan	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
	Robitussin A–C®	Guaifenesin + Codeine
Depression	Anafranil®	Clomipramine	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; increased feelings of depression or hopelessness in adolescents (suicide)
	Celexa®	Citalopram
	Desyrel®	Trazodone
	Effexor®	Venlafaxine
	Elavil®	Amitriptyline
	Lexapro®	Escitalopram
	Luvox®	Fluvoxamine
	Norpramin®	Desipramine
	Paxil®	Paroxetine
	Prozac®	Fluoxetine
	Serzone®	Nefazodone
	Wellbutrin®	Bupropion
	Zoloft®	Sertraline
	St. John’s Wort	—
Diabetes	Glucophage®	Metformin	Abnormally low blood sugar levels, flushing reaction (nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure)
	Micronase®	Glyburide
	Orinase®	Tolbutamide
Enlarged prostate	Cardura®	Doxazosin	Dizziness, light headedness, fainting
	Flomax®	Tamsulosin
	Hytrin®	Terazosin
	Minipress®	Prazosin
Heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach	Axid®	Nizatidine	Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide); increased alcohol effect
	Reglan®	Metoclopramide
	Tagamet®	Cimetidine
	Zantac®	Ranitidine
High blood pressure	Accupril®	Quinapril	Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness; heart problems such as changes in the heart’s regular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
	Capozide®	Hydrochlorothiazide
	Cardura®	Doxazosin
	Catapres®	Clonidine
	Cozaar®	Losartan
	Hytrin®	Terazosin
	Lopressor® HCT	Hydrochlorothiazide
	Lotensin®	Benzapril
	Minipress®	Prazosin
	Vaseretic®	Enalapril
High cholesterol	Advicor®	Lovastatin + Niacin	Liver damage (all medications); increased flushing and itching (niacin), increased stomach bleeding (pravastatin + aspirin)
	Altocor®	Lovastatin
	Crestor®	Rosuvastatin
	Lipitor®	Atorvastatin
	Mevacor®	Lovastatin
	Niaspan®	Niacin
	Pravachol®	Pravastatin
	Pravigard®	Pravastatin + Aspirin
	Vytorin®	Ezetimibe + Simvastatin
	Zocor®	Simvastatin
Infections	Acrodantin®	Nitrofurantoin	Fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face; liver damage (isoniazid, ketoconazole)
	Flagyl®	Metronidazole
	Grisactin®	Griseofulvin
	Nizoral®	Ketoconazole
	Nydrazid®	Isoniazid
	Seromycin®	Cycloserine
	Tindamax®	Tinidazole
Muscle pain	Flexeril®	Cyclobenzaprine	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems
	Soma®	Carisoprodol
Nausea, motion sickness	Antivert®	Meclizine	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose
	Atarax®	Hydroxyzine
	Dramamine®	Dimenhydrinate
	Phenergan®	Promethazine
Pain (such as headache, muscle ache, minor arthritis pain), fever, inflammation	Advil®	Ibuprofen	Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat
	Aleve®	Naproxen
	Excedrin®	Aspirin, Acetaminophen
	Motrin®	Ibuprofen
	Tylenol®	Acetaminophen
Seizures	Dilantin®	Phenytoin	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures
	Klonopin®	Clonazepam , Phenobarbital
	Phenobarbital	Phenobarbital
Severe pain from injury, postsurgical care, oral surgery, migraines	Darvocet–N®	Propoxyphene	Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems
	Demerol®	Meperidine
	Fiorinal® with codeine	Butalbital + Codeine
	Percocet®	Oxycodone
	Vicodin®	Hydrocodone
Sleep problems	Ambien®	Zolpidem	Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems
	Lunesta®	Eszopiclone
	Prosom®	Estazolam
	Restoril®	Temazepam
	Sominex®	Diphenhydramine
	Unisom®	Doxylamine
	Herbal preparations (chamomile, valerian, lavender)	—	Increased drowsiness