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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
OverviewIs Alcohol a Drug?Drug Classes Side EffectsSpecial PopulationsAlcohol in Your BodyHerbal Medicines and AlcoholMost Common Drug Interactions with AlcoholIntroductionAlcohol is not a substance to take lightly when it comes to drug interactions. You are probably familiar with the drug interaction warning labels that appear each time you pick up your prescription bottle. But how seriously do you take them?The Do Not Drink Alcohol label should be taken seriously to avoid the possibility of dangerous, or even deadly, drug interactions. You may be at risk, and not even know it.This Drugs.com Alcohol Interaction series looks at multiple drugs classes and possible interactions with alcohol. Select specific drug classes you may take at the bottom of this article. See if any drugs you take should be avoided with alcohol.Which drugs should you not mix alcohol with?What happens when you mix alcohol with drugs? Since literally hundreds of medications can lead to interactions with alcohol, it is important to review your medicines with your pharmacist or other health care provider to check for clinically significant drug-alcohol reactions. Even though some research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption is heart healthy, certain medications and alcohol have the capacity to interfere with your successful treatment.Research has shown that the prevalence of alcohol and medication interactions is widespread. The National Institute of Health (NIH) conducted a study of over 26,000 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES) to determine their alcohol and prescription drug use.They found that over 70% of U.S. adults regularly drink alcohol, and roughly 42% of those who drink also use medications that can interact with alcohol. Utilizing a large database of over 1,300 medications, they found that 45% of these medications had the potential to interact with alcohol.Be sure to check on your prescription drugs, as well as your over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, herbals, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. When combined with alcohol some OTC medicines can have serious drug interactions, too. However, do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.Is alcohol a drug?This might seem like an odd question, but it’s easy to forget that alcohol, while used socially for centuries, is a drug and can lead to side effects, drug interactions, alcoholism, and organ damage, such as cirrhosis of the liver.As reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a report showed that annually there were over 78,000 liver disease deaths among individuals ages 12 and older, and 47% involved alcohol. Add excessive use of alcohol to the regular use of a medication that is hard on the liver, and the potential for harm can soar.Why is alcohol a drug?After nicotine, alcohol is the most commonly abused drug in our
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