Drinking Alcohol and Taking Medication Can Severely Impair Your Judgment

Whether the medication is prescribed by a doctor or you are experimenting with illicit medication, drinking alcohol and taking medication can end in severe consequences. Depending on age and gender, alcohol can have differing effects on a person. Some effects can be short-term, such as blurred vision, slurred speech, and poor coordination. Other effects can be long-term, such as kidney disease, liver disease, or cancer.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, when a person takes medication and drinks alcohol, the short and long-term effects can be very dangerous. Combined, it can reduce the effectiveness of the medication, turn the medication toxic, cause new symptoms, make a person ill, or someone might feel even tipsier from the alcohol.

This increased tipsy feeling can further erode a person’s judgment and motor control. This combination could result in getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and ending in a DUI, vehicular manslaughter, or even death. That’s why it is highly advised to discuss alcohol consumption with a doctor when they are prescribing medication. In many cases, they will advise against drinking alcohol and taking medication.

Avoid Drinking Alcohol When Taking These Medications

 Pain Medication

Generally, doctors prescribe opioids, such as oxycontin or hydrocodone, for pain. When alcohol is combined with these types of medication, it can cause life-threatening drowsiness and make it difficult to breathe. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Advil, Tylenol, and Motrin, can increase the risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding in the stomach. Liver damage can also occur when someone drinks too much alcohol while taking these medications.

Anxiety Medication

Medications like Ambien and Xanax have a similar effect on the brain as alcohol. Drinking alcohol and taking these medications can cause extreme drowsiness and slowed breathing. Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle when mixing alcohol and these medications has a very high chance of a crash or being pulled over for a DUI.

Antidepressants and Antipsychotics

There are several different kinds of antidepressants that can be prescribed. Each one has varying degrees of danger when mixed with alcohol. Amitriptyline can cause extreme dizziness and blackouts when mixed with alcohol. While Zoloft can create a feeling of worsened depression when ingested with alcohol. Other side effects include issues with movement, liver damage, and serious heart effects.

ADHD Medication

This type of medication includes Adderall and Ritalin. When either of these medications is mixed with alcohol, they can cause side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, impaired concentration, and heart issues.

Antibiotics

Most antibiotics can cause side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When a person drinks alcohol while on an antibiotic, it can worsen these side effects. In some cases, it can lead to heart issues or long-term liver damage.

Blood Pressure Medication

Drinking alcohol regularly raises your blood pressure and makes it harder for these kinds of medications to work effectively. Combining alcohol with blood pressure medication can raise the risk of dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, and heart arrhythmia.

Over-the-Counter Cold and Flu Medication

While there are no listed interactions with alcohol for medications like Sudafed and Mucinex, it is not a good idea to drink alcohol while taking them. Alcohol weakens the immune system and can extend the length of a person’s recovery. Other medication, like Nyquil, causes drowsiness and dizziness, and combining them with alcohol can worsen these effects.

Jesse Kalter Law Can Help with a DUI as a Result of Drinking Alcohol and/or Taking Medication

As a good rule of thumb, people should never drink alcohol and take medication of any kind simultaneously. Medication has been tested and verified to work effectively on sober individuals. However, not everyone is aware of the adverse effects of mixing alcohol and medications. This lack of knowledge can result in being arrested for a DUI or worse. If this does happen, Jesse Kalter Law has the experience and knowledge to achieve the best possible outcome. They have defended against countless DUI charges and earned several not-guilty verdicts, or had cases dismissed or reduced. They are available to serve the people of Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Fallon, Fernley, Dayton, Yerington, Douglas County, and all other Northern NV rural counties.

Drinking Alcohol and Mixing Medication Doesn’t Have to End in Jail Time.
Contact Jesse Kalter Law Today for a Confidential Case Evaluation and Consultation
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