A new study has reported that almost 50% of alcohol consumers in the United States have used one or more prescription medications that interact with alcohol. The practice can result in serious health consequences, including death. The findings will be published in the February 2015 edition of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research by researchers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
The study authors note that about 71% of adults in the United States consume alcohol. Alcohol interacts negatively with a number of commonly prescribed medications; however, research is limited on the effects of combining alcohol with prescription medications. For the study, the researchers reviewed data from the 1999-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study group comprised 26,657 adults aged 20 to over 65, who provided information on alcohol consumption and prescription medication use.
The most common prescription medications ingested included drugs for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep aids, and painkillers. The investigators found that almost 42% of drinkers in the used one or more prescription medications that interacted with alcohol. Among seniors, aged 65 and older, the percentage was even higher, almost 78%. They explained that interacting medication use was higher in older drinkers because that age group suffers from more chronic diseases and are more likely to be taking multiple medications to treat multiple conditions; thus, increasing the risk of dangerous side effects from adding alcohol.
Contributing to the problem in seniors is that as one ages, the ability to metabolize alcohol decreases. Thus, the alcohol might remain in their systems longer to interact with medications. In addition, the metabolism of several medications that interact with alcohol slows as one ages; thus, creating a larger window for potential alcohol/medication interactions.
The effect of mixing alcohol and sedatives such as sleeping pills, narcotic pain medications, or muscle relaxants can potentially lead to injury and death. The combination can cause sleepiness, problems with coordination and potentially suppress brain stem areas involved with controlling vital reflexes such as breathing, heart rate, and gagging to clear the airway. Other drugs that can cause interactions are some antibiotics, heart medications, and diabetes medications. They can interfere with the metabolism of acetaldehyde, which is a product of alcohol metabolism, leading to toxic reactions that include nausea, sweating, and vomiting after alcohol consumption.
Alcohol causes a rise in insulin levels and lowers blood glucose; thus, combining alcohol with anti-diabetic drugs that regulate glucose levels can produce an unhealthy drop in blood sugar; over time, this can lead to insulin resistance.
Take home message:
This study points out the hazards of combining prescription medications. In addition, prescription medications can interact with other prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and even foods and foods and herbal products. For example, spinach can counteract the effectiveness of Coumadin (warfarin), a commonly prescribed blood thinner. When a physician writes a prescription, inform him or her of all other medications you are taking, both prescription and over-the-counter). Also ask about interactions with alcohol. When you fill a prescription, also ask the pharmacist about drug interactions. The NIAAA recommends that men consume no more than four drinks a day and no more than 14 drinks per week. Women should consume no more than three drinks a day and no more than seven drinks per week.
