Medications That Shouldn’t Be Mixed with Alcohol

If you’re taking any type of medication, whether it is prescribed by your health care provider, or purchased over-the-counter, you must be careful about potential interactions with alcohol.

Alcohol should be avoided when taking hundreds of OTC and prescription medications. If you are not sure if it is safe to drink alcohol while taking medication, err on the side of caution and avoid alcohol.

Here is a list of some of the many common medications that shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol.

Medications That Cannot Be Mixed With Alcohol

Some classes of medications cannot be mixed with alcohol, because of very serious side effects, and interactions. Avoid alcohol while taking:

Antibiotic medications
Antidepressants
Anxiety medications
Arthritis medications
Blood pressure medications
Cholesterol medications
Diabetes medications
Over-the-counter cold, allergy, and flu medications
Pain medications

What medications should not be mixed with alcohol?

Medications that should not be mixed with alcohol include both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. These medications are used to treat a variety of chronic and acute health conditions, ranging from bacterial infections to diabetes to the common cold.

Antibiotics That Should Not Be Mixed With Alcohol

Medications used to treat a variety of bacterial infections should not be mixed with alcohol. Known as antibiotics these medications slow the growth of bacteria causing infections. Antibiotics can interact with alcohol leading to a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), headache, liver damage, vomiting, nausea, and sudden changes in blood pressure.

Metronidazole (Generic Flagyl)

Metronidazole is the generic form of the brand drug Flagyl. It is a commonly prescribed antibiotic. You should not drink alcohol while taking metronidazole.

Other antibiotics may also interact with alcohol. When fighting a bacterial infection, you should avoid alcohol.

Antidepressants That Should Never Be Mixed With Alcohol

You should avoid alcohol while taking antidepressants. Alcohol is a known depressant. Mixing alcohol and antidepressants can lead to dangerous interactions and side effects.

Bupropion (Generic Wellbutrin)

Do not drink alcohol while taking bupropion or Wellbutrin. Alcohol can worsen the side effects of bupropion and Wellbutrin. Drinking alcohol can also worsen symptoms of depression.

Citalopram (Generic Celexa)

Avoid alcohol if you are taking citalopram or Celexa. Side effects of this antidepressant medication may increase if you drink while taking it.

Escitalopram (Generic Lexapro)

Escitalopram is generic for the brand drug Lexapro. Both medications may interact with alcohol. Do not drink while taking these antidepressants.

Fluoxetine (Generic Prozac)

Stay away from alcohol if you are taking Prozac or its generic fluoxetine. Antidepressants should never be mixed with alcohol.

Venlafaxine (Generic Effexor)

Venlafaxine and Effexor are prescribed to treat depression. You should not mix alcohol with these antidepressant medications.

Other antidepressants may also interact with alcohol. When being treated for depression you should avoid alcohol.

Anxiety Medications That Should Never Be Mixed With Alcohol

Never drink alcohol if you are taking prescription anxiety medication. Alcohol interacts with many anxiety medications and can cause slowed breathing, memory loss, impaired motor skills, and abnormal behavior. The combination of anxiety medications and alcohol can be fatal.

Alprazolam (Generic Xanax)

Do not drink alcohol if you are taking Xanax, or its generic, alprazolam. Alprazolam is prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorder.

Clonazepam (Generic Klonopin)

Clonazepam is the generic for the brand drug Klonopin. It is prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and epilepsy. While taking clonazepam or Klonopin you should avoid alcohol.

Diazepam (Generic Valium)

Mixing antidepressants such as diazepam or Valium with alcohol can prove fatal. Avoid alcohol if you are taking diazepam for anxiety or seizures.

Lorazepam (Generic Ativan)

Ativan and its generic form, lorazepam, should never be mixed with alcohol. The combination of alcohol and lorazepam creates the potential for serious and potentially deadly side effects.

Other prescribed anxiety medications may also interact with alcohol. When being treated for anxiety, you should avoid alcohol.

Arthritis Medications That Should Never Be Mixed With Alcohol

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed to treat arthritis, inflammation, and joint pain. You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking NSAIDs due to the risk of developing stomach ulcers, liver problems, or bleeding in the stomach.

Celecoxib (Generic Celebrex)

Celecoxib is the generic for the brand drug Celebrex. It is prescribed to treat arthritis and other forms of acute pain. You should not drink alcohol while taking celecoxib or Celexa.

Meloxicam (Generic Mobic)

Meloxicam is the generic form of the brand drug Mobic. These drugs are NSAIDs, so you should avoid alcohol while taking them.

Naproxen (Generic Naprosyn)

Naproxen is a commonly prescribed NSAID, used to treat pain from arthritis, along with pain from conditions such as tendonitis. You should avoid alcohol while taking naproxen or Naprosyn.

Other medications prescribed to treat arthritis, may also interact with alcohol. Avoid alcohol if you are taking any type of NSAID medication.

Blood Pressure Medications That Should Never Be Mixed With Alcohol

If you’re prescribed medications for high blood pressure (hypertension), you should avoid alcohol. Side effects of drinking alcohol while taking these medications can further lower your blood pressure, which may cause you to experience dizziness, fainting, irregular heartbeat, and drowsiness.

Benazepril (Generic Lotensin)

Benazepril is the generic form of the ACE inhibitor Lotensin. You should avoid alcohol if you take benazepril.

Losartan (Generic Cozaar)

Losartan is used to treat high blood pressure and to protect the kidneys from damage caused by diabetes. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking losartan or the brand drug equivalent, Cozaar.

Metoprolol

Metoprolol is the generic form of the brand drug Lopressor. Alcohol can interact with metoprolol and Lopressor.

Quinapril (Generic Accupril)

Do not drink alcohol if you are taking Accupril, or its generic quinapril to treat hypertension. These ACE inhibitors are used to lower blood pressure but may interact with alcohol.

Other medications prescribed to treat high blood may also interact with alcohol. Avoid alcohol if you are taking medication to treat hypertension.

Cholesterol Medications That Should Not Be Mixed With Alcohol

Medications known as statins that are prescribed to lower cholesterol should never be mixed with alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking one of these common cholesterol medications can lead to stomach bleeding, liver damage, itching, and flushing.

Atorvastatin (Generic Lipitor)

Atorvastatin is a commonly prescribed cholesterol medication. You should avoid alcohol while taking atorvastatin.

Lovastatin (Generic Altoprev)

Lovastatin is the generic for Altoprev. It is a statin prescribed to lower “bad” cholesterol. Mixing alcohol with lovastatin can lead to side effects and interactions.

Rosuvastatin (Generic Crestor)

Rosuvastatin is the generic for Crestor is a statin prescribed to treat high cholesterol. Avoid alcohol if you are taking rosuvastatin.

Simvastatin (Generic Zocor)

Simvastatin is generic for the brand drug Zocor. It is used to lower cholesterol. You should not drink alcohol if you’re taking simvastatin.

Other medications prescribed for high cholesterol may also interact with alcohol. Avoid alcohol if you are taking medication to treat cholesterol.

Diabetes Medications That Should Not Be Mixed With Alcohol

Certain medications to treat diabetes are known to interact with alcohol. Alcohol can also directly affect blood sugar levels. Mixing alcohol with diabetes medication can lead to facial flushing, nausea/vomiting, changes in blood pressure, headache, and rapid heartbeat.

Glyburide (Generic Glynase)

Glyburide and Glynase are prescribed to control blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. You should avoid alcohol if you take glyburide.

Metformin (Generic Riomet)

Riomet, and the generic version, metformin are both prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. You should not drink alcohol if you are taking metformin.

Other medications prescribed to treat diabetes may also interact with alcohol. Avoid alcohol if you are taking medication for diabetes.

Over-the-Counter Medications That Should Not Mix With Alcohol

Common OTC medications can interact with alcohol. These medications are used to reduce or alleviate symptoms of cold, flu, cough, and allergies. Avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking:

Allegra
Advil (ibuprofen)
Benadryl
Claritin
Clarinex
Dimetapp
Sudafed
Tylenol Cold, Allergy, Flu
Zyrtec

Other OTC medications used to relieve symptoms of a cold, flu, allergies, or cough may also interact with alcohol. Check the label on all OTC medications for warnings about alcohol interactions.

Opioid Pain Medications Should Not Be Mixed With Alcohol

Opioid pain medications should never be mixed with alcohol. Mixing alcohol and opioid pain medications can be fatal. Avoid drinking alcohol if you are prescribed any pain medication.

The Risk of Opioid Use

Opioids are typically prescribed to treat pain but can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Inappropriate opioid use can lead to an overdose. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018 69.5% of drug-related deaths were due to opioid overdoses.

Do not take opioids without a prescription. As with any other medication, if you are currently prescribed an opioid, take them as prescribed under the guidance of your health care provider. Always discuss symptoms, or changes in your medication dosage with your health care provider while taking an opioid medication.

How does alcohol interact with medications?

When you drink alcohol while on medication, the interaction can be life-threatening, or lead to severe health conditions. Alcohol and medications can interact in two ways.

Certain medications when mixed with alcohol may increase the effect you feel from alcohol. In other words, mixing alcohol with medication may make you feel very drunk, even if you’ve only had a little bit of alcohol.

Alcohol can also change the way medication works. In many cases drinking alcohol while taking certain medications can make the medication less effective. In other cases, alcohol can increase the level of medication in your blood, which can be very dangerous.

Always Talk to Your Health Care Provider

If you enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or a cocktail on occasion, be sure to let your health care provider know. While taking certain medications, you will likely be advised to avoid alcohol.

If you are prescribed a new medication that has an alcohol warning on it, your pharmacist will let you know when you pick up the medicine. If you’re purchasing an over-the-counter medication, and are not sure if it is safe to drink alcohol, while taking it, ask your pharmacist.