What medications can you not drink alcohol with?

Avoid these medications with alcohol

This is not a complete list. Check this list of medications to see if your medication can react with alcohol

Medications which cause disulfiram reaction

Some medications mess up metabolism of alcohol. So when you drink alcohol with these medications, you might feel flushed (redness of skin). Your heart might beat too fast. You might feel headache, dizziness, or vomiting. This is called disulfiram reaction (also called acetaldehyde syndrome). Many antibiotics and antivirals can cause disulfiram reaction. Examples: Abacavir, Cefamandole, Cefoperazone, Cefotetan, Cefuroxime, Chloramphenicol, Griseofulvin, Isoniazid, Metronidazole, Nitrofuratoin, Sulfamethoxazole, Tinidazole. Read more about disulfiram reaction.

Allergy medications (antihistamines) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus

Angina medications (nitrates) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can lower your blood pressure too much. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, tired

Anxiety medications (e.g. benzodiazepines, barbiturates) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus

Arrhythmia medications (used for irregular heartbeat, atrial fibrillation) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make your heartbeat irregular. You might feel palpitations, fast heartbeat, thumping, flutter, skipping of heartbeat

Blood pressure medications - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can lower your blood pressure too much. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, tired

Blood thinners - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can cause bleeding in stomach and intestines

Depression medications - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus. Some depression medications can also make your heart beat irregular if you take them with alcohol

Diabetes medications (insulin and pills) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can lower your sugar level. You might feel confused, tired, sweaty, anxious, shaky, dizzy, hungry. Metformin can also cause lactic acidosis (a very serious condition)

Mental illness medications (antipsychotics) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus

Muscle relaxers - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus

Over the counter pain pills (example: acetaminophen or Tylenol) - Serious reaction

Taking these with alcohol can increase your chances of liver problems (jaundice). Some pain pills can cause bleeding in stomach and intestines if you take them with alcohol

Over the counter aspirin - Serious reaction

Taking aspirin with alcohol can cause bleeding in stomach and intestines

Pain pills - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus. Some pain pills can also cause bleeding in stomach and intestines

Parkinson disease medications - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus. Your blood pressure can also get lower. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, tired

Prostate medications - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can lower your blood pressure too much. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, tired

Seizure medications - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can increase your chances of seizures

Sleeping pills - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can make you too sleepy. You might feel tired, loopy, unable to focus

Tuberculosis medications - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can cause serious liver problems

Water pills (diuretics) - Serious reaction

Taking these medications with alcohol can lower your blood pressure too much. You might feel dizzy, nauseous, tired

Page last updated: 7-September-2019