Gap between alcohol and medicine

There are 2 situations to think about.

Situation 1

You had a couple of drinks. You want to know how long to wait before you can take your medicine pill or capsule.

First let's understand what happens when you drink alcohol?

After you drink, alcohol goes to your tummy. From your tummy, alcohol moves forward to your intestines. It takes about 1 hour for alcohol to move from your tummy to your intestine. From your intestine, alcohol is absorbed into your blood.

Problem with drinking alcohol and then taking meds

If alcohol is still sitting in your tummy, and if you take your medicine, alcohol can dissolve the medicine fast.

That means medicine can get absorbed quickly into your blood. You might get side effects because of fast action of med.

From your tummy, alcohol moves to your intestines in about 1 hour. That means if you wait about 1 to 2 hours after drinking, quick absorption of medicine most likely would not be a problem. The bigger danger is effect of alcohol stays for several hours. You can have a reaction several hours after drinking. More about that later.

Situation 2

You took a pill or capsule. You want to know how long to wait before you can drink alcohol?

First let's understand what happens when you take a pill or capsule?

After you swallow pill or capsule, it goes to your tummy. The pill or capsule breaks down and dissolves in your tummy.

The dissolved gluey stuff moves forward to your intestines. From your intestines, the active medicine is absorbed into your blood.

(Note some pills and capsules are enteric coated. It means they do not dissolve in your tummy. They go straight to your intestines and are dissolved in your intestines).

It takes about 1 to 2 hours for pill and capsule to dissolve and move from your tummy to your intestine. So the medicine cannot be absorbed into you blood unless the pill or capsule is broken down and dissolved.

Problem with taking meds and then drinking alcohol

If the pill or capsule is still sitting in your tummy, alcohol can dissolve them fast. That means medicine can get absorbed quickly into your blood. You might get side effects because of fast action of med.

From your tummy, pills and capsules move forward to your intestines within 1 or 2 hours. That means if you drink alcohol about 2 hours after taking pill or capsule, this should not be problem. The bigger danger is effect of meds might still be there when you start drinking alcohol. Even if the pill or capsule has dissolved and moved out of your tummy, the medicine might still be in your system.

Let us talk about the bigger danger.

The bigger risk

Meds and alcohol can react even if you take them far apart

Situation 1 and Situation 2 talk about how meds and alcohol can react if you take them too close.

But even if you have gap between alcohol and medicine, you have a risk of serious reaction. Your body gets rid of meds slowly. Effect of meds can stay for several hours (or several days). Even if you wait several hours, little bit of med might still be in your system. You can still get serious reaction if you drink alcohol.

Similarly, effect of alcohol can stay for long time after you are done drinking. For example: your focus, attention, concentration can be impaired several hours after drinking. You might think you are fine but serious reactions can happen if you take a medicine.

So what to do? How can you know if it is safe to drink with meds?

You need to think about many things.

1. How meds react with alcohol?

Meds and alcohol can react in many ways. For example, some meds make you sleepy. Alcohol also makes you sleepy. Taking them together can make you too sleepy. Or some meds can increase blood levels of alcohol. That means higher alcohol level your system. So you can feel drunk after drinking little alcohol. Or you might stay drunk for longer than normal. Or you might get a hangover. To know more how meds and alcohol can react, read here.

2. Some situations are more risky

The risk of serious reaction can be even higher on some days. Alcohol can hit you hard when you are dehydrated, or tired, or had a long day at work, or did not get good sleep, or did not eat well. Avoid mixing alcohol and medicine on such days. Read more about dangerous situations to avoid.

3. Can your med react with alcohol?

Some meds should be avoided with alcohol (read here). And some meds have no known reaction with alcohol. What exactly is the reaction between your med and alcohol? Check this list to see how your med reacts with alcohol.

4. What precautions can you take for safe drinking?

The best precaution is to not drink at all. Or drink as little as possible. Here are some tips for reducing alcohol intake. Sometimes it can be difficult to resist social pressure. Here are some tips about how to tackle social pressure? If you are planning to skip you med on drinking day, read why skipping meds can be dangerous.

Page last updated: 8-October-2019