Alcohol, Medication and Older Adults
For Those Who Care About or Care for an Older Adult

Module 3: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications - Page 9 of 13

Alcohol-Drug Interactions

Drinking alcohol while taking certain prescription medicines can have serious consequences, particularly for older adults.

Below is a table of some of the common kinds of prescription medicines older adults receive and the effects alcohol can have when mixed with these medications.

Common Adverse Effects of Medications for Older Adults

Prescription Drug Common Names If Mixed With Alcohol
Tranquilizers
(to reduce anxiety, nervousness, or panic attacks)		 Valium, Librium, Xanax, Ativan Decreased alertness, impaired judgment, respiratory failure, depressed central nervous system. Can lead to falls, accidents
Painkillers Tylenol #3, Demerol, Codeine, Percodan, Percocet, Dilaudid, Oxycontin, Duralgesic patch Depressed central nervous system, decreased breathing
Sleep medications Xanax, Buspar, Ambien, Sonata Breathing failure, coma, death
Antibiotics
(to fight bacterial infections)

 Erythromycin, Tetracycline, Penicillin Nausea, vomiting, decreased effectiveness of medicine
High blood pressure medication Norvasc, Hylorel, Ismelin Lowers blood pressure to dangerous levels
Diuretics
(to reduce excess water)		 Lasix, HCTZ Dizziness, lowered blood pressure, leading to falls and injuries.
Anticoagulants
(to prevent blood clots)		 Coumadin Increased bleeding to dangerous levels
Antidepressants
(to reduce or eliminate depression, despair, anxiety)		 Elavil, Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft Lowers blood pressure to dangerous levels, decreased effectiveness of medicine, increased depression
Anticonvulsants
(to reduce seizures)		 Dilantin, Phenobarbital Decreased effectiveness of medicine, causing seizures to return
Diabetic and hypoglycemic medicines
(to regulate blood sugar)		 Insulin, Glucophage Could cause severe reaction, including an increase in blood sugars to dangerous levels

The severity of the drug-alcohol interaction increases with increased quantities of alcohol, although each individual case is different. In all cases, the drug-alcohol interaction has the potential to be fatal!!

More information is available on the Medline Plus Drug Information page at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus.

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