May cause DROWSINESS. ALCOHOL may intensify this effect. USE CARE when operating a car or dangerous machinery. 

Mixing Alcohol 

with Medicines 

Harmful 

Interactions: 

Harmful 

Interactions: 

Mixing Alcohol 

with Medicines 

NIH Publication No. 03–5329 

Printed February 2003 

R� A� P� E� D�

M� T� E�N�T�O�F�H� �E�A�L� T� H�A�N�D�H�U�M�A�N� �S�E�R�V�I�C�

E�S� �¥�U�S�A� 

NATIONAL 

I

N

STITUTES

O F

H

E

A LT H 

National Institute on Alcohol 

Abuse and Alcoholism 

Did you know... 

• Many types of medication 

can make you sleepy. Taking these medicines 

while drinking can make you even more drowsy, 

dizzy, and light-headed. You may have trouble concentrating or performing 

mechanical skills. Mixing 

alcohol with certain medicines makes it dangerous 

for you to drive. Combining alcohol with some 

medicines can lead to falls and serious injuries, 

especially among older people. 

• Some medications, including many popular painkillers 

and cough, cold, and allergy remedies, contain more 

than one ingredient that can react with alcohol. Read 

the label on your medication bottle to find out exactly 

what ingredients it contains. 

• Certain medicines contain up to 10 percent alcohol. 

Cough syrup and laxatives have some of the highest 

alcohol concentrations. 

• Women and older people are at higher risk for harmful 

alcohol-medication reactions. 

• Alcohol and medicines can interact harmfully even if 

they are not taken at the same time. 

Remember... Mixing alcohol and a medication puts you at risk for 

dangerous reactions. Protect yourself by avoiding alcohol 

if you are taking a medication and don’t know its effect. 

To learn more about a medicine and whether it will 

interact with alcohol, talk to your pharmacist or health 

care provider. 
May cause DROWSINESS.

ALCOHOL may intensify this effect. 

USE CARE when operating a car

or dangerous machinery. 

You’ve probably seen this warning on 

medicines you’ve taken. The danger is real. Mixing 

alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea 

and vomiting; headaches; drowsiness; fainting; 

loss of coordination; and can put you at risk for 

internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties 

in breathing. Alcohol also can decrease the effectiveness of a medication or make it totally ineffective. 

Many of these medications can be purchased “over-the-counter” without a prescription, 

including herbal remedies and others you may 

never have suspected of reacting with alcohol. 

This pamphlet describes the harmful effects of 

drinking while taking certain medicines. Brand 

names are used only to help you recognize a 

medicine you may be taking. The list presented 

here does not include all the medications that 

may react with alcohol. Most important, the 

list does not include all the ingredients in every 

medication. Medications are safe and effective 

when used appropriately. Your pharmacist or 

health care provider can help you determine 

which medicines interact harmfully with alcohol. 

Symptoms/ 

Disorders 

Some possible reactions 

Common medications and selected brand names with alcohol

Isordil® (isosorbide), nitroglycerine 

Xanax® (alprazolam); Klonopin® (clonazepam); 

Valium® (diazepam); Ativan® (lorazepam) 

Coumadin® (warfarin) 

Benadryl® (diphenhydramine); Tylenol® Cold and Flu 

(chlorpheniramine); Robitussin A-C® (codeine) 

Elavil® (amitriptyline); Anafranil® (clomipramine); Norpramin® 

(desipramine); Serzone® (nefazodone); Desyrel® (trazodone) 

Micronase® (glyburide); Glucophage® (metformin); 

Orinase® (tolbutamide) 

Tagamet® (cimetidine); Axid® (nizatidine); 

Zantac® (ranitidine); Reglan® (metoclopramide) 

Grisactin® (griseofulvin); Flagyl® (metronidazole); 

Macrodantin® (nitrofurantoin); Septra® (sulfamethoxazole); 

Nydrazid® (isoniazid); Seromycin® (cycloserine) 

Soma® (carisoprodol); Flexeril® (cyclobenzaprine) 

Antivert® (meclizine); Atarax® (hydroxyzine); 

Phenergan® (promethazine) 

Aspirin (salicylates); Advil®, Motrin® (ibuprofen); Tylenol®, 

Excedrin® (acetaminophen); Vioxx® (rofecoxib); Celebrex® 

(celecoxib); Naprosyn® (naproxen) 

Klonopin® (clonazepam); phenobarbital; 

Dilantin® (phenytoin) 

Fiorinal® with codeine (butalbital and codeine); Darvocet–N® 

(propoxyphene); Vicodin® (hydrocodone); Percocet® (oxycodone) 

Restoril® (temazepam); ProsomTM (estazolam); 

Sominex® (diphenhydramine) 

Herbal preparations (Chamomile, Valerian, Lavender) 

Angina (chest pain), 

coronary heart disease 

Anxiety 

Blood clots 

Colds, coughs, flu, allergies 

Depression 

Diabetes 

Heartburn, indigestion, 

sour stomach 

Infections 

Muscle pain 

Nausea, motion sickness 

Pain such as that from 

headache, fever, muscle ache, 

arthritis; inflammation 

Seizures 

Severe pain from injury; postsurgical care; oral surgery; migraines 

Sleep problems 

Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes 

in blood pressure 

Drowsiness, dizziness; 

increased risk for overdose 

Occasional drinking may lead to 

internal bleeding; heavier drinking 

may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, 

or heart attacks 

Drowsiness, dizziness; 

increased risk for overdose 

Drowsiness, dizziness; 

increased risk for overdose 

Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes 

in blood pressure; convulsions, 

coma, death 

Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes 

in blood pressure (metoclopramide); 

increased alcohol effect 

Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes 

in blood pressure; liver damage 

(isoniazid) 

Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk 

of seizures; increased risk for overdose 

Drowsiness, dizziness; 

increased risk for overdose 

Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; 

liver damage (acetaminophen); 

rapid heartbeat 

Drowsiness, dizziness; 

increased risk of seizures 

Drowsiness, dizziness; 

increased risk for overdose 

Drowsiness, dizziness 

Increased drowsiness