TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday that mixing alcohol with certain medications could pose serious health risks as families celebrate the Lunar New Year with festive meals and drinks.
The FDA said some medications interact with alcohol, potentially reducing their effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects. It advised against using alcohol as a substitute for water when taking medication to ensure safe drug use.
Medications that may cause interactions include pain relievers such as ibuprofen and indomethacin, sedatives and sleeping aids such as alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, and zolpidem, and antibiotics such as metronidazole, co-trimoxazole, and cefamandole. Blood sugar-lowering drugs such as glimepiride, glipizide, and glyburide, as well as cardiovascular medications such as lercanidipine and doxazosin, were also listed.
Even if not taken at the same time, these medications may still interact with alcohol due to their prolonged metabolism, which can last for several hours. The FDA urged individuals using these drugs to read prescription labels and check for possible alcohol interactions carefully.
Those taking these medications should avoid alcohol consumption but should not alter or discontinue their prescribed doses out of fear of interactions, the agency said. It stressed the importance of following medical advice to prevent health complications.
Patients should monitor their physical condition after taking medication and seek medical attention immediately if they experience discomfort. They are advised to bring their medication records when consulting a doctor.
Research indicates that numerous medications interact with alcohol, with varying degrees of severity, according to the Taiwan Drug Relief Foundation.
Potential side effects of alcohol-medication interactions:
Pain Relievers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, indomethacin and aspirin may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Opioid pain relievers such as tramadol and codeine can heighten the risk of respiratory depression.
Central pain relievers such as acetaminophen may cause severe liver toxicity in long-term alcohol users.
- Sedatives and Sleeping Aids
Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, diazepam and lorazepam, and non-benzodiazepines such as zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone can enhance central nervous system depression.
This may lead to dizziness, drowsiness, impaired balance, and reduced coordination. In severe cases, respiratory depression may occur, increasing the risk of accidents when driving or operating machinery.
Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and imipramine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as sertraline and escitalopram, and noradrenergic and serotonergic modulators such as mirtazapine may intensify central nervous system depression, causing sedation, dizziness, and drowsiness.
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as duloxetine may lead to severe liver damage.
Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as bupropion can increase the risk of seizures.
Antibiotics
Metronidazole, co-trimoxazole, cephalosporins such as cefamandole and cefoperazone, and tuberculosis treatment such as isoniazid may trigger a disulfiram-like reaction when combined with alcohol. Alcohol may also accelerate the metabolism of isoniazid, reducing its effectiveness.
Diabetes Medications
Metformin may raise the risk of lactic acidosis.
Insulin combined with alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to spike or drop, leading to poor glucose control.
Sulfonylureas such as gliclazide, glimepiride, glipizide, and glyburide can increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, and may also induce a disulfiram-like reaction.
Antiepileptic Drugs
Phenytoin and barbiturates such as phenobarbital may enhance central nervous system depression when taken with alcohol.
Chronic alcohol consumption can lower phenytoin levels in the blood, reducing its effectiveness in controlling seizures.
Cardiovascular Medications
Antihypertensive drugs such as lercanidipine and doxazosin may enhance vasodilation when combined with alcohol, increasing the risk of severe hypotension, or low blood sugar.
Verapamil can slow alcohol metabolism, heightening central nervous system depression.
Anticoagulants
Warfarin combined with alcohol may alter blood clotting time, causing fluctuations in the International Normalized Ratio. This can increase the risk of bleeding or compromise treatment effectiveness.
The FDA encouraged the public to prioritize their health during the holiday and celebrate the Lunar New Year safely.
“Alcohol increases the risk of over 60 diseases and health conditions.”
