Symptom/Disorders | Medication (Brand name) | Medication (Generic name) | Some possible reactions with alcohol |
Allergies/Colds/Flu | • Alavert® | Loratadine | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
• Allegra®, Allegra-D® | Fexofenadin |
• Benadryl® | Diphenhydramine |
• Clarinex® | Desloratadine |
• Claritin®, Claritin-D® | Loratadine |
• Dimetapp® Cold & Allergy | Brompheniramine |
• Sudafed® Sinus & Allergy | Chlorpheniramine |
• Triaminic® Cold & Allergy | Chlorpheniramine |
• Tylenol® Allergy Sinus | Chlorpheniramine |
• Tylenol® Cold & Flu | Chlorpheniramine |
• Zyrtec® | Cetirizine |
Angina (chest pain), coronary heart disease | • Isordil® | Isosorbide | Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure, dizziness, fainting |
Nitroglycerin |
Anxiety and epilepsy | • Ativan® | Lorazepam | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; and memory problems |
• Klonopin® | Clonazepam |
• Librium® | Chlordiazepoxide |
• Paxil® | Paroxetine |
• Valium® | Diazepam |
• Xanax® | Alprazolam |
• Herbal preparations (Kava Kava) | | Liver damage, drowsiness |
Arthritis | • Celebrex® | Celecoxib | Ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver problems |
• Naprosyn® | Naproxen |
• Voltaren® | Diclofenac |
Blood clots | • Coumadin® | Warfarin | Occasional drinking may lead to internal bleeding; heavier drinking also may cause bleeding or may have the opposite effect, resulting in possible blood clots, strokes, or heart attacks |
Cough | • Delsym®, Robitussin Cough® | Dextromethorpan | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
• Robitussin A–C® | Guaifenesin + codeine |
Depression | • Anafranil® | Clomipramine | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; increased feelings of depression or hopelessness in adolescents (suicide) |
• Celexa® | Citalopram |
• Desyrel® | Trazodone |
• Effexor® | Venlafaxine |
• Elavil® | Amitriptyline |
• Lexapro® | Escitalopram |
• Luvox® | Fluvoxamine |
• Norpramin® | Desipramine |
• Paxil® | Paroxetine |
• Prozac® | Fluoxetine |
• Serzone® | Nefazodone |
• Wellbutrin® | Bupropion |
• Zoloft® | Sertraline |
• Herbal preparations (St. John’s Wort) | |
Diabetes | • Glucophage® | Metformin | Abnormally low blood sugar levels, flushing reaction (nausea, vomiting, headache, rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure) |
• Micronase® | Glyburide |
• Orinase® | Tolbutamide |
Enlarged prostate | • Cardura® | Doxazosin | Dizziness, light headedness, fainting |
• Flomax® | Tamsulosin |
• Hytrin® | Terazosin |
• Minipress® | Prazosin |
Heartburn, indigestion, sour stomach | • Axid® | Nizatidine | Rapid heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure (metoclopramide); increased alcohol effect |
• Reglan® | Metoclopramide |
• Tagamet® | Cimetidine |
• Zantac® | Ranitidine |
High blood pressure | • Accupril® | Quinapril | Dizziness, fainting, drowsiness; heart problems such as changes in the heart’s regular heartbeat (arrhythmia) |
• Capozide® | Hydrochlorothiazide |
• Cardura® | Doxazosin |
• Catapres® | Clonidine |
• Cozaar® | Losartan |
• Hytrin® | Terazosin |
• Lopressor® HCT | Hydrochlorothiazide |
• Lotensin® | Benzapril |
• Minipress® | Prazosin |
• Vaseretic® | Enalapril |
High cholesterol | • Advicor® | Lovastatin + Niacin | Liver damage (all medications); increased flushing and itching (niacin), increased stomach bleeding (pravastatin + aspirin) |
• Altocor® | Lovastatin |
• Crestor® | Rosuvastatin |
• Lipitor® | Atorvastatin |
• Mevacor® | Lovastatin |
• Niaspan® | Niacin |
• Pravachol® | Pravastatin |
• Pravigard™ | Pravastatin + Aspirin |
• Vytorin™ | Ezetimibe + Simvastatin |
• Zocor® | Simvastatin |
Infections | • Acrodantin® | Nitrofurantoin | Fast heartbeat, sudden changes in blood pressure; stomach pain, upset stomach, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face; liver damage (isoniazid, ketokonazole) |
• Flagyl® | Metronidazole |
• Grisactin® | Griseofulvin |
• Nizoral® | Ketokonazole |
• Nydrazid® | Isoniazid |
• Seromycin® | Cycloserine |
• Tindamax® | Tinidazole |
Muscle pain | • Flexeril® | Cyclobenzaprine | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems |
• Soma® | Carisoprodol |
Nausea, motion sickness | • Antivert® | Meclizine | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose |
• Atarax® | Hydroxyzine |
• Dramamine® | Dimenhydrinate |
• Phenergan® | Promethazine |
Pain (such as headache, muscle ache, minor arthritis pain), fever, inflammation | • Advil® | Ibuprofen | Stomach upset, bleeding and ulcers; liver damage (acetaminophen); rapid heartbeat |
• Aleve® | Naproxen |
• Excedrin® | Aspirin, Acetaminophen |
• Motrin® | Ibuprofen |
• Tylenol® | Acetaminophen |
Seizures | • Dilantin® | Phenytoin | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk of seizures |
• Klonopin® | Clonazepam Phenobarbital |
Severe pain from injury, postsurgical care, oral surgery, migraines | • Darvocet–N® | Propoxyphene | Drowsiness, dizziness; increased risk for overdose; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems |
• Demerol® | Merepidine |
• Fiorinal® with codeine | Butalbital + codeine |
• Percocet® | Oxycodone |
• Vicodin® | Hydrocodone |
Sleep problems | • Ambien® | Zolpidem | Drowsiness, sleepiness, dizziness; slowed or difficulty breathing; impaired motor control; unusual behavior; memory problems |
• Lunesta™ | Eszopiclone |
• Prosom™ | Estazolam |
• Restoril® | Temazepam |
• Sominex® | Diphenhydramine |
• Unisom® | Doxylamine |
• Herbal preparations (chamomile, valerian, lavender) | | Increased drowsiness |