Drinking while on medication: Yay or Nay?

Know your limit…Most of my meds say don’t drink, but I’m able to drink without issues. I don’t binge drink and I don’t drink often now, but I do have more than a drink or two when I do decide to drink. Life is miserable enough as it is, why cross off yet another thing I enjoyed before my illnesses grabbed hold of me? I get my bloodwork done constantly and as long as I’m not hammered or doing more damage than my illnesses, I’ll continue to be an adult with adult beverages. But you do you and I won’t judge.

I don’t drink but also don’t judge

I am no longer on it, but my seizure medication did not mix well with alcohol

I dont drink for a number of reasons but I do think its important to know and monitor the effects of any kind of medication and any kind of intoxicant or other medication. If you're gonna mix medications and intoxicants/medications that have potential negative side effects you should be as well informed as possible about the side effects and how to remedy them before hand in the case of a bad reaction. I dont personally think its exactly a good idea but I do have occasions where I need to mix medications that causes severe dizziness and dissociation which can impair me for multiple days so I also understand that not all circumstances allow for the same amounts of caution.

My meds have made alcohol significantly less fun for me. I'm horrible, *horrible* lightweight already and it makes it worse, plus sometimes I'll get sleepy so I just wanna nap instead of partying and drinking more. And that's even with the fact that when I do drink I don't do it anywhere near the time I take my meds.

My take is no. I wouldn’t do it and don’t recommend it.

👍

They told me not to mix it and I get anxious by the thought of it. I’ve drank before but it feels like I can’t now. But I don’t want to damage my body while taking the medication

ive been taking meds way longer than ive been able to legally drink and i don't know how it really affects me - on meds vs not i mean. drinking makes my stomach hurt so I'd rather stick to cannabis. much safer to mix w meds imo :)

i start to feel the effects of the alcohol a lot quicker and seems like i consumed more than what i actually did. i think it has an impact more than that,like it’s making me feel like i got hit by a bus in the morning. wouldn’t recommend to drink on days you take your (lexapro) but it’s much safer to take the pill and not drink just to make sure you don’t miss the important pills

I quit drinking a few years ago due to addiction issues. Turns out it was low dopamine from undiagnosed adhd, but i don't think I'll drink again after what I put myself and my family through.

I’ve always enjoyed a drink every now and then but I’ve had to stop since it really makes my restless legs worse. I miss having a glass of wine sometimes.

I have tried to eliminate myself two different times because I was binge drinking while on my meds. If it's not me trying to do that it trying to fight people, crying and having like a meltdown or making really bad decisions, so I've just cut it out completely.

Alcohol and prescription drugs don’t mix . Medications intensifies alcohol, alcohol intensifies medications. Both can be deathly

the drinking is also a med

I don't drink. I quit 8 years ago. It's the devil to me

ANY liver disease patoent should not have alcohol because a sick liver will not be able to handle excess alcohol consumption

I took Percocets and drink alcohol, and that messed me up

I always check online or reddit before trying. Then i test it in case. But its super crucial to be cautious with mixing the two

I still drink in moderation. It's not good for me, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it every now and then.

Using alcohol to isn't my thing. I believe it's a cheap way to avoid problems in life that most have. Granted there are some who like the crap.... (Ewwwww)

alcohol rlly shouldn't be combined with any meds but some are worse than others! i take ativan for my panic attacks and i had to actually sign a form promising to never drink, since the combined effect would be dangerous

Drinking alcohol and taking drugs of ANY KIND is very dangerous. I wouldn’t do it.

I’m not a huge drinker, so I never take into consideration that when I do drink it could interact with some meds. Since it’s infrequent, and I never have more than a couple, I usually feel fine. But sometimes I wonder if I should be more mindful of that.

It's more about the fact that alcohol confuses the endocrine system and your body is already in distress. The healthier you are, the least negative effect on your health the alcohol will be. At the end of sickness, I like to grab a drink or two as well sometimes, seems to help "knock it out" in a way and just overall relax.

I take my meds 8 hours apart from my alcohol

as long as its not a toxic mix, you just need to know your limit is probably a lot lower

i drank while on zoloft for the first 3 years of taking it, but now that i’m a year and a half sober, my meds are finally working. i would advise that it’s not the best to drink while on any sort of medication. drinking is a hard habit to kick especially when used as a coping mechanism, though, so it’s easy for me to understand why people would continue to do so no matter how much they’re told not to.

I don’t care i drink smoke and do acid on my meds lol. Can only do acid when i’m off the antipsychotics tho

Enjoy your drug of choice mine is working out with healthy foods

I used to take zzzquil that had alcohol in it but the doctor said it was not good for me especially on other medications so they gave me a sleeping medication instead

Yeah um I took my sleep meds with alcohol once and my BP was 98/67 and my HR was 135 resting... so no... dont..dont.

When I was on Concerta I would skip it for the day when I was planning on drinking, and now that I'm on Zoloft I just don't drink at all but I'd been thinking about going straightedge for awhile before that.

I have a young healthy liver who cares about interactions?? Alcohol is fun

I reserve drinking to my birthday and new years (limit is three weak drinks, I make them myself). My ex husband was an alcoholic and it runs in my family.

I don't drink, even off medication, but I am as careful as possible to monitor what I take and how its effected by other drugs and food/drink.

Idk ask my dad he has liver cancer rn

I’ll still drink I just try to have less bc it hits me harder with my meds.

Nope,don't do it

I drink occasionally with my meds, mine can just increase potential liver damage so I don't drink in excess. Maybe once or twice a week and only a drink or two

I don't drink anymore but when I did on medication I would reach a point where I was manic or spiralling with nowhere in between. It was like I was on a really intense trip. Now I don't drink much because I drank socially and well COVID happened.

🙌don’t take with pain meds or antibiotic

Never stop taking your meds even if you are drinking. If you are planning on doing a trip or something where you will be drinking daily or frequently, continue to take your meds, while they may not be as effective or interact with your drinks, it's better to take them than not. Also always consult with your doctor about drinking with your meds.

I made a personal choice not to drink because of the fact that I'm on medication that could damage my liver even without drinking alcohol. I do not want to run the risk of messing up my liver for something that is just pointless in my opinion.

Definitely a risk aware activity. But I still do it occasionally. I try to make meds way before and drink lots of water with using alcohol. And absolutely no driving or internet shopping

It's your call, drug interactions can be very dangerous so I hope you take it seriously but I understand needing a drink or 2. I don't drink purely on preference, I come from a family of drug addicts and alcoholics.

It's advised not to have alcohol while on Lexapro and I see why! I started it recently again and I had forgot so I had a sip of my partners Truly and wow! I fell on the ground from how dizzy it made me!

I'm on enough medications which can have adverse interactions with alcohol that it's not worth the risk. My body tolerates so many different issues and concerns. I try to avoid anything that can make my difficult situation worse

I don't drink. I worry about me. It's not my job to police other people's bodies.

I don't drink or take medications, i like to keep my body in pristine shape

I'm honestly scared to! I already have weird reactions with stimulants and mood stabilizers, so the idea of mixing them with a depressant like alcohol could go very wrong

My psych not warning me not to drink on effexor led to me getting in immense trouble health and safety wise. Some meds you can get away with it (like lexapro) but some will really eff you up

I think if there are interactions, you shouldn't do it. There can be very bad consequences. I don't think I have interactions with the meds I take but it's still not recommended.

I turn 21 in about 3 months. And I really wanted to have one drink of wine or something on my 21st birthday. But after reading some of these comments it's probably not a good idea.

I think you should never do it. Alcohol is already seen as less dangerous as it is, so it really seems like dodging a bullet to not drink either way. Your health should come before a few good times.

I've done it and sometimes it's a little scary and I've also blacked out immediately several times after taking my meds and drinking shortly afterwards

I take an antidepressant that doesn't have a wear off period like most adhd meds, but I try to drink at night if I had taken my meds in the morning and vise versa, as thats what a friend recommended to me. And I've noticed that with alcohol I become much more "ADHD" if that even means anything. But I guess it makes sense, alcohol can lower your inhibitions which can look similar to ADHD with impulsivity

I don't take my med dose if I chose to consume alcohol

I don’t really like alcohol in the first place, so I’m unaffected by it. I did drink once when I’d just started taking meds because I completely forgot and I had the worst hangover ever💀 never again

I don’t drink with meds anymore and have noticed a huge improvement in how I’m feeling.

I never drank alcohol before I started taking my meds. I just had no interest in the concept. Now that I take meds that can react, I avoid it entirely as thoroughly as possible. Is it slightly paranoid of me to do so? Yeah, probably, but it sooths the anxiety around the fear of reaction and I still just Don't want to try alcohol. Much much happier doing without. I have considered trying non-alcoholic versions of some things though! See if its worth it to have a fancy bottle for no good reason other than it sounds like fun. 😅

Honestly I know all of my psych meds come with the warning to not drink on that med. Its never stopped me, maybe slowed down my alcohol intake a bit but not stopped. Muscle relaxers also come with that warning and I pay a bit more attention to that, alcohol greatly increases the muscle relaxant effect and thar can be dangerous, the heart is a muscle.

I drink but not often. If it's okay for your meds good for you but some meds are an absolute no with alcohol. I think it depends on the meds

I don’t drink at all. I have enough problems, it’s not worth the risk of getting any more. (Like conditions from long term drinking, consequences of drunken actions, hangovers. None of that is worth it to me)

my take is that alcohol and beta blockers do NOT mix lmao. I'm not even gonna risk it. it's not worth it anyway

Generally speaking, drinking in moderation while on meds won't kill you. Since going on Xyrem, though, I can no longer drink at all. The risk is too high, but Xyrem is an exception- not the rule. Ultimately, tolerability will vary from person to person.

i drink on my meds sometimes despite being told it’s dangerous 👍

I had a psychiatrist tell me that the main issue with alcohol and ssri's is just that the alcohol stops your body from processing the ssri's properly

It's a good idea to research how it interacts with your prescriptions so you know your risk

I stay away from alcohol entirely because I'm on multiple medications that interact. I was never a drinker to begin with though

Don't do it if possible. With SSRIs, it'll make you get drunk super dangerously fast. Also what depressed person thought it'd be a great idea to drink (which is also a depressant)? Also- some medications like Wellbutrin have potentially severe side-effects with alcohol, like seizures

Only on a very rare occasion. My reflux is so much worse when I drink alcohol I try to stay away from it. I don't know that it has really made a difference where my medication is concerned.

Some things i absolutely refuse to give up,alcohol is one of them. as long as your not abusing it,shouldn't be much of an issue.

I never consider my medication when I drink. Though I usually don't drink much and if I do...well it's rare

I don’t drink at all. Partly because I’m on so many meds and partly because my neurologist and concussion specialist have told me it is probably better for me if I don’t drink. I am also way too scared that any amount of alcohol will interact with my meds and mess me up for a few days

It always ends up terribly for me!

I never ever ever drink because i cant afford any type of side affect

I gave up alcohol because it causes me pain even just taking one sip

When I was younger, I would skip meds to drink.

Never affected me badly to be honest

I drink alcohol with tylenol rarely. I never drink as much as id like, maybe a couple of sips. I think it's risky and stupid, but i do it anywau

I've quit drinking and it really helped my symptoms

Never risked it. Seizures and alcohol don't get along. Didn't even want to think about risking it.

Its so important to be careful when mixing medicine with alchohol; i lost an uncle because he took his meds and drank and then he went out and he crashed into a family and they saved him before his car went up in flames and he survived for a couple of months and then he passed away and my mom does the same thing and I'm just waiting for it to happen cause how much she does it

I don't drink alcohol because even one sip has sent me with a severe migraine to the e.r.

Medication is suppose to help you live your life they way you would if you didn't have your conditions. Of course always consult your doctor & check what the actual side effects are of drinking while medicated.

I have never drank alcohol. I never wanted to. I have been on meds since age 2 so it is best I never wanted to start

I should avoid. I limit to two drinks except on very rare occasions

i drank while taking my meds and i canf say that i was too negatively affected by it, but because of my family's history with alcoholism i make it a point to always remember how fucking awful alcohol tastes so that i dont end up drinking too much.

I've only had a few drinks in my lifetime, all while on some form of medication which I don't recommend. I don't drink at all right now and I feel that I would take it too far if I did. Definitely talk to your doctor if you want to keep drinking and maybe there's medications out there that are less prone to interacting. My opinion, just avoid drinking overall. Even while not taking medication, alcohol can negatively affect your health and even make depression and anxiety worse in the long run.

Pain meds including Lyrica and depression meds don't react well will alcohol. My nieces husband was on pain meds, and he drank and died.

I drink vodka about 1 week. Sometimes 2 times a week. Have to be careful because I'm analcoholic. However I have learned my limits and enjoy it. Only side effect is weird dreams,but I dream alot normaly

I don't but I also take 200mg of Zoloft and they don't mix well

definitely tricky, i have been on psychiatric medication for a while now and alcohol has definitely interfered with my medication. i have to drink a lot less and the day after drinking is always depressing

For 8 months straight I was drinking every night while taking my meds, too. I was drinking to suppress my feelings and blackout so I didn't have to think/feel/remember. I'm 20 days sober. I personally just don't recommend drinking.

I think knowing how they interact is important if you want to drink. Never take meds with alcohol. Make sure you know what happens if you drink while on meds

No. You should not drink alcohol while taking meds. The two DO NOT mix💔

On medication that interacts with alcohol don't drink it's not worth it. The reason they interact is because at most they can cause death. Life is valuable, drinking is a privilege not a right.

If the half life is small I skip one. I drink the normal amount I used to, it's just that I never drank a lot.

It's usually a toss-up for me when I drink with my depression medicine

I’ve got so many conditions that will shorten my life, I don’t have the time to consider if my liver is going to like or dislike my decisions.

I did it once. 20 years ago. Woke up in the emergency room..don't remember the ambulance ride..glad that people knew me and stopped me from driving...learned my lesson. No alcohol...I don't drink at all....

No no no It is never a good thing. It can drop or increase the effects and side effects of most medications significantly!

I rarely drink. Sometimes I’ll go over a year without wanting a cocktail and suddenly I feel like I need one. Normally however it’s when I’ve been dealing with a lack of sleep due to nightmares. The alcohol helps me sleep without dreams.

If I take a medication (pain pill, heart pill, Addison's disease meds) I will not drink, but if it's been a day since I've taken them I will socially drink a beer or 2.

A doctor told me to take them 3 hours apart

Don't drink

Don't drink

Don't drink

Guilty!! I’m Italian, I have red wine every night. The healthiest is Pino Noir.. extreme antioxidants, with a ton of health benefits. The trick is to no over do it

I think it's a personal decision, but I'll share my experience. As a very young person who is medicated, I didn't want to miss out on the turning-21 experience, or hanging at bars with my friends once in a while, or having a couple drinks at parties. My psychiatrist said it was safe within certain parameters, but of course, it's easy to take it too far when you're in that state. And as a serious lightweight, I did. Time and time again. For a couple years. I really didn't want this "normal" experience to be one more thing my illnesses have taken away from me. Cause yeah, it can be fun - at first. My partner started expressing concern on how it effected me when I did have a drink, and though it wasn't often, I realized I didn't even like how it felt anymore. I never drank all that much, but certainly enough to put my health in danger and possibly damage my body in various ways. I don't use smoke (or use thc edibles), either, and I decided six months ago just not to mess with alcohol, even casually, and I feel so much better. Physically. Ethically. Emotionally.

i think its horrible, an ex of mine almost died from making such mix

We're ok with like a glass of wine with dinner or something like that but being properly medicated has made us feel good enough we don't drink as much to self medicate. We read up extensively on our drug interactions and that's safe for us to do. Tbh it depends on what your meds situation is.

Before I got sober, I used to drink everyday on three different psych meds (two of them being seizure meds). I truly think it caused brain damage. It took years for me to regain functioning.

I can only have 2 drinks after that i get real sleepy. I wish i was off this stuff

It's definitely not safe . It's not safe to take vitamins when drinking alcohol.

I used to have a past alcohol problem but I can’t drink anymore cause my anxiety meds are benzos, but when I did I just felt more sick and have a chance if live disease because of the meds and alcohol

Nope…

Don’t drink

I very rarely drink anyway

I don’t drink alcohol. When I was in my early 20s, I would go out and party and have a good time on the weekends but other than that I just don’t have interest in alcohol. I think it is due to my father was a massive alcoholic. It affected his life in every way possible. Physically, mentally, financially till the day he died. Growing up in a family with an alcoholic just made me not want to turn into someone like him.

I don't drink often. Seems pointless now, as I don't even get a buzz.

Nope. Too scared to drink due to meds and adverse affects of alcohol on my body.

I have way less desire to drink now that I’m medicated but I haven’t had any negative side effects while drinking

I don't drink anymore because it makes me sick and get severe heartburn from alcohol. I sure miss my red wine.

My only single friend (male) wishes I drank more. He's military lol. Since my gallbladder was removed years ago, I can't tolerate more than 1 glass, after that my face gets redder and I feel hot in the face, they say that's a sign of alcoholic alergy. But I drink rarely maybe twice a month. And limit how much I have. My meds say drinking alcohol may with them may cause drowsiness to be worse. But currently not on any that would make me extremely sick if I drink alcohol.

I rarely drink, I don't like the taste of most alcoholic beverages.

I’m on anti seizure meds so clearly drinking everyday would be horrible but completely stopping would make me feel like an outcast around my friends tbh… and i already feel that way sometimes.. so i feel like even though i am chronically i’ll i still deserve to have fun too! just be safe, don’t drink alone, and don’t drive!! 🤗

Alc just isn’t worth it for me most of the time. It pounds extra hard on my liver thanks to meds already doing that (with less drunken fun haha) and the inflammation the next day is noticeable in my whole body especially my joints.

Not a good idea at all stay away from alcohol if ur on medication

Depends on your condition. Moreso I think people should look out for how their medications interact with one another. Some of the worst pain in my life came from accidentally mixing my anti-depressant with an extra strength migraine medication. I was on the floor crying all night

I drink occasionally. Doesn’t interact with my meds. Thank god!

I drink, but lay off hard stuff, I can handle seltzer and ciders more than wine or scotch

I do drink but it does not seem to bother anything. Right now I have not drank in over a month.

I drink once evey blue moon and when i drink, i don't do it close to when i take my meds or drink that much.

I usually do not drink, except for special occasions. Combining my medications and alcohol usually makes me feel sick, so I try to avoid it…

❤️

I will drink here and there, but not on the regular. I am on anxiety and depression medication and find that my tolerance is much lower and sometimes I will also feel sick afterwards so I don't make it a daily habit.

I don't drink

I try not to drink daily because i take medication for my bipolar disorder that can interact with it. In addition drinking alcohol sometimes worsen my migraine.

It's definitely not safe, and I try my best not to, but I find myself slipping up due to self medicating with alcohol before my diagnosis.

I have acid reflux, gastritis and gerd... drinking is out of the question for me. Definitely doesn't mix well with my stomach problems

Drinking makes my symptoms worse so I don't do much of it. And since I am extremely chemical sensitive I am incompatible with most meds. So my take on it is Just Don't mix meds and alcohol. Sadly have had at least a couple of friends who did it and are no longer living.

I used to drink a glass of wine every evening even though I knew the bad consequences. I felt it is the right way to finish my day but after a while, my blood tests showed an increase in liver enzymes. It made me realized that I need to find a different way to finish my day instead of alcohol. Now I drink alcohol just at social events because I can't completely stop drinking alcohol. Luckily, my blood tests have improved.

I don't drink alcohol anymore.It can cause low blood sugar and doesn't interact well with glipizode.

I drink wine on the weekends and occasionally during the week. I know it's not the best thing to do if you take medications but I don't feel worse or anything..if anything it helps me keep my balance :)

My parents warn me not to drink alcohol while taking my meds because it's bad

Guilty. ✋

I drink a beer once in a blue moon. With fistulas in my belly I have to watch how much I drink because it burns coming out

I have to admit I "self-medicate" with a glass of wine every evening. It helps me feel and sleep better. I wouldn't give it up for any other drug I take...

good to know I’m in good company 🙌

When I was young I once drank alcohol while on antibiotics, and I felt so bad afterwards so I promised myself to never do it again. Nowadays I sometimes drink while on meds, I know it’s bad, but I can’t help myself.

Wine helps me when I’m in a bad mood. My doctor told me that it’s not recommended with my meds, so I told her wine is also a med I prescribed to my self. She didn’t laugh…

I don’t mix alcohol with my meds because I don’t like the way it makes me feel

🤗

I’m with you EmmaB🙈 I take meds on regular base and drink wine quite a lot.. it’s probably not the healthiest choice

Even though I know it’s not always a good idea, I do drink wine almost every evening… Unless I’m specifically told not to🤷🏼‍♀️