If you have an injury or medical condition that causes pain or spasms in your muscles, you might be given medications to relax them. If you have angina, you might be prescribed a medication called Limit or avoid your alcohol consumption if you take any of the following prostate medications: For example, One of the deadliest combinations is alcohol and narcotic pain medications. Mild liver inflammation can occur in about 2% of people who take statins for a long time. Combining alcohol with medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause dizziness, fainting, drowsiness, and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Is it okay to drink alcohol while on antibiotics? Taking OTC painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) in high doses, or taking these medications regularly over a long period, has been associated with liver damage. Consult your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more in formation. The research on mixing alcohol with antibiotics is somewhat limited and unclear, but the combination has been associated with symptoms such as tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), sudden changes in blood pressure, gastrointestinal upset, headache, flushing, and liver damage. Medications prescribed to lower cholesterol levels (known as statins) can cause flushing, itching, stomach bleeding, and liver damage. This is especially true if you are taking a medication that makes you sleepy or causes sedation.The label on your medication may not specifically warn against consuming alcohol while you are taking the drug, so it's important not to assume that the absence of a warning means it is safe to mix the two. You will want to avoid alcohol for three days before you start and after you stop Flagyl. When used under medical supervision, the combination can be an effective way to treat alcohol withdrawal. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), there are several reasons that it can be harmful to mix medications and alcohol. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Muscle relaxants are commonly used to treat back and neck pain, as well as certain kinds of headaches. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Some research has found that alcohol does not appear to worsen liver inflammation in certain people who take medication for their cholesterol. Be especially careful with any drug or multi-symptom remedy containing acetaminophen or ibuprofen. While this is not an exhaustive list, you should not drink alcohol if you take any of the following medications: In some cases, alcohol can make the medications less effective, interfering with their absorption in the digestive tract. By using this Site you agree to the following • Use caution with laxatives and nasal sprays. At other times, it can increase the bioavailability of a drug, raising blood concentration to toxic levels. Here is what you need to know about the possible unsafe interactions between alcohol and common prescription and over-the-counter medications. When you pick your prescription up at the pharmacy, chances are the label or package insert will come with a warning if it is not safe to consume alcohol while you are taking the medication. Medications used to treat insomnia or help you fall and stay asleep should never be mixed with alcohol. Other symptoms that can occur if you mix medications with alcohol include: