Alcohol often has harmful interactions with prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and even some herbal remedies.
Alcohol interactions with medications may cause problems such as:
Nausea and vomiting
Headaches
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Fainting
Changes in blood pressure
Abnormal behavior
Loss of coordination
Accidents
Mixing alcohol and medications also may increase the risk of complications such as:
Liver damage
Heart problems
Internal bleeding
Impaired breathing
Depression
In some cases, alcohol interactions may decrease the effectiveness of medications or render them useless. In other cases, alcohol interactions may make drugs harmful or even toxic to the body.