There can be unsafe interactions between drugs and alcohol when consumed together. Mixing alcohol with other substances like drugs can lead to overdose and other serious health complications. When you receive over-the-counter medications, you should know how the meds work and how alcohol can affect them.
The consumption of alcohol with medications can make the medications less effective in the body. Alcohol affects the absorption of medications in the digestive tract. It also increases the concentration of the drug in the blood to a toxic level and causes some side effects. Mixing alcohol with some medications that cause sedation can lead to death in serious cases.
Energy Drinks
Mixing alcohol and energy drinks can lead to serious psychological and physical side effects. Abnormal heart rhythms and heart palpitations are some side effects of mixing alcohol and energy drinks. Energy drinks can overpower the sedative effects of alcohol which makes individuals less aware of their alcohol intake.
Although it may sound harmless to mix energy drinks and alcohol, it makes the individual consume more alcohol. There is an increased level of caffeine in energy drinks which works against the sedative and drowsiness effects of alcohol. We often feel sluggish after a few drinks; however, adding energy drinks makes us feel more alert than we are.
Mixing alcohol with energy drinks causes the individual to be in a state called “wide-awake drunk.” The consumption of the mixture prevents the individual from feeling the alcoholic effects but does not reduce the concentration. It leads to a higher risk of binge drinking by the individual, which can cause hospitalization and inebriation.
Both alcohol and energy drinks have different side effects on the body; combined, it is dangerous. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks like energy drinks can lead to heart issues and change sleep patterns.
Marijuana
Alcohol and marijuana both significantly influence each other’s adverse side effects on the body. It is dangerous to consume a mixture of alcohol and marijuana because of their different side effects on the body. Taking a combination of alcohol and marijuana often increases the chances of the individual having alcohol poisoning.
Regularly consuming a mixture of alcohol and marijuana can lead to an alcohol overdose. The combination increases the chances of the individual drunk driving. It also increases the chances of alcohol dependence by the individual and the need for drug rehab. A drug rehab center in Miami, Florida, can help individuals with substance use abuse and low depressive thought patterns and moods.
The consumption of alcohol and marijuana often leads to an increase in THC in the individual’s blood. THC interacts with the body system and causes a higher level of impairment while also increasing the individual’s heart rate. It leads to a physiological response that can cause feelings of anxiety or panic.
Antidepressants
Alcohol is a depressant that can alter dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. Individuals who consume this mixture have trouble sleeping, impaired coordination, excessive drowsiness, and sedation. Using both antidepressants and alcohol simultaneously is not advisable because it can lead to side effects.
The consumption of the mixture can also lead to an increase in the risks of alcohol abuse in the individual. It is crucial to take note of the quantity of alcohol intake if you are using antidepressants like Zoloft and Marplan. Alcohol intake can counter the benefits of the antidepressants in the body and make the symptoms hard to treat.
Although alcohol can improve an individual’s mood in the short term, overall, it increases the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It will cause an increase in the intake of pills for the individuals to attain their desired effect. Mixing alcohol with antidepressants can also worsen the symptoms of depression.
ADHD Medication
Mixing alcohol with ADHD medications increases the chances of increased blood pressure, seizures, and insomnia. Since ADHD medications increase the individual’s breathing pattern and heart rate, adding alcohol raises the effects. The mixture can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
ADHD medications are intense stimulants with side effects, and mixing them with alcohol can lead to death. The mixture results are unpredictable; hence there is an increased risk of overdose, dehydration, and nausea. After the intake, alcohol, and Adderall compete in the body and cause severe effects, leading to behavioral issues.
Watch What You Mix With Alcohol
It is advisable to be careful when mixing your alcohol because it can lead to some serious adverse side effects. Mixing substances such as energy drinks with alcohol can lead to nausea, heart palpitations, and restlessness.
The intake of a mixture of alcohol and medications can change the effects of medication on the body. Alcohol can make the medication less effective while also increasing the concentration level of the medication in the blood.
