

More than 100 drugs interact with wine, beer, champagne, and hard liquor, triggering problems ranging from nausea and headaches to life-threatening issues, such as internal bleeding and difficulty breathing.

Most people aren't aware of these risks, say researchers at the National Institutes of Health who recently looked at the drinking and medication patterns of about 26,000 adults. Of greatest concern: They found that 42 percent of those who imbibed were also taking medication that could interact with alcohol.

Most alarming, almost 80 percent of people 65 and older who imbibed combined alcohol with dangerous drugs. The problem with that is aging slows down the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol, so it stays in a person's system longer. At the same time, older adults are also more likely to take one or more medications, multiplying the risk of interactions.

Those interactions can cause the alcohol to have a greater effect, increase the risk of drug side effects, or make the medication too powerful, says Aaron White, Ph.D., co-author of the study and senior scientific adviser to the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

With some medications, even one drink can pose hazards. And you may need to abstain from alcohol a day before or after taking certain drugs. So if you drink, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any drug, especially those listed below.

Some meds also shouldn't be mixed with certain foods. See which ones you need to be concerned about.

Drugs That Are Dangerous With a Drink

These meds can cause problems when taken with alcohol.

Type of Medication

Common Example(s)

Increased Risk

Anti-anxiety drugs

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Diazepam (Valium)

Lorazepam (Ativan)



Increased risk of overdose

Slowed or difficult breathing


Brompheniramine (Dimetapp)

Cetirizine (Zyrtec)


Diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy, Sominex)



Increased risk of overdose


Azithromycin (Zithromax)

Doxycycline (Vibramycin)


Metronidazole (Flagyl)

Nausea, vomiting, and flushing (with azithromycin and metronidazole)

Reduced efficacy (with doxycycline)

Increased alcohol intoxication (with erythromycin)

Blood pressure drugs

Captopril (Capoten)

Felodipine (Plendil)


Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide




Heart problems, such as arrhythmia 

Blood thinners

Warfarin (Coumadin)

Internal bleeding (with occasional drinking)

Blood clots, stroke, and heart attack (with heavier drinking)

Cholesterol drugs


Liver damage

Muscle relaxants

Carisoprodol (Soma) and Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)



Increased risk of seizures

Increased risk of overdose

Slowed or difficult breathing

Opioid pain relievers

Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin)

Meperidine (Demerol)

Morphine (Kadian)

-Oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet)



Increased risk of overdose

Slowed or difficult breathing

Over-the-counter pain relievers

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), and naproxen (Aleve)

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Internal bleeding and ulcers (with NSAIDs)

Liver damage (with acetaminophen)
