Most people know about the dangers of alcohol. You will likely have learned about it in school. You may also know about it from watching a friend or relative grapple with alcoholism.
You may not know how dangerous it is to mix alcohol with certain other substances, though. We’ll discuss some of them in the following article.
Benadryl
The dangers of mixing Benadryl and alcohol are very real and very serious. Benadryl is a type of powerful antihistamine. You might take it when recovering from the common cold or an allergy. Never mix it with alcohol, though. The dangers can sometimes be life-threatening.
Marijuana
Marijuana is quickly becoming legal for recreational use in more parts of the country. Some day, it may be available for casual use in all fifty states. You should avoid mixing it with alcohol, though. Some people have a negative reaction to this combination and can become paranoid or belligerent.
MDMA
MDMA is sometimes known by the street name molly. It’s usually used as a party drug in dance clubs or at festivals. Mixing it with alcohol can be dangerous. The combination has been known to kill people, especially those who were dancing and got dehydrated.
Cocaine
Cocaine is dangerous on its own, but if you mix it with alcohol, it can be much worse. Some people don’t feel the effects of the alcohol as much if they’re on cocaine. The result is that they drink much more than they usually do. Acute alcohol poisoning can then occur.
Depression Medication
There are various depression medications on the market today. They’re legal, but you can obtain them by prescription only. Don’t mix them with alcohol, or you can get unpredictable and sometimes deadly results.
Anxiety Medications
The same is true of the various anxiety medications on the market. They all say not to mix them with alcohol if you read the directions on the bottles. Like depression medication, combining them with alcohol can produce unpredictable and possibly dangerous situations. You have no way of knowing how your body is going to react.
Diabetes Medication
The number of people who have diabetes in this country is rising steadily. It goes along with the obesity epidemic. Don’t combine diabetes medication with alcohol. Headaches, heart palpitations, and other side effects can result.
Blood Pressure Medications
Blood pressure medications can be dangerous on their own in some instances. You can get dizzy when you take them, and that’s an issue when you’re driving. Adding alcohol to the mix can cause you to black out or have heart problems.
Pain Medications
Pain medications like opioids can be dangerous when consumed with alcohol. Combining them can cause overdoses, seizures, or difficulty breathing. Things like Percocet or Vicodin should never be ingested with alcohol.
Sleep Aids
Sleep aids like Ambien or Lunesta should not be taken with alcohol. The combination can cause dizziness, memory problems, and unpredictable behavior.
Watch out for all of these drugs if you’re a regular or even an occasional drinker.
I can imagine that (particularly with regards to medications) quite a few people don’t realize that alcohol is not to be mixed with different substances. It’s always good to be aware and understand how things may interact.
Yes, it can be easy to mix without realizing the dangers. Thanks for your comment!