Frequently asked questions about warfarin University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

blood thinners and alcohol intake is the main factor determining how long the effects last. In people who drink moderately, the effect of alcohol on platelets is short-lived. Despite having lower total cholesterol than white people, African Americans are at greater risk of dying from heart disease. Dr. Harb moved to New York City, choosing a career path in academic medicine as an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. There, he teaches and works with cardiovascular and medical trainees as well as medical students.

Having an alcoholic drink while you are taking medications to treat prostate conditions can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting. One of the deadliest combinations is alcohol and narcotic pain medications. On their own, opioids can cause drowsiness, dizziness, slowed or impaired breathing, impaired motor control, abnormal behavior, and memory loss. If you mix any type of anti-nausea drug with alcohol, the side effects of the medication can become more intense. Medications that are prescribed to treat nausea can make you feel drowsy, dizzy, and may impair your motor control—symptoms that can also be caused by alcohol.

Allergy, Cold, and Flu Medications

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Muscle relaxants and alcohol both suppress your central nervous system, which controls the functions of your heart, lungs, and brain. One ingredient in some cough suppressants called dextromethorphan can be especially dangerous because it can cause extreme sedation and respiratory depression. The mixture of opiates and alcohol, for example, can cause your breathing to stop and is a common cause of death.

These drugs work by breaking fibrin formation causing the clot to dissolve. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

Why Medications and Alcohol Don’t Mix

Avoiding the combination of blood thinners and alcohol is much more difficult for those addicted to alcohol. Even though it could be harmful, people who struggle with alcohol abuse may find themselves combining alcohol and blood thinners even though they know they shouldn’t. As many as three million people take blood thinners each year, but some may not be aware of how these medications interact with substances like alcohol. On their own, blood thinners can create a number of health risks and increase the chances of serious bleeding. When combined with alcohol use, however, the risks become much more severe. Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol on blood thinners. Doing this can increase the risk of severe bleeding during an accident or after an injury.