The Dangers of Mixing Painkillers and Alcohol

Naproxen Sodium & Alcohol

Naproxen Sodium, or Aleve, is another type of NSAID commonly taken to relieve pain due to toothache, menstrual cramps, and muscle pain. Again, there are some complications if this drug is combined with alcohol.

There are higher risks of developing a bleeding ulcer, gastritis, or gastrointestinal bleeding when combining naproxen sodium and alcohol.

Gastritis is a painful GI condition that occurs when the acidity of alcohol increases inflammation in the lining of the stomach. If you are experiencing the following symptoms, please seek medical attention:

Common Symptoms of Gastritis: 

• Stomach pain (often above the navel or between the ribs).
• Heartburn or indigestion.
• Excessive belching.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• A burning, gnawing sensation in the upper abdomen.
• Lack of appetite.
• Blood in your feces or vomit.

Aspirin & Alcohol

Aspirin is a common drug many people use when dealing with aches and pains associated with a headache, toothache, muscle pain, or mild injury. A doctor may also instruct people at risk for heart disease to take a small dose of aspirin every day to prevent diseases such as heart attack or stroke.

Not only do aspirin and alcohol have adverse side effects if combined, but it is also dangerous to use large amounts of alcohol or aspirin on its own. The toxicity of each substance can lead to severe consequences. If high doses are used consistently, alcohol and aspirin can lead to liver damage, potentially increase the risk of liver disease, and may lead to internal bleeding.

Common Symptoms of Aspirin & Alcohol Combined:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Ulcers.
• Heartburn.
• Upset stomach.
• Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Increased toxicity of both aspirin and alcohol.
• Increased risk of liver damage.

You may wonder why toxicity occurs with using alcohol and aspirin. To understand this, we need to look at how the liver plays a role in this process. The liver regulates most chemical levels in the blood and excretes bile waste. All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood, breaks down substances, balances and creates the nutrients, and metabolizes drugs into more accessible forms for the rest of the body.

When the liver has to process drugs such as alcohol or aspirin, it can put more strain on the liver to remove the toxins. So as you can imagine, combining two harmful substances increases the amount of stress on the liver when processing additional chemicals. Having added toxins in the body can lead to increased toxicity. Increased toxicity means alcohol enters your bloodstream faster, making you impaired more quickly.

Additional Risks of Increased Toxicity:

• Problems operating a vehicle as one’s blood alcohol content is higher at a much quicker rate if you didn’t take aspirin.
• Increased risk of overdose.
• Increased sleepiness, tiredness, lightheadedness, and difficulty breathing.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, people who took 2 extra strength aspirin tablets an hour before drinking had blood alcohol levels 30% higher than when they drank alcohol alone.

Understanding the risks and dangers associated with mixing aspirin and alcohol is imperative. Many people may think taking aspirin before drinking alcohol may prevent a headache from drinking alcohol in excess. However, this strategy will most likely backfire due to the increased toxicity levels of both substances.

Mixing Prescription Painkillers & Alcohol

Prescription pain medications are often categorized as opioids. Examples include Vicodin, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Morphine. As you can imagine, there are dangerous risks associated with mixing alcohol and opioid prescription painkillers. Hazards include slowing breathing and leading to a coma, drowsiness or confusion, nausea and vomiting, and possible overdose. People must understand that alcohol can not be added to prescription painkiller medications as the side effects of this combination are often deadly.

Side Effects of Prescription Painkillers & Alcohol: 

• Nausea, vomiting.
• Dehydration.
• Changes in blood pressure.
• Irregular heart rate and rhythm.
• Cardiovascular instability.
• Dizziness, loss of coordination.
• Abnormal behavior.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Respiratory arrest.
• Coma.