Appendix 6a:
Drug-Alcohol Interactions
Mixing alcohol with medications can cause a variety of symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. By virtue of its effects on the CNS consumption of alcohol, even in small quantities, puts the patient at a high risk. There are medicines which should never be taken with alcohol (Table 1). However, there are many other medicines which should be used with high level of caution while the patient is on alcohol (Table 2).

Table 1: Drugs not to be used with alcohol
Acetylsalicylic Acid Losartan
Alprazolam Lovastatin
Amitriptyline Lovastatin+ Niacin
Atorvastatin Meperidine
Benazepril Metronidazole
Butalbital + Codeine Naproxen
Carisoprodol Nicotinic acid
Cefoperazone Nitrazepam
Chlordiazepoxide Nitrofurantoin
Clomipramine Nitroglycerin
Clonazepam Paracetamol
Clonidine Paroxetine
Cyclobenzaprine Phenobarbital
Desipramine Phenytoin
Diazepam Pravastatin
Diphenhydramine Pravastatin + Acetylsalicylic acid
Doxazosin Prazosin
Doxylamine Propoxyphene
Enalapril Quinapril
Eszopiclone Ramipril
Fluoxetine Rosuvastatin
Griseofulvin Simvastatin
Herbal Preparations Simvastatin + Ezetimibe
Hydrochlorothiazide Temazepam
Ibuprofen Terazosin
Isoniazid Tinidazole
Isosorbide Vitamin D
Ketoconazole Warfarin
Leflunomide Zolpidem
Lorazepam  
Table 2: Drugs not to be used with alcohol
Abacavir Metformin
Amobarabital Methadone
Atenolol Methotrexate
Atropine Metoclopramide
Bromocriptine Midazolam
Brompheniramine Morphine
Cetirizine Nizatidine
Chlorpheniramine Oxytocin
Chlorpromazine Pentazocine
Cimetidine Prazosin
Dextromethorphan Procarbazine
Diclofenac Prochlorperazine
Dimenhydrinate Promethazine
Diphenhydramine Propranolol
Doxycycline Ranitidine
Fexofenadine Sodium Valproate
Fluphenazine Tamsulosin
Furazolidone Thiopental
Glyburide Tolbutamide
Guaifenesin + Codeine Trifluoperazine
Haloperidol Trihexyphenidyl
Imipramine  
Insulin  
Loratadine