What happens when you mix alcohol with common medications?
Reading Time: 8 minutes Before you imbibe, know the side effects of mixing alcohol with prescription and OTC medications.
Reading Time: 8 minutes Before you imbibe, know the side effects of mixing alcohol with prescription and OTC medications.
Hereâs what I generally recommend to students:
To see why, read on.
Aspirin and ibuprofen do have quite a lot in commonâI think of them as close cousins.
Aspirin is salicylic acid, a naturally occurring substance that Native Americans used to extract from willow bark. Itâs an analgesic (meaning it blocks pain) and anti-inflammatory. It also inhibits platelets in the blood from clumping together. This can be a benefit, as when it decreases the risk of a blood clot after a heart attack or surgery. Aspirin can also be a risk, as it can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (more commonly in the elderly).
Ibuprofen is a synthetic molecule based on the chemical structure of aspirin. It was originally a prescription medication, but proved safe enough that it went over-the-counter in the early 1980s. Ibuprofen is widely available in both name-brand and generic forms, as well as in combination with antihistamines or decongestants designed to treat colds or the flu. Ibuprofen shares many of the same risks as aspirin: Overuse can lead to GI bleeding or kidney damage. Occasional use, though, is generally safe. The over-the-counter doses are 200 mg a pill, which allows some flexibility in dosing.
Aspirin and ibuprofen are both useful medications for treating common pains (headaches, sore throats) and inflammation (ankle sprains). They also work nicely for the woozy headache one can get after sun overexposure.
I generally recommend ibuprofen instead of aspirin because aspirin carries the potential risk of a rare but serious condition called Reyeâs syndrome. This can occur when a person under 18 takes aspirin while infected with the influenza virus (flu). Because the risks and benefits of aspirin and ibuprofen are similar, I keep it simple and recommend ibuprofen.
Acetaminophen isnât an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or aspirin, so itâs not as good for musculoskeletal injuries. On the upside, it doesnât have the risk of GI bleeding or kidney injury. It can cause liver injury if overused. The mechanism of action is different enough from aspirin and ibuprofen that itâs useful to have acetaminophen on hand too. Some pain responds better to one than the other.