Prescriptions do not Make Good Mixers

From Riverside, Calif. to the East Coast, people experience addiction problems with alcohol, prescription drugs and recreational drugs. People are admitted into rehab centers every day to try to overcome their addictions and take control of their lives. But sometimes, addiction, rehab centers and emergency room visits can be avoided with a little background knowledge. 

As many people know, alcohol can be deadly on its own, but when mixed with prescription medications, it can be even more dangerous. The unfortunate truth is that many from Riverside to the Midwest abuse medicines, while others wind up in rehab centers due to accidental mixing of prescription drugs and alcohol.

As many physicians in rehab centers are aware, painkillers are commonly abused and have the potential to be very addictive. Scientific American explains that mixing painkillers with alcohol is extremely dangerous because both alcohol and pain medications usually slow the breathing process.

Many prescriptions have warnings on the bottles advising patients to not take their medication with alcohol. Even some non-prescription drugs (including cold and allergy medicines) can be harmful when mixed with alcohol.

Some of the most common health risks that come along with this dangerous combination include dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Long-term health risks of mixing the two substances include liver damage, blood pressure problems, internal bleeding, depression and possibly death. 

Mixing alcohol with prescription medications affects people differently depending on their gender, age and condition. For example, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women have greater risk of experiencing negative side effects from mixing medicine with alcohol. 

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism explains that this is caused by the lower amount of water in women’s bodies than in men’s: “Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol is more concentrated in a woman’s body than in a man’s. As a result, women are more susceptible to alcohol-related damage to organs such as the liver.” Older people are also at a greater risk of experiencing negative side effects from mixing the two substances. 

Mixing alcohol with medication can often lead to addiction, which is no easy road. Rehab centers from Riverside and beyond see patients who have experienced some of the most difficult times of their lives trying to break free from their addiction. 

People from Riverside to the East Coast can prevent dangerous events from occurring by being aware of how dangerous and potentially life-threatening this combination really is. 

Jordan Lee is a health writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Center. Follow on Twitter