The use of alcohol to depress the effects of pain is as old as the fermentation process itself. Alcohol is believed to be one of the oldest and probably the most widely used drugs in the world.
Have you ever watched old Westerns? Somebody needed a leg amputated? No anesthesia? No problem. Break out a bottle of whiskey and take a few swigs. Need to pull that arrow out of the guy’s chest? No need for morphine, we have whiskey.
Many people still turn to the use of alcohol for pain relief due to its ability to depress the central nervous system. By slowing down the brain and nervous system, alcohol delivers a certain amount of relief.
You Can Build Up a Tolerance for Alcohol
The continual use of alcohol to lessen pain can cause problems if the amount of alcohol used becomes excessive and if it is used in conjunction with other pain-killing drugs.
One problem is that the body begins to build up a tolerance to the effects of alcohol.In other words, it takes more alcohol to produce the same results over time.
Even without the tolerance factor, the amount of alcohol it would take to actually relieve severe pain would probably be more than the recommended guidelines for safe alcohol consumption.
How Does Increased Alcohol Tolerance Affect a Person?
Causing More Health Risks
Ingesting an excessive amount of alcohol over an extended period of time can cause its own set ofhealth problems, including everything from various types of cancer to life-threateningliver ailments.
Besides the long-term health problems that can develop, prolonged use of alcohol can lead to a chemical dependency on alcohol itself, which can bring about a whole set of problems of its own.
The Risks of Heavy Drinking to Your Health
Alcohol Doesn’t Mix Well With Medication
Those who suffer from chronic pain can face more immediate problems from the use of alcohol, if they are taking some other form of pain-killing drugs including over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol (acetaminophen).
Mixing alcohol and opioids can be lethal, making you drowsy, causing memory problems, and in some cases, breathing problems that can lead to an accidental overdose.
While most of us are aware of the dangers of mixing alcohol with other depressants like tranquilizers, the labels on almost all over-the-counter pain relief medications also contain warnings concerning their use along with the use of alcohol. Alcohol and aspirin can damage the stomach lining. Alcohol and Tylenol can increase the risk of damage to the liver. Alcohol and Advil (ibuprofen) can cause ulcers and stomach bleeding.
Here’s a list of some common drugs and the side effects which can develop if they are used in connection with alcohol:
MedicationsSide Effects With AlcoholDemerol, Darvon, CodeineImpaired central nervous system function. Possibly fatal in certain strengths and combination.Bufferin, Aspirin, Excedrin, Anacin, Alka-SeltzerPossible irritation and bleeding in stomach and intestines.Valium, LibriumDecreases alertness, impairs judgment. Possibly fatal combination.Sominex, Sleep-EseGreatly increases drug’s potency, depressing central nervous system.Dalmane, Seconal, NembutalVery possibly fatal. Should never be combined.Dristan, Coricidin, NyquilDrowsiness and loss of alertness.Insulin, Orinase, TolinaseSevere and unpredictable reactions. Should never be combined with alcohol.Tetracycline, Seromycin, FulvicinCan cause nausea and vomiting. Renders medication less effective.High Blood Pressure MedicationsIncreases potency, reducing blood pressure to dangerously low levels.AnticoagulantsIncreases the anti-coagulating potency of drugs, leading to potentially life-threatening bleeding.Simply put, there just are not many medications out there thatmix well with alcohol. If you are a drinker and taking any other medication, play it safe and ask your physician about the possible side effects.Medications You Should Never Mix With Alcohol
Simply put, there just are not many medications out there thatmix well with alcohol. If you are a drinker and taking any other medication, play it safe and ask your physician about the possible side effects.
Medications You Should Never Mix With Alcohol
4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment.American Psychological Association.Llerena S, Arias-loste MT, Puente A, Cabezas J, Crespo J, Fábrega E.Binge drinking: Burden of liver disease and beyond.World J Hepatol. 2015;7(27):2703-15. doi:10.4254%2Fwjh.v7.i27.2703Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Mamdani MM, Paterson JM, Van den brink W.Prevalence and characteristics of opioid-related deaths involving alcohol in Ontario, Canada.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;179:416-423. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.07.008Holton AE, Gallagher P, Fahey T, Cousins G.Concurrent use of alcohol interactive medications and alcohol in older adults: a systematic review of prevalence and associated adverse outcomes.BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1):148. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12877-017-0532-2Additional ReadingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Mixing Alcohol With Medicines.“Harmful Interactions
4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment.American Psychological Association.Llerena S, Arias-loste MT, Puente A, Cabezas J, Crespo J, Fábrega E.Binge drinking: Burden of liver disease and beyond.World J Hepatol. 2015;7(27):2703-15. doi:10.4254%2Fwjh.v7.i27.2703Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Mamdani MM, Paterson JM, Van den brink W.Prevalence and characteristics of opioid-related deaths involving alcohol in Ontario, Canada.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;179:416-423. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.07.008Holton AE, Gallagher P, Fahey T, Cousins G.Concurrent use of alcohol interactive medications and alcohol in older adults: a systematic review of prevalence and associated adverse outcomes.BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1):148. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12877-017-0532-2Additional ReadingNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Mixing Alcohol With Medicines.“Harmful Interactions
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment.American Psychological Association.Llerena S, Arias-loste MT, Puente A, Cabezas J, Crespo J, Fábrega E.Binge drinking: Burden of liver disease and beyond.World J Hepatol. 2015;7(27):2703-15. doi:10.4254%2Fwjh.v7.i27.2703Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Mamdani MM, Paterson JM, Van den brink W.Prevalence and characteristics of opioid-related deaths involving alcohol in Ontario, Canada.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;179:416-423. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.07.008Holton AE, Gallagher P, Fahey T, Cousins G.Concurrent use of alcohol interactive medications and alcohol in older adults: a systematic review of prevalence and associated adverse outcomes.BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1):148. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12877-017-0532-2
Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment.American Psychological Association.
Llerena S, Arias-loste MT, Puente A, Cabezas J, Crespo J, Fábrega E.Binge drinking: Burden of liver disease and beyond.World J Hepatol. 2015;7(27):2703-15. doi:10.4254%2Fwjh.v7.i27.2703
Gomes T, Juurlink DN, Mamdani MM, Paterson JM, Van den brink W.Prevalence and characteristics of opioid-related deaths involving alcohol in Ontario, Canada.Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;179:416-423. doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.07.008
Holton AE, Gallagher P, Fahey T, Cousins G.Concurrent use of alcohol interactive medications and alcohol in older adults: a systematic review of prevalence and associated adverse outcomes.BMC Geriatr. 2017;17(1):148. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12877-017-0532-2
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Mixing Alcohol With Medicines.“Harmful Interactions
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