Co-Administration of Alcohol and Medication- Resulting Effects

Alcohol when taken along with any medication results in unwanted effects. These effects completely depend on the duration of alcohol intake i.e., acute or chronic alcohol intake. The drug interaction with alcohol is of two types, pharmacodynamic interaction and pharmacokinetic interaction. Pharmacodynamic interaction includes either synergistic effect or antagonistic effect with respectto drug action. Pharmacokinetic interaction includes interference in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism andexcretion. In the case of acute alcoholic intake, it interferes with the drug absorption by inhibiting its metabolism and leading to drug toxicity. In the case of chronic alcoholics, there is increased metabolism of the drug thus decreases the drug bioavailability and therapeutic failure. Drugs that are used to treat CNS-related disorders such as sedatives, anti-epileptics, anti-convulsants, psychotropic drugs when administered along with alcohol it shows synergistic sedative action. Alcohols are generally metabolised in the liver, when intake of alcohol is chronic it leads to liver cirrhosis. Drugs with the side effects of hepatotoxicity administered along with alcohol there is increased hepatotoxicity. Some drugs inhibit the metabolism of alcohol by inhibiting the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme. For example, disulfiram inhibits the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme thus there is no conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid and thus increased accumulation of acetaldehyde that results in flushing. In the renal system alcohol inhibits the release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) thus most of the drug is excreted through the renal pathway. Hence drug and alcohol co administration should be avoided