US drinkers risk mixing medication and alcohol

More than a third of Americans are putting their health at risk by drinking while using medication known to interact with alcohol, a new study has revealed.

More than a third of Americans admit to mixing alcohol-interactive medication with alcohol

The research, carried out by the National Institute of Health, found nearly 42% of adults who drink reported using alcohol-interactive medications, with almost 78% of those over 65 admitting to mixing the two.

Alcohol-interactive medicines are widely used for common conditions including high blood pressure and depression, but when used with alcohol can result in mild to severe health affects from headaches to heart problems.

The study, led by Dr. Rosalind Breslow, is one of the first to estimate the proportion of adult drinkers in the US who may be mixing such medication with alcohol, by analysing data from more than 26,000 adults aged 20 and over who took part in the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Dr Breslow said: “Our findings show that a substantial percentage of people who drink regularly, particularly older adults, could be at risk of harmful alcohol and medication interactions.

“We suggest that people talk to their doctor or pharmacist about whether they should avoid alcohol while taking their prescribed medications.”

As survey participants were asked about alcohol use in the past year and prescription drug use in the last month, Dr Breslow admits that the results of the study only indicate potential rates and do not confirm whether drinking and medication use overlapped.

However, she believes it is likely that those who drink regularly and take medication are doing so in a similar time frame.