Is Drinking Okay After Over-The-Counter Pills Are Taken?

Everyone worries about this exact question. Over-the-counter pills while easily accessible do have side effects just as prescriptions drugs. Mixing alcohol when taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen isn't something we should do very often. Think of the time you popped a Tylenol to beat a midday headache and then got invited to drinks or it's allergy season and you're taking Claritin to beat those initial symptoms. Having one or two drinks really won't hurt you but it's important to know the specific side effects of each pill. Here's what you need to know. 

1. Antacids: Upset stomach or heartburn, we turn to these. Remember, the reason you feel stomach cramps could be from drinking itself. The good thing is there's little risk of mixing alcohol and Tums but too much can cancel out the healing effects. 

2. Multi-Symptom Medications: These can treat many ailments with one pill )cold, flu, cough, congestion), but each medicine has many active ingredients. Most won't cause any problems but some often contain things you have to watch out for when drinking like acetaminophen or antihistamines. NyQuil can have up to 10% alcohol in it. 

3. Antihistamines: These pills fall into two categories: first generation and second generation. First generation drugs like Benadryl make you sleepy. Second-generation meds like Claritin and Zyrtec don't have strong sedative properties. If you're on a first-generation drug works by depressing your central nervous system, be sure to avoid drinking for at least eight to 12 hours after taking it. Otherwise, you'll end up feeling drowsy.

4. Acetaminophen: Tylenol and other medicines in this drug family provide the same relief as ibuprofen and there are a few key differences in how the two drugs interact with your body. When your body digests Tylenol about 1 percent is toxic to the liver. Following the proper dosage? No trouble. But when alcohol comes into play, an enzyme causes the toxicity level to rise to 4-5 percent, which can throw your liver into a danger zone. 

5. Ibuprofen: Think Aleve, Motrin and Advil - These all fall into the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) work by blocking the enzymes that cause pain and inflammation. This is a great fix for stomach aches and pains. These can be lightly irritating to the stomach lining so the addition of alcohol can exacerbate this issue.