A well-crafted cocktail or a smooth glass of wine is often your go-to mood for relaxation, celebration, or unwinding after a long day. But if you’re taking medication or are on , even with occasional drinking, it can have unintended consequences. Mixing alcohol with certain medications can lead to dangerous interactions, reduced drug effectiveness, or even life-threatening side effects. While most of us think one drink won't do much, the truth is that alcohol will change the way your body metabolizes medication, increase side effects, and jeopardize you severely. Before you ever take that sip, learn what medications are a bad idea with alcohol below.

Mixing alcohol with medication isn’t just a minor concern—it can have serious health consequences. While the effects vary depending on the drug, the person, and the amount of alcohol consumed, it’s always best to consult your doctor or pharmacist before drinking if you’re taking any medication.

If you do drink, do so responsibly by being aware of the risks, taking medical recommendations, and keeping an eye on how your body responds. Your safety and health must always be your priority—so before you take a sip of that cocktail, ensure that you are aware of what's in your medicine cabinet.

Why Alcohol and Medications Can Be a Risky Mix?

Alcohol is not merely another drink—it's a drug that influences several organs in the body, such as the liver, heart, and brain. Mixed with drugs, it may result in negative effects ranging from mere discomfort to life-threatening medical conditions. The hazards include:

• Decreased drug efficiency – Alcohol can inhibit the function of drugs, making them less effective.
• More side effects – Combining alcohol with drugs can make side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea worse.
• Liver damage – Because alcohol and most medications are metabolized by the liver, excessive stress can result in severe liver damage.
• Harmful interactions – Certain drug-alcohol interactions may result in life-threatening situations like uncontrollable bleeding, abnormally low blood pressure, or overdose.

To safeguard yourself, it's imperative to learn about the drugs most risky to combine with alcohol. Eight ordinary drug groups demand additional vigilance.

1. Antidepressants

If you’re one of the millions of people taking antidepressants, be cautious about drinking alcohol. Both alcohol and antidepressants depress the central nervous system, affecting alertness, coordination, and cognitive function. This can lead to excessive drowsiness, poor judgment, and increased risk of accidents.

Moreover, alcohol may exacerbate depression and anxiety symptoms, reducing the effectiveness of treatment. Individuals on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like phenelzine and tranylcypromine must steer clear of alcohol completely because the mixture raises blood pressure to dangerous levels.

2. Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

Statins like Lipitor and Crestor are commonly prescribed to reduce cholesterol levels, but they are already putting a strain on the liver. When combined with alcohol—particularly in heavy drinkers—the risk of liver damage becomes much greater.

Even for moderate drinkers, daily drinking while taking statins can cause muscle aches, inflammation of the liver, and even organ damage. The impact is usually quiet, with the liver damage picked up only on routine blood tests.

3. Blood Pressure and Heart Medications

Beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors are widely used by many individuals to control hypertension, heart disease, or previous heart attacks. Alcohol affects these drugs in two ways: by making them less effective or by bringing down blood pressure too low. This causes people to become dizzy, faint, and more prone to accidents or falls.

If you’re on blood pressure medication, drinking alcohol should be done cautiously, if at all, to avoid dangerous drops in blood pressure.

4. Birth Control Pills

Although alcohol does not lessen the effectiveness of birth control pills, it does linger in the body longer in women who use oral contraceptives. That is, alcohol's effects—inhibited judgment, loosened inhibitions, and heightened intoxication—can be experienced more intensely and for a longer duration.

In addition, heavy drinking may result in skipped pills or lack of use of other protection, which raises the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

5. Diabetes Drugs

Individuals with diabetes who take drugs like metformin or sulfonylureas must be particularly cautious with alcohol. Alcohol consumption can lead to blood sugar levels falling too low, resulting in dizziness, confusion, and even loss of consciousness.

Metformin, a widely used diabetes medication, carries another risk—it raises the risk of lactic acidosis, a potentially fatal condition in which lactic acid accumulates in the blood. To remain safe, diabetics need to eat and drink simultaneously and keep a close eye on their blood sugar.

6. Painkillers and Opioids

Combining alcohol with painkillers, particularly opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone, can be deadly. Both alcohol and opioids depress the central nervous system, slowing heart rate and breathing to life-threatening levels. Mixing just a small amount of alcohol with opioids can boost the risk of overdose.

Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen and aspirin aren't safe either. Alcohol may exacerbate stomach irritation and cause gastrointestinal bleeding risk when combined with NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

7. Gastroesophageal Reflux and Ulcer Medications

Medicines such as omeprazole and ranitidine can control acid reflux and ulcers, but their effects are cancelled by alcohol. Alcohol relaxes the muscles preventing stomach acid from flowing up and amplifies the symptoms of reflux, as well as heartburn.

In the case of medication users, drinking alcohol should be minimized since it may extend recovery time and also make one more uncomfortable.

8. Cough Syrups and Allergy Medications

Several over-the-counter allergy medicines and cough syrups already have alcohol in them. Adding additional alcohol to the equation can lead to extreme drowsiness, decreased motor function, and trouble concentrating.

Medications like diphenhydramine (in Benadryl) can also impair sedation. When added to alcohol, the risk of falling, accidents, and overdose greatly increases.

Spring is a beautiful time, but it often brings along runny noses, sneezing, and congestion. These symptoms can easily be mistaken for either a cold or seasonal allergies. Both share overlapping traits, but they stem from entirely different causes. A cold is caused by a virus, making it infectious, while seasonal allergies are your immune system’s reaction to harmless substances like pollen.

In many parts of the world, it is also the time when seasonal changes are occurring. With shorter springs, longer summers, or the transition in between, pollen is everywhere. However, it does not mean that other common virus and bacteria are gone. So, how do you differentiate between them, especially when you get sick? How do you know when you have a cold or an allergy.

Let us check this out!

What Are Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever or allergic rhinitis, happen when your immune system mistakenly sees pollen as a threat and releases chemicals like histamines to fight it. This overreaction leads to sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy eyes, and sometimes throat irritation.

Different types of pollen trigger allergies depending on the season. In spring, tree pollen is the main culprit. As the year progresses, grass and weed pollens take over. Due to rising global temperatures, allergy seasons are starting earlier and lasting longer than before.

What Is a Cold?

A cold is typically caused by viruses like the rhinovirus and is more common during seasonal transitions. It spreads easily through the air or by touching contaminated surfaces. Cold symptoms often include a sore throat, fatigue, congestion, sneezing, and a runny nose. You may also experience body aches and a mild fever.

Unlike allergies, which persist for weeks or even months, colds usually last between three and seven days for most healthy individuals.

Key Differences Between a Cold and Allergies

Despite their similarities, colds and allergies have a few clear distinctions:

Duration: A cold is short-lived, usually resolving within a week. Allergies persist throughout the pollen season.

Itchiness: Allergies commonly cause itchy eyes and throat. Colds may bring soreness but rarely itchiness.

Fever and Body Aches: Colds can come with mild fever and aches. Allergies do not.

Contagiousness: Colds are infectious; allergies are not. If you’re sneezing and spreading droplets, you could pass on a cold.

Mucus Color: Colds may lead to yellow or green mucus. Allergy mucus tends to stay clear.

Treating Seasonal Allergies

To manage allergy symptoms:

• Use saline nasal rinses to clear allergens.
• Apply anti-itch eye drops for relief.
• Take over-the-counter antihistamines or corticosteroid nasal sprays.
• Track local pollen levels and avoid high-pollen days.
• If symptoms persist despite self-care, consult a healthcare provider.

Treating a Cold

There’s no quick fix for a cold, but you can ease symptoms by:

• Getting plenty of rest.
• Drinking fluids to stay hydrated.
• Avoiding contact with others to prevent spreading the virus.
• Recovery usually comes with time and supportive care.

Susana Moreira, a 41-year-old woman from Santiago, Chile, has lived with a debilitating form of muscular dystrophy since childhood. She was diagnosed with this condition at the age of 8. Her condition has been progressive since then. As a result, she was bedridden for over 20 years. She was once able to move, but can now no longer walk, bathe, or care for herself.

Her muscles have continued to weaken and she is expected to eventually lose the ability to speak and breathe without help.

What Happens In Muscular Dystrophy?

As per the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, muscular dystrophy or MD refers to a group of genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles. These disorders vary in age of onset, severity, and the pattern of affected muscle. However, one thing that is definite is that this condition is progressive in nature.

As per NIH, it affects by weakening the muscles. Muscles are made of thousands of fibers and these fibers contain cells surrounded by an outer layer of membrane. Muscle fibers that make these individual muscles are bound together by connective tissue. Muscles are activated when an impulse, or signal is sent from the brain. What happens in MD is the protective membrane of the muscle is damaged and the muscle fibers begin to leak protein creatine kinase and take excess calcium. This damages the muscle fibers and then causes the fibers to die, and thus leads to progressive muscle degeneration.

Right To Die

Moreira, is also facing the same condition, which will eventually make her unable to live with dignity. Therefore, she wants to be able to choose a dignified death, though euthanasia.

However, euthanasia and assisted dying are currently illegal in Chile. Her deeply personal plea has reignited a national conversation and become a symbol of the push for legal reform.

The Bill Is Stuck

Chile’s debate over euthanasia is not new. In 2021, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to allow both euthanasia and assisted suicide for adults suffering from terminal or incurable illnesses. But the legislation has since stalled in the Senate.

If passed, Chile would join countries like Belgium, Spain, Canada, and the Netherlands in legalizing both practices. In Latin America, Colombia already allows euthanasia, and Ecuador recently decriminalized it, though regulations are still pending.

Speaking Out Before It's Too Late

Confined to her home, Moreira spends her days reading, watching movies, and playing video games. Outings are rare due to the pain caused by sitting in a wheelchair for too long. In a letter to President Gabriel Boric, she urged him to support the bill and shared her fears about reaching a stage where she could no longer communicate her wishes.

President Boric responded publicly, calling the bill “an act of empathy, responsibility and respect,” and promised to prioritize it in his final year in office. However, political turmoil has since pushed the issue to the sidelines.

A Growth In Support

While Chile was once considered one of Latin America’s most conservative nations, attitudes toward euthanasia have shifted. A 2024 Cadem survey found that 75% of Chileans support euthanasia. Another study by the Center for Public Studies reported 89% support for allowing it either always or in special cases.

Supporters argue the law would offer people suffering from terminal conditions a humane and legal option. Critics, however, say better access to palliative care must come first. Chile passed a law in 2022 guaranteeing palliative care, but experts argue its implementation is uneven.

The debate has also been shaped by other moving stories, such as that of Valentina Maureira, a teen who pleaded publicly for euthanasia in 2015 but was denied and died shortly after.

When it comes to keeping your home clean, people do not leave any stone unturned. Our parents would often nag us to clean our rooms and keep the house clean. While it would annoy us to no end, growing up we understood why they encouraged us to keep the place we live in clean. It's not just about making it look good, but also about protecting it from harmful bacteria and germs.

While your home may be your personal space, it can quickly become a breeding ground for germs. You are also more likely to fall sick due to an unhygienic space as you spend a lot of time at home, including resting and sleeping.

However, while you may clean your floors, your closet and the washroom frequently, there are many unsuspecting items that are not cleaned as often, sometimes not at all. These items are mostly used daily, and do not need to be cleaned daily. As insignificant these may seem, periodically cleaning them is necessary to stop them from becoming breeding grounds for health issues.

Unlikely Things That Get Neglected Being Cleaned

Sponges and Dish Cloths

Before tackling dishes or counters, remember your sponge and cloth can be very unclean. They collect food scraps and messes, creating a damp home for harmful bacteria that soap alone won't eliminate. A study published in the American Society of Microbiology revealed that 49% of kitchen towels have bad bacteria. Boiling your kitchen towels may be a good practice to keep hygiene otherwise you replace them periodically.

Carpets and Rugs

Consider everything tracked onto your floors – dirt, mud, and even tiny waste particles. According to research done by Philip Tierno Jr., Ph.D., a microbiologist and immunologist, carpets are 4000 times dirtier than your toilet seats. Shed skin feeds these germs, and rugs trap allergens and pet dander. Regular vacuuming isn't sufficient; the aim for professional deep cleaning annually to remove hidden contaminants.

Cutting Boards

Your cutting board, used for various foods like veggies and raw meat, can easily spread harmful bacteria if not properly cleaned. According to the North Carolina State University, plastic boards can develop germ-trapping grooves, while wood is harder to sanitize. Using separate boards for different food types and thorough washing after each use are crucial for preventing foodborne illness.

Toothbrush Holders

You diligently brush your teeth, but the storage of your toothbrush matters. Damp toothbrush holders, especially in steamy bathrooms, become ideal breeding grounds for various germs. These accumulate, and touching the holder can transfer thousands of microorganisms. Weekly washing with soap or dishwasher cleaning can help maintain a cleaner storage environment.

Coffee Makers

While you likely wash your mug daily, neglecting your coffee maker can lead to more than just a caffeine boost. Single-serve machines have water tanks where bacteria, mold, and yeast can thrive. Experts advise emptying and drying the tank after each use and descaling the machine regularly to prevent unwanted microbial growth.

Tech Gadgets

Think of the many hands touching your remote, the crumbs in your keyboard, and the constant handling of your phone. These shared devices can be surprisingly unclean, with keyboards harboring significant bacteria. Regular wiping with disinfectant and frequent handwashing are essential to minimize germ transfer from these commonly used items.

Pillows

Prepare yourself; your pillows can be a haven for dust mites, dead skin cells, and bodily fluids over time. Experts liken them to damp sponges that absorb various substances, creating a thriving environment for these unwanted guests. Regular washing every six months, annual replacement, and dust mite covers are recommended for cleaner sleep.