[Redway]

Me and Ammi were kind of having this discussion earlier and it just got me thinking about broader patterns re. drinking alcohol on certain medications that aren’t inherently red-flagged when in combination (clonazepam, Valium, certain antibiotics, all that sort of stuff). Do you definitely feel more crap after a nightcap/weekend or night out or does alcohol affect you just the same as it would if you weren’t on those meds?

[Redway]

I do think a lot of it’s pearl-clutching fluff. Certain obvious combinations to avoid (certain benzos, certain antibiotics, like I said) but more broadly, asking a Brit. to give up something so deeply engrained in the culture is a lot to ask. That might work in Canada, where people seem to drink less, but not here. So unless it’s strictly necessary I just wouldn’t give up alcohol for the sake of medication. I don’t think it’s worth it, even in my era of continually pointing out the hypocrisy between alcohol and other illicit/medicinal vices. I’m not a huge drinker (not anymore) but tramadol’s just not that good to have me skipping out on all I do drink these days, being honest. I couldn’t.

[Redway]

Anyone?

[Barry.]

I don’t drink alcohol but I take meds but didn’t know how to answer your poll

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Barry.

I don’t drink alcohol but I take meds but didn’t know how to answer your poll

“I don’t really drink anyway” (option-no. 4)

[Kate!]

I'm on meds and I drink very little these days but I have done in the past while I've been on them.

[bots]

Alcohol does directly interfere with my meds, so i can't drink more than 1 or 2 units on a given day

[Cherie]

I picked other, I don't take any meds

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I picked other, I don't take any meds

But you are clearly bonkers in the nut

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

But you are clearly bonkers in the nut

I will take that as a compliment, I would hate to be called average

[Jessica.]

If you can't get by without alcohol then you've got a big problem. You're on meds for a reason, you need them. Nobody needs alcohol.

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I picked other, I don't take any meds

Same.....

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

If you can't get by without alcohol then you've got a big problem. You're on meds for a reason, you need them. Nobody needs alcohol.

I don’t think you understand how deeply alcohol is embedded in British culture, for better or worse. It would be like going vegan in the name of medication, which is similarly unthinkable to most people. That might be alright for you but most people aren’t like that.

[Ammi]

…this is what the alcohol change UK site says in regards to alcohol/medication ….

There are a few problems that alcohol can cause when you’re on a course of medication:
Alcohol may stop the medication from working so well
Alcohol might make the side-effects of your medicine worse or make them more likely to happen
The mix of alcohol and your medicine may make you sleepy or slow your reactions, which could leave you unable to drive to undertake other tasks that need concentration. This is particularly true of prescription-only painkillers such as dihydrocodeine, gabapentin, tramadol, morphine and pethidine
The medicine might make you more sensitive to the effects of alcohol, meaning you become more drunk more quickly. Some people might like that idea in theory, but it’s very difficult to control and the chances of becoming unwell or having an accident are high
Both paracetamol and alcohol can damage the liver if taken in excess, so it’s worth asking your pharmacist about this, particularly if you’ve ever had any liver problems
Your doctor or pharmacist may advise you to avoid alcohol if you’re taking medicines that affect the brain or nervous system, thin your blood, alter your blood pressure, or cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)


…there is more information on the site…/…the link…


https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol...ion-medication

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Redway

I don’t think you understand how deeply alcohol is embedded in British culture, for better or worse. It would be like going vegan in the name of medication, which is similarly unthinkable to most people. That might be alright for you but most people aren’t like that.

People are individuals with individual problems just because generations have consumed drinkthat’s not an excuse to continue doing so

My dad was a drinker but hasn’t consumed alcohol for many years due to being a diabetic

I’ve never touched alcohol

[Ammi]

…I don’t think that it’s about anyone being expected to give up as such…it’s a responsibility to point out any possible warnings etc …both from the pharmaceutical companies and any medical people who have prescribed etc …with a GP, it would be hoped that they would know a personal medical history as well in terms of having some lifestyle knowledge of a patient that they’re prescribing for…it’s not really an expected thing, though…it’s just making sure that there is a complete information regarding dangers etc…the potentials of not being informed would/could be much more concerning, I feel…

[Redway]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

People are individuals with individual problems just because generations have consumed drinkthat’s not an excuse to continue doing so

My dad was a drinker but hasn’t consumed alcohol for many years due to being a diabetic

I’ve never touched alcohol

I figured.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Redway

I figured.

You say that like it’s a bad thing

Drinking is overrated
Go sit in a and e on a weekend with a sick relative and see all the sad bastards the nhs has to deal with due to drink

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

You say that like it’s a bad thing

Drinking is overrated
Go sit in a and e on a weekend with a sick relative and see all the sad bastards the nhs has to deal with due to drink

Yeah, it's a problem everywhere, people who can't control their drinking are a serious drain on resources.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I picked other, I don't take any meds

Same

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Same

You might not be alright in the head though apparently

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

You might not be alright in the head though apparently

Probably not

[bots]

Everything is relative. If you need the medication to live, the need for alcohol just isn't significant and drops to the bottom of the priority list.

Also, the older you get, generally speaking, the less important alcohol becomes. The responsibility of children, the fact that you may have medical needs, alcohol just doesn't rate as an issue to most people

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Cherie

You might not be alright in the head though apparently

That title was given to you cherie, don’t bring Niamh into it

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by bots

Everything is relative. If you need the medication to live, the need for alcohol just isn't significant and drops to the bottom of the priority list.

Also, the older you get, generally speaking, the less important alcohol becomes. The responsibility of children, the fact that you may have medical needs, alcohol just doesn't rate as an issue to most people

Totally agree