You’re driving home, and you don’t feel the best — and you get pulled over. The officer clearly suspects that you’re drunk, but you only had a single beer or a glass of wine. You do admit, however, that your coordination seems to be a little off and you’re unexpectedly drowsy.
Could your daily medication be interacting with the alcohol in a negative way? It’s very possible.
The consequences of mixing medication and alcohol can be severe
The majority of adults in this country use some kind of medication every day — whether it’s a prescription drug for a chronic condition, an over-the-counter (OTC) drug designed to control their allergies or upset stomach or a vitamin that they hope will preserve their longevity.
Adding alcohol into the mix (even in small amounts) can leave you feeling — and looking — like you’ve had much more to drink than you really have. Common symptoms of negative interactions between drugs and alcohol include:
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Poor coordination
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- High/low blood pressure
Unless you have talked to your doctor or pharmacist about how alcohol can interact with your medications, you may not be aware of the potential for problems until you’re behind the wheel.
So, what kinds of prescriptions can interact badly with alcohol? Frankly, almost any of them — but some of the main culprits include antidepressants, cholesterol drugs, diabetes medications and blood pressure drugs. In other words, many of the most common drugs that people take.
What can you do if your medication led to a drunk driving charge?
Don’t let a simple medication mistake affect your future for years to come. A strong defense can help you overcome a drunk driving charge.