There is no safe dose of alcohol when taking any medicine, said Olga Chistik, doctor of the Scandinavian Health Center, in a conversation with "Lenta".
First of all, the doctor called on Russians to give up the habit of taking sleeping pills with alcohol. He noted the most dangerous consequence of this combination is the depression of the respiratory center in the brain stem. This causes breathing to become rarer, shallower, and in severe cases, to stop during sleep. A sudden drop in blood pressure, slow heart rate, and circulatory problems may also occur.
According to Chistic, a similar side effect occurs when alcohol is used concurrently with barbiturates, first-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, suprastin or tavegil, strong opioid pain relievers, and certain antidepressants and antipsychotics.
"Harmless" herbal remedies are sometimes not so simple either. Preparations containing valerian, motherwort and melatonin, when combined with alcohol, cause an unpredictable reaction, from excessive sedation to paradoxical agitation. There is no safe dose of alcohol when taking any medication. Even a glass of wine can change the distribution of the drug in the body," concluded the doctor.
