Author: James Anderson
Prednisone & Alcohol: Does it Mix? Dr Megan
Prednisone use may cause gastrointestinal problems, such as peptic ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Symptoms of peptic ulcers can include stomach discomfort, indigestion, and heartburn. Alcohol in large amounts can also irritate the stomach lining.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.
- It is often prescribed for the short-term treatment of allergic and inflammatory conditions, although it can also be prescribed for chronic conditions.
- The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.
- And for many, drinking alcohol in moderation while taking prednisolone could be considered safe.
- People with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) are at high risk for these side effects.
- Talk to a doctor or an addiction specialist to find the right treatment program for your needs.
- Check with your doctor right away if blurred vision, difficulty in reading, eye pain, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment.
Dr. Megan Milne, PharmD, BCACP, is an award-winning clinical pharmacist board certified in the types of conditions people take prednisone for. Then, it’s probably a really good idea to take calcium and vitamin D while you’re taking prednisone. According to the rheumatologists who prescribe it at the most, they recommend that for everybody who’s on prednisone for three months or more. I am Dr. Megan, your Prednisone Pharmacist, and I used my specialized training to create this with just the nutrients that people on prednisone need. You don’t need to know the names of these organs inside your body. I just wanted you to see where in your body this is all happening.
Who Is at Highest Risk From Mixing Steroids and Alcohol?
Prednisone is a steroid that mimics certain hormones produced in the adrenal glands. The anti-inflammatory qualities of prednisone mean that it’s often prescribed to treat a range of conditions like asthma and bursitis. Alcohol can worsen some side effects of prednisone, such as immune system suppression, bone weakening, and weight gain. It is best to speak with a doctor to avoid serious complications.
We’ve got our brain, and part of our brain is the hypothalamus. Today, I am going to share with you how prednisone and alcohol might interact. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Moreover, you shouldn’t use NyQuil as a sleep aid or for long-term treatment of symptoms. If you take more than the recommended dose, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Related medical questions
Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 17 Mar 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Mar 2024) and others. Prednisone is a glucocorticoid drug that belongs to a broader group of drugs called corticosteroids, which are synthetic versions of natural steroid hormones. As a steroid drug, prednisone helps decrease inflammation in the body. Mixing these two substances also leads to high blood pressure, which is a major contributor to organ damage.
For example, steroids and alcohol both suppress the immune system. When your immune system is suppressed, it’s more difficult for your body to fight infections. Using alcohol and prednisone together makes this difficulty even more likely.
Alternatively, alcohol may alter the way the body metabolizes prednisone. This medicine might cause thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) or slow growth in children if used for a long time. Tell your doctor if you have any bone pain or if you have an increased risk for osteoporosis. If your child is using this medicine, tell the doctor if you think your child is not growing properly. If you are using this medicine for a long time, tell your doctor about any extra stress or anxiety in your life, including other health concerns and emotional stress. Your dose of this medicine might need to be changed for a short time while you have extra stress.
People with diabetes also need to be aware that alcohol can cause inflammation of the pancreas and lead to complications. Then other things that people have mentioned in support groups, that they’ll get red burning cheeks. Now, lots of Asian people get this when they drink alcohol just because they don’t have a great ability genetically to break down the alcohol. Others say they can’t hold down as much alcohol as they normally could while they’re on prednisone. Other people say, like another way of saying that is, it’s like drinking water.
Other Interactions
In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine. Blood or urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. If you use this medicine for a long time, do not suddenly stop using it without checking first with your doctor.
Intestinal inflammation, for example, is a common side effect of chronic alcohol use. If you are taking prednisone to treat a condition like inflammatory bowel disease, drinking alcohol might be counterproductive. So if you are about to start prednisone, you can drink 24 hours before your first dose or the other way around. Once you stop taking prednisone, theoretically, you can drink alcohol.
It is interfering and saying, “I’m cortisol now,” and so that signal back, do you see a little arrow back up, never happens. So your pituitary gland doesn’t kick into gear, which means your hypothalamus doesn’t kick back into gear. All of that happened after taking prednisone, and that has a lot to do with how alcohol affects you. First, we will discuss prednisone and how it works, and what that has to do with alcohol.
The effects of alcohol also include changes in blood sugar levels. Drinking alcohol can lower blood sugar levels and increase the risk of hypoglycemia. People with diabetes may need to be extra careful about monitoring their alcohol use while taking prednisone. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone and prednisolone, can have an impact on mental health. People who take corticosteroids may experience mental and mood changes, including mood swings, insomnia, and depression.
If you’ve been prescribed steroid medication, and you’re having trouble cutting back on your alcohol use, there are new ways to find support. Our team offers expert medical consultation, weekly coaching sessions, anti-craving medications, and more—all through a smartphone app. For these reasons, and more, it’s best to speak with a doctor who knows your medical history before taking the risk of drinking on corticosteroids. The prednisone is stopping that signal right there because it’s mimicking the cortisol.
Alcohol use is also a risk factor for osteoporosis due to the loss of nutrients necessary for bone growth. In general, a person’s doctor can best determine whether mixing prednisone with alcohol will be safe. This medicine may cause changes in mood or behavior for some patients.