Prednisone And Alcohol
As with most medications, it is not advisable to take drink alcohol while on prednisone. While there is no proven direct interaction between alcohol and prednisone, this combination could increase the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding especially stomach ulcers. However, not all doctors agree as to whether patients should avoid alcohol while taking prednisone. Usually, taking a small amount of alcohol while on low-dose-prednisone does not cause adverse effect on the patient. It is important to discuss with your healthcare provider if drinking alcohol is inevitable.
Alcohol and prednisone: Is there a real danger?
There are no known interactions between Prednisone and Alcohol. In fact, several liquid preparations of prednisone do contain alcohol as an additive. This only shows that there are no unlikely chemical reactions between alcohol and prednisone.
However, there maybe a chance for stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding when these two substances are taken together. Both prednisone and alcohol can cause gastrointestinal irritation which might eventually lead to bleeding. As such, doctors would advise avoiding alcohol while undergoing prednisone treatment.
Other reasons to avoid mixing prednisone and alcohol
Prednisone is a beneficial compound which is used to treat different medical conditions. Often, it is the underlying medical condition that makes alcohol inadvisable. For example, patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and are treated with prednisone must avoid alcohol to prevent worsening the condition. The combination of alcohol and prednisone can lead to further irritation of the gastrointestinal system thereby worsening the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.
On the contrary, there are some patients that can tolerate drinking alcohol while taking prednisone. However, you should discuss this with your physician before consuming alcohol. Usually, your healthcare provider will review your medical history before deciding whether alcohol will need to be avoided or not. There may be other underlying medical conditions that make alcohol avoidance wise. Your overall health must be carefully evaluated before alcohol restrictions are lifted.
Prednisone is not free of possible side effects. As a matter of fact, it comes with a long list of side effects. And by drinking alcohol, you are increasing the risk of experiencing these side effects. Alcohol alone can even worsen your condition.
Lastly, both alcohol and prednisone are processed and excreted through the liver hence taking them together can be hard on the liver. Although taking few drinks do not cause any major adverse effect, it still increases the risk for liver complications. Avoiding alcohol is a good idea in order to avoid potential health risks.
