4 Things You Shouldn’t Mix with Alcohol
According to research by the American Addiction Centers (AAC), over 55% of the population mixes everyday over-the-counter medications with alcohol. Often, because they overlook the warning label that reads: "Do not take with alcohol." This is not a precautionary dismissal. Combining alcohol with certain substances can result in serious, and sometimes life-threatening, consequences.
Here are four things you shouldn’t mix with alcohol:
- Energy drinks
Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is more dangerous than it might appear. Caffeine reduces the perceived intensity of intoxication, effectively masking how impaired a person actually is. This false sense of sobriety often leads to excessive drinking and poor decision-making.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, individuals who combine energy drinks with alcohol are more likely to binge drink, significantly increasing their risk of alcohol-induced injuries, impaired driving, and other dangerous behaviors.
- Prescription Sleep Aids and Anti-Anxiety Medications
Prescription medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium) and sleep aids (Ambien, Lunesta) are central nervous system depressants — and so is alcohol. When taken together, these substances amplify each other's sedative effects far beyond what either would produce alone. The result can include extreme drowsiness, dangerously slowed breathing, impaired coordination, memory blackouts, and, in severe cases, respiratory failure. This combination sends thousands of people to emergency rooms each year and is a leading factor in accidental overdose deaths. - OTC pain relief medicines
Over-the-counter pain medications are among the most commonly misused substances in combination with alcohol, often because people underestimate the risk. According to Ashwood Recovery, frequently mixing OTC painkillers and alcohol can have severe repercussions like nausea, stomach bleeding, ulcers, and a rapid heartbeat.Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, when mixed with alcohol, can cause stomach bleeding, ulcers, and cardiovascular strain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) poses a particularly serious risk because both it and alcohol are processed by the liver. When the liver is occupied metabolizing alcohol, acetaminophen accumulates in the body, placing extreme stress on liver tissue. Regular or heavy drinkers face an especially elevated risk of severe and potentially irreversible liver damage, even at standard doses.
- Marijuana
As of 2025, more than 24 states permit recreational marijuana use, and far more allow it for medical purposes. Its widespread legality has contributed to a growing misconception that it is safe to combine with alcohol. It is not.
Research consistently shows that the combination of alcohol and THC produces impairment significantly greater than either substance alone. A study from Maastricht University found that while low doses of alcohol and THC each moderately impaired driving performance independently, combining them caused severe impairment. The American Heart Association has also documented that the combination elevates heart rate above 100 beats per minute (tachycardia), raises blood pressure, and substantially diminishes cognitive and motor function — outcomes that exceed those of isolated use of either substance.
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This article was last reviewed and updated in February 2025.
