Somebody needed a leg amputated? No anesthesia? No problem. Break out a bottle of whiskey and take a few swigs. Need to pull that arrow out of the guy's chest? No need for morphine, we have whiskey. Many people still turn to the use of alcohol for pain relief due to its ability to depress the central nervous system.
By slowing down the brain and nervous system, alcohol delivers a certain amount of relief. The continual use of alcohol to lessen pain can cause problems if the amount of alcohol used becomes excessive and if it is used in conjunction with other pain-killing drugs. One problem is that the body begins to build up a tolerance to the effects of alcohol. Even without the tolerance factor, the amount of alcohol it would take to actually relieve severe pain would probably be more than the recommended guidelines for safe alcohol consumption.
Ingesting an excessive amount of alcohol over an extended period of time can cause its own set of health problems , including everything from various types of cancer to life-threatening liver ailments.
Besides the long-term health problems that can develop, prolonged use of alcohol can lead to a chemical dependency on alcohol itself, which can bring about a whole set of problems of its own. Those who suffer from chronic pain can face more immediate problems from the use of alcohol, if they are taking some other form of pain-killing drugs including over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol acetaminophen.
Mixing alcohol and opioids can be lethal, making you drowsy, causing memory problems, and in some cases, breathing problems that can lead to an accidental overdose. While most of us are aware of the dangers of mixing alcohol with other depressants like tranquilizers, the labels on almost all over-the-counter pain relief medications also contain warnings concerning their use along with the use of alcohol.
Alcohol and Tylenol can increase the risk of damage to the liver. Alcohol and Advil ibuprofen can cause ulcers and stomach bleeding. Here's a list of some common drugs and the side effects which can develop if they are used in connection with alcohol:.
Aspirin Aspirin is now less commonly used as a painkiller due to the fact that it is more likely to cause side effects than paracetamol and ibuprofen. Children under the age of 16 should not use aspirin. Drinking a small amount of alcohol while taking aspirin is usually safe.
Drinking more than the recommended daily limits may lead to bleeding from the stomach. Prescription-only painkillers Prescription-only painkillers for moderate pain include dihydrocodeine, gabapentin and tramadol. Do not drink any alcohol while you're taking them. Further information Can I drink alcohol while taking antibiotics? This risk may be higher for people with alcohol use disorder AUD , which was previously known as alcoholism. Possible side effects of taking acetaminophen and alcohol together include :.
According to the U. National Library of Medicine , taking acetaminophen can be dangerous for people who regularly drink alcohol. Manufacturers currently recommend that people who have more than 3 alcoholic drinks per day should ask their doctor before taking acetaminophen. Acetaminophen by itself can cause toxic damage to the liver, which is called acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. This toxicity is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the U.
Around 30, patients are hospitalized each year in the U. When a person takes acetaminophen, liver enzymes break down most of the drug. The body then excretes it either in the urine, via the kidneys, or the bile. The liver produces an antioxidant called glutathione, which it holds in limited supply, to remove this toxin. When the body receives more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen, the liver is overwhelmed with more NAPQI toxin than it can break down, which is why an overdose of acetaminophen is dangerous.
Alcohol also includes toxins that the liver must break down, so people combining it with acetaminophen have an increased risk of liver damage. A review highlights that the risk of acetaminophen-induced liver damage is higher for individuals who have AUD and also overdose on acetaminophen. However, there is no scientific evidence that people with AUD who take the recommended dose of acetaminophen increase their risk of liver damage.
Damage to the liver can impair its ability to carry out vital functions. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines. NIH Publication No. Updated Women and Alcohol. Updated December Alcohol's Effects on the Body.
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