Beware mixing prescriptions with heat or alcohol, health professional warns
Across the United States, workers will leave their offices, pack their coolers, and head outside to celebrate Labor Day weekend.
But Dr. Colin Banas, chief medical officer at DrFirst has a warning: your prescription could turn sunshine and cocktails into a trip to the ER.
Certain medications can trigger severe reactions when combined with alcohol or sun exposure—and most people don’t even know they’re at risk.
47% of Americans have experienced a reaction to alcohol, the sun, or both, only to later realize their medication was the reason.
A recent study shows that most people don’t read the fine print:
- Only 52% check prescription packaging
- Only 20% talk to their pharmacist about potential risks
Banas said there are plenty of resources online for individuals to learn more about the impact of the sun, heat, and alcohol when combined with prescriptions. However, he warns to be careful when surfing the internet.
“Be cognizant of what you’re reading. You know I always say: ‘Trust, but verify.’ So, make sure that it’s a well-respected source with appropriate citations,” said Dr. Colin Banas.
He also says to pay attention to new prescriptions and learn how they react to the heat and sun. In addition, he warns individuals to not become complacent with prescriptions they have been taking for a while.
Furthermore, 57% of people don’t realize some antibiotics like flagyl, can cause severe illness when mixed with alcohol.
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