Alcohol and drugs: mixing can be risky.(drugwise)

Drinking alcohol while taking medication--including aspirin and allergy drugs--can be dangerous. Alcohol interacts with many drugs and disrupts enzymes necessary for the digestion of both substances. That can compound the intoxicating effect of alcohol or the side effects of the medication. Or it may dangerously increase or decrease the drug's therapeutic effects. Heavy drinking multiplies those risks. But with some drugs even a single, occasional drink can cause problems, and you may need to abstain from alcohol for a full day or so before or after taking certain drugs. So, consult your doctor before imbibing if you're taking any medication, especially the ones listed here.

 
                                             EFFECTS WITH 
USED FOR             MEDICATIONS             ALCOHOL INCLUDE 
 
ALLERGY, INSOMIA,    Brompheniramine         Increased dizziness 
MOTION SICKNESS      (Dimetane),             or drowsiness 
                     cetirizine (Zyrtec), 
                     dimenhydrinate 
                     (Dramamine), 
                     diphenhydramine 
                     (Benadryl Allergy), 
                     zaleplon (Sonata), 
                     zolpidem (Ambien) 
 
ANGINA (CHEST PAIN), Heparin; warfarin       Bleeding, sudden drop 
HEART DISEASE        (Coumadin); nitrates    in blood pressure, 
                     such as isosorbide      fainting, rapid 
                     (Isordil),              heartbeat, nausea, 
                     nitroglycerin           vomiting 
                     (Nitrostat) 
 
BACTERIAL INFECTION  Cefamandole (Mandol);   Reduced antibiotic 
                     cefoperazone            efficacy, nausea, 
                     (Cefobid); cefotetan    vomiting, increased 
                     (Cefotan);              sensitivity to 
                     erythromycin            sunlight 
                     (E-Mycin); 
                     metronidazole 
                     (Flagyl); 
                     sulfonamides, such 
                     as sulfamethoxazole 
                     (Bactrim), 
                     sulfisoxazole; 
                     tetracyclines, ...