Over-the-counter medication taken by millions could put people at serious risk of stomach ulcers, liver failure and kidney damage when combined with alcohol, medical experts have warned.

Everyday remedies including Lemsip, Strepsils and ibuprofen remain safe when used as directed, but drinking whilst taking them can cause lasting harm that many people simply don’t recognise.

Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, urged caution: “Mixing alcohol and medication like cough syrup, cold remedies or painkillers can be extremely dangerous, and even deadly.”

Dr Dean Eggitt, a Doncaster GP, echoed the warning: “It’s a huge problem and people just don’t recognise the risk.”

Why the Combination Proves So Dangerous

Millions turn to painkillers, cough mixtures and cold remedies for relief from everything from headaches to period pain. The danger emerges because many of these products already tax the liver and kidneys as your body breaks them down, or irritate the stomach lining.

Adding alcohol, which affects the same organs, magnifies the strain significantly. This can tip the balance from safe to seriously harmful, medical professionals warn.

Understanding which medicines pose the greatest risks when combining medication and alcohol can help you make safer choices for your health.

Cough Syrups: A Deceptive Risk

As the weather turns colder, coughs and sore throats become increasingly common complaints. However, reaching for a glass of wine whilst also taking cough remedies could prove a serious mistake.

Many products, including Covonia, Benylin and some Strepsils, contain dextromethorphan, a cough suppressant. Jones explained that mixing alcohol and medication containing this ingredient creates multiple risks.

“You could experience drowsiness, dizziness, an upset stomach, trouble breathing, headache, a fast heart rate and impaired co-ordination,” he warned. “These effects can last for hours and, if abused, may trigger hallucinations, a drop in body temperature or even respiratory failure.”

Dextromethorphan works by dampening the urge to cough and easing sore throats. However, combining it with alcohol transforms a simple remedy into a potentially serious health threat.

Safer alternatives include honey and lemon, numbing throat sprays and lozenges, all effective options until you can take medicine without consuming alcohol.

Cold and Flu Remedies: A Recipe for Liver Damage

Medicines such as Lemsip and decongestants like Sudafed rank among the most popular choices for easing cold symptoms. Yet experts warn that combining drugs and alcohol creates what pharmacists describe as a “recipe for disaster.”

These remedies often contain a cocktail of ingredients including paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride and guaifenesin. Dipar Kadmar, a pharmacist and fellow at Kingston University, explained the serious nature of the risk.

“Even small overdoses, or combining paracetamol with alcohol, can increase the risk of serious harm,” Kadmar cautioned.

The danger lies in how your liver processes paracetamol. As it breaks the drug down, it produces a toxic by-product called NAPQI. Your body normally neutralises this substance, but alcohol puts extra strain on the liver. This means the toxin can build up and cause potentially life-threatening damage.

Decongestants like phenylephrine shrink swollen blood vessels inside the nose to ease breathing. However, experts have long questioned their effectiveness, as much of the drug metabolises in the gut and liver before reaching the nasal passages.

If you’ve caught a cold and plan to drink, opt for simple fixes like steam inhalation or saline nasal sprays. These ease symptoms without placing extra strain on your liver or risking the dangers of mixing alcohol and medication.

Anti-Inflammatories: Double Trouble for Your Stomach

People widely use painkillers like ibuprofen for backache, period cramps, headaches, cold and flu symptoms, and to reduce inflammation from muscle strains. These work by lowering levels of hormones that cause pain and swelling.

The NHS advises against taking ibuprofen for more than ten days without medical guidance. Dr Eggitt explained that the danger stems from how the drug irritates the stomach lining.

“Painkillers like ibuprofen are designed to relieve inflammation, but really all they do is irritate the stomach, increasing the risk of painful stomach ulcers which in some cases can lead to peritonitis,” he said.

Alcohol produces a similar effect. It relaxes the valve that keeps stomach acid in place, raising the risk of heartburn, reflux and, in heavy users, ulcers. Combined with regular painkiller use, combining drugs and alcohol can result in serious complications.

Peritonitis, an infection of the stomach lining, can prove life-threatening if left untreated. The British Liver Trust also warns that just two glasses of wine daily can cause fat to build up in the liver. Ongoing damage, worsened by frequent ibuprofen use, can lead to inflammation and scarring known as fibrosis.

Making Safer Choices

If you need pain relief whilst drinking, pharmacists recommend gentler options such as hot or cold compresses or rest. Save ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatories for when you’re alcohol-free.

For those planning to drink, Jones advises avoiding any remedies containing paracetamol, ibuprofen or dextromethorphan. Instead, choose alternatives that don’t interact dangerously with alcohol.

The message from medical professionals remains clear: the risks of mixing alcohol and medication far outweigh any perceived convenience. Whether you’re treating a headache, cold symptoms or muscle pain, understanding these dangerous interactions could protect you from serious, and potentially permanent, health consequences.

When in doubt, pharmacists recommend waiting several hours after your last alcoholic drink before taking any over-the-counter medication, or better still, avoiding alcohol entirely whilst undergoing treatment. Your liver, stomach and kidneys will thank you for making the safer choice.

Source: dbrecoveryresources