Concept
Higher Risks
HE A LTH EDUC A TION H E A L T H 1 0 0 V E R S I O N 3 / Prescription Drugs
"Women, in general, have a higher risk for problems than men when mixing alcohol and medicines. When a woman drinks, the alcohol in her bloodstream typically reaches a higher level than a man's even if both are drinking the same amount. This is because women's bodies generally have less water than men's bodies, so a given amount of alcohol is more concentrated. As a result, women are more susceptible to alcohol-related damage to organs such as the liver. Older people are also at particularly high risk for harmful alcohol-medication interactions. Aging slows the body's ability to break down alcohol, so alcohol remains in a person's system longer. Older people are more likely to take a medication that interacts with alcohol and often need to take more than one of these medications. Alcohol and medicines can interact harmfully even if they are not taken at the same time. Mixing alcohol and medicines puts you at risk for dangerous reactions. Protect yourself by avoiding alcohol if you are taking a medication and do not know its effect. To learn more about a medicine and whether it will interact with alcohol, talk to your pharmacist or other health care provider."
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