The Safe Use of Alcohol and Medications: Tips for Older Adults

You may have heard that alcohol can be healthful.  This isn’t always true.  Age-related changes make older adults more sensitive to the effects of alcohol.  In addition, older adults are more likely to be taking at least one medication for chronic illness.  Alcohol can interact with the medical condition or the medication and cause problems.

Alcohol effects on the body change as people age. Their sensitivity to alcohol increases.  Older adults may become intoxicated more easily.  Therefore, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism recommends that adults 65 and older drink no more than one alcoholic drink a day or a maximum of seven drinks a week.  Women should drink less, because their body chemistry makes alcohol more toxic.

Be aware that alcohol can also interact harmfully with hundreds of medications.  Alcohol causes some drugs to be more potent than intended and other drugs to be less effective.  Certain medical conditions can get worse or go unrecognized.

Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about your medication:

1. Why am I taking it?
2. What are the side effects?
3. Will this drug interact with any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs I’m taking?
4. When can I stop taking this drug?
5. Can I drink alcohol with this drug? Are there foods to avoid?  Can I drive while taking this drug?

Source:  SAMHSA – Get Connected: Linking Older Americans with Medication, Alcohol and Mental Health Resources.

Age Navigation’s RN Care Managers can help by guiding you and your family through the passages of aging & caregiving.

We have local on – site support for many areas in Michigan and Indiana for senior care support.   But if you’re in another state, please know that we have successfully helped older adults and their families throughout the country.  We have found that we can provide guidance and advice over the phone or via e-mail in many situations.

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About the Author: Theresa Cooper, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®. As Client Navigator for Age Navigation, she coordinates client services. Her CSA certification supplements her 20 plus years of experience in office administration and research with ongoing education about the key health, social and financial factors that are important to seniors.