Side Effects of Mixing Meloxicam and Alcohol
It’s well known that taking alcohol and painkillers together is a terrible idea, but how dangerous would it be to drink alcohol while taking arthritis medication like Meloxicam? The short answer: It’s very risky. It’s powerful and can cause major heart and gastrointestinal problems that could be life-threatening. Additionally, many of the specific side effects of this medication overlap with those caused by alcohol use. Read on to learn more about the side effects of mixing meloxicam and alcohol, why it reacts badly to alcohol, and how long until you can drink after having taken a dose.
Meloxicam and Alcohol Side Effects
On its own, taking meloxicam exactly as directed can result
in the development of deadly heart and stomach issues. Adding alcohol to the
mix, however, increases the likelihood of those serious health consequences
occurring.
High Blood Pressure
One of the lesser-known side effects of nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like meloxicam, is that itc can cause, or
worsen, hypertension. This affects everything from your heart to kidneys and
even your eyes. Alcohol is also known to cause acute blood pressure elevation
as well (scientists believe this is because alcohol stimulates adrenal glands
which result in your heart working harder and pumping more blood more quickly).
Although the effects of alcohol on blood pressure are
rapidly reversible and resolve themselves within a few hours of consumption,
when paired with meloxicam’s significant half-life, the overlap can be deadly
on the body. The resulting cardiovascular stress lays the groundwork for a
stroke or heart attack–both of which can be fatal.
Stomach Ulcer
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like these are
known to irritate the digestive tract. Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain,
and vomiting are fairly common. Far less common (and much more concerning)
gastrointestinal side effects are the development of stomach ulcers. These are
painful sores on the stomach lining that can interfere with digestion and
result in a lot of discomfort.
Heavy drinking can also contribute to the development of a
stomach ulcer. Alcohol does so by increasing the amount of stomach acid which
can lead to irritation. When alcohol and meloxicam are combined, they not only
amplify the likelihood of developing an ulcer but can exacerbate the condition,
resulting in the potentially life-threatening complication of a bleeding ulcer.
Symptoms of this condition include sticky stools that are black or dark red,
bloody vomit, and anemia.
Kidney Problems
NSAIDs can cause two types of acute renal (kidney) injury
and can lead to chronic kidney injury or failure. This is because the
anti-inflammatory function of NSAIDs can inhibit the production of renal
prostaglandins, important lipids that help maintain normal kidney function.
With the kidneys producing fewer of them, these tiny bean-shaped organs can
have a harder time regulating the balance of salt and water in the body (among
other things). This can lead to fluid retention which can cause a domino effect
that harms several vital organs and bodily functions in addition to the kidneys
themselves. The longer NSAID, or in this case meloxicam, is used the greater
these risks. Alcohol compounds these issues by directly interfering with your
kidney’s ability to regulate fluid in the body. Alcohol compounds these issues
by directly interfering with your kidney’s ability to regulate fluid in the
body.
How long to wait to drink alcohol after taking Meloxicam?
The average meloxicam dosage has a half-life of about 20
hours. Since it takes at least five half-lives for a substance to be considered
out of your body, it can take up to 5 days for meloxicam to get out of your
system. However, since meloxicam is usually prescribed for long-time use,
drinking any alcohol at all while taking this medication is ill-advised.
Essentially, there is no “safe” time-frame to have alcoholic after taking
meloxicam.
If you or someone you know is unwilling or unable to stop
drinking while taking an NSAID like meloxicam, they’re putting their health in
serious peril. Continuing to drink in light of painful side effects could be
demonstrative of an unhealthy drinking compulsion. Learn more about identifying
the signs of alcoholism and what to do when you confirm them.
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