When you’re in a committed relationship, it’s only natural that you want to celebrate special occasions with your loved one. But, if you’re out for a night on the town, you might wonder if it’s okay to have a drink in conjunction with your medication.
The short answer is yes, you can have a drink while taking Viagra, and the answer is a lot more complicated when you consider the various side effects that come with drinking alcohol while taking the oral drug. To ensure that you’re fully aware of how much alcohol is safe to consume while taking Viagra, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of tips that will help you enjoy your medication without worry or concern.
Prioritise Your Mental Health
One of the main reasons why people avoid drinking while taking medication is due to the fact that alcohol inhibits the action of certain prescription medications, especially Viagra. When your body is deprived of alcohol, your blood pressure will most likely feel the difference and you might start experiencing symptoms of withdrawal. Men, in particular, will report muscle twitchings, anxiety, impatience, and irritability, not to mention more serious side effects, like liver damage and/or heart failure. So, to ensure that you’re not harming your health by drinking while on medication, it’s essential to drink in moderation.
If you’re looking to enjoy a drink with your medication, it’s best to go for non-chilled drinks as it is unlikely that your doctor will prescribe you alcohol at room temperature. Also, avoid drinking alone or in large quantities if you’re the type of person who usually gets ill when drinking in excess. Additionally, make sure to seek medical advice from your doctor regarding the safe consumption of alcohol while taking medication. In some instances, this might entail lowering the dose of your medication or quitting alcohol completely.
Make Sure To Consume Plenty Of Water
Alcohol is a dehydration drug and, as a result, will pull more water out of your body than you put in. So it’s essential that you replace the fluids that you lose through alcohol consumption. You might consider drinking water or other hydrating drinks to stay healthy and to promote the therapeutic effects of the medication. It’s also important to note that dehydration can cause serious health problems, especially in older people, so avoiding dehydration is key when taking medication. Another good idea is to drink at regular intervals throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. This helps prevent dehydration and any subsequent health complications from occurring.
Check In With Your Doctor Regularly
Alcohol can sometimes cause medication to work less effectively, especially when taken in large quantities or when combined with other drugs. This is why it’s important to check in with your doctor and get his feedback on how much alcohol is safe to consume while on medication. In some cases, your doctor might recommend stopping or lowering the dose of your medication or even switching to an alternative drug. This is why it’s essential to be attentive to what kind of advice your doctor is giving you and act accordingly, especially in the beginning.
Reduce Your Social Activities
Alcohol is a depressant drug and has been shown to decrease the activity of certain neurotransmitters, most notably serotonin. This is why it’s best to avoid alcohol if you’re already experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. The reduced serotonergic activity can cause serious problems, like insomnia and irritability, amongst other things. So, if you’re looking to enjoy a drink with your medication, it might be best to stay home instead of going out for a casual night in the town. Even if you feel fine, the chances are that you won’t, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Avoid These Drinks
While alcohol is generally safe to consume in moderation, there are some instances where it might not be advisable to do so. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, you might experience an allergic reaction or negatively affective side effects from drinking too much coffee. Some medication, like antidepressants and allergy medications, can cause extreme sleepiness and adverse reactions in those who consume alcohol frequently. If you know that you’re one of these people, you might want to avoid alcohol and instead go for a healthier option, like wine or vodka, which are both non-chilled and lighter in colour. Another thing to keep in mind is that some medications, like MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, can interact with alcohol in potentially dangerous ways and you should not combine the two, even if it’s in a drink that isn’t alcoholic.
Choose The Right Location
When you’re taking medication, it’s important to keep your body hydrated and functional. This entails avoiding places with high humidity and heat, especially if they’re not controlled. Places like forests can cause your body to metabolize the medication more quickly, resulting in potential side effects. Also, make sure that the location you choose is comfortable for both of you and ensure that both of you feel safe and secure there. Even though you might not feel any immediate effects from alcohol consumption while on medication, it’s still important to keep your wits about you and make sure that you’re not doing any risks, especially if you’re going to be in a strange and potentially dangerous place. Remember that some places might not be suitable for persons with certain dietary restrictions and/or who are taking certain medication, so make sure that you check the location’s policies before committing.
Be Careful With What You Eat
Certain foods and drinks have been known to either react negatively with certain medications or speed up or slow down the body’s metabolization of certain medications. If you’re on a diet, make sure to avoid foods with a lot of fat and carbohydrates, like pizza, sandwiches, and donuts, as these are known to cause blood sugar levels to rise quickly, resulting in potentially dangerous side effects, like extreme thirst, blackouts, and fast heart rates, amongst others. Also, some medications, like blood thinners and chemotherapy drugs, can interact with the body’s fluids in potentially harmful ways. So, if you know that you’re among these people, you might want to avoid foods that change the consistency of the blood or the likelihood of it clotting, like strawberries, raspberries, and dark chocolate. Other things to avoid while on medication are supplements and herbs, as these are most likely to interfere with the medication’s intended effects.
To enjoy your medication without worrying about your health, it’s important to know how much alcohol is safe to consume while taking it and what the correct way of drinking is, especially if you’re going to be in a country where alcohol is available. Hopefully, the information in this article will assist you in understanding how much alcohol is safe and how you can enjoy your medication, whenever and wherever you need it.