Alcohol and prescription drugs Alcohol Used by 84

Alcohol and prescription drugs

Alcohol Used by 84% of Australians n Almost considered part of our lifestyle n

Harm from alcohol 1998 -99 4, 800 deaths n 400, 000 hospital bed days n Social costs $7. 5 billion n n Production loss Accidents Crime Health costs

Alcohol dependency 5% of Australians n 20% use alcohol in a way that can harm others n Alcohol is related to death in adolescents n n Unintentional injuries Homicide Suicide

Facts about drugs § Tobacco = 71% of drug related-deaths § Alcohol = 26% of drug related-deaths § Other drugs = 3% of drug-related deaths

Alcohol Head to toe! Brain Heart, BP Gut Liver Blood Skin Muscles Endocrine/metabolic Genitals Bone

The “Reward” Pathway Sex Thirst Hunger Chocolate Intoxication Love Money Doing your tax

Short term effects of alcohol Sedation n Slowed thinking and speech n Impaired breathing n Sleep disruption n Irritation to gut lining n Hangovers n

What makes these effects worse? If we are young people n If we are older people n If we are pregnant n If we are breast feeding n If we have social problems n If we have mental health problems n AND n

What happens if we add medication? Short term effects may be made into long term effects n Make alcohol stay in blood stream longer n

If we take medications Interactions n Additive effects n Effect on liver n

How can this happen? Large does of alcohol can affect increase levels of the drug and case adverse effects n Sometimes alcohol decreases the availability of the drug and dose may need to be increased n Alcohol can be toxic to liver n

If alcohol is taken with n Warfarin: is increased so risk of bleeding increased

If alcohol is taken with n Blood pressure meds: can cause postural hypotension and increase risk of falls

If alcohol is taken with n Sedatives: additive effect so more risk of daytime drowsiness and falls

If alcohol is taken with n Pain relievers: sedation can increase

If alcohol is taken with n NSAIDS: increases risk of bleed

If alcohol is taken Alcohol acts as a diuretic and can wash away some medications n Herbal remedies n

What can we do? Alcohol in moderation n Have a list of what you take n Read labels on medicine n

What else can we do? Read CMI n If taking a lot of medications be aware that alcohol can affect them n ASK your doctor or pharmacist n

If you are concerned……. Ask you GP for a Home Medicines Review n

How does HMR work? n n n n Ask your GP GP makes a Referral and sends to pharmacy Pharmacist organises a time for interview Interview at your home, or at your choice Report to GP Return to GP for Management Plan You can agree/ disagree to plan

Thank you Carlene Smith The Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch 02 9467 7124