Health experts have warned Nigerians to avoid taking alcohol while on medication, stressing that even common drugs can react dangerously when combined with alcohol.
They noted that early signs of alcohol–drug interaction—such as sudden dizziness, irregular heartbeat, persistent vomiting, and unexplained skin rashes—should never be ignored.
Speaking with our correspondent, Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Sulayman Balogun, said rising substance use has increased the risk of such reactions across all age groups.
He explained that one of the earliest and most dangerous signs is extreme sedation, where the person becomes difficult or impossible to wake.
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“Someone who takes alcohol alone may still respond when called. But mixing alcohol with sedative medications can induce such deep sleep that the individual becomes unresponsive. That is a major red flag,” he said.
Balogun added that excessive vomiting occurs when the body cannot properly metabolise alcohol, while flushing results from acetaldehyde buildup during alcohol breakdown.
He noted that some medications carry even higher risks. For instance, patients on warfarin who take alcohol may experience uncontrolled bleeding, even from minor injuries. Other reactions include hypertensive crises marked by severe headaches and dangerously high blood pressure.
Balogun stressed that while no one is completely safe from drug–alcohol interactions, some people are more vulnerable and must be especially cautious.
