Key takeaways:
Regularly drinking alcohol can raise your blood pressure and make it harder for your medications to work.
Heart arrhythmias, falls, and severe drowsiness are a few examples of what can happen if you mix alcohol with blood pressure medications.
Healthcare professionals recommend avoiding alcohol while taking blood pressure medications.
Save on related medications
Many people have questions about blood pressure medications when they first start taking them. One of those questions is usually, “Can I drink alcohol while taking this?” The answer can depend on a few things.
The safety of drinking alcohol with blood pressure medication can vary depending on your medical history, age, and other medications you may be taking. But there’s some general information to be aware of when considering if you should mix alcohol with your blood pressure medication.
How does alcohol affect blood pressure?
You may have heard that 1 or 2 drinks per day — particularly red wine — is good for your heart. But this may not necessarily be true. Some studies have shown that people who drank a moderate amount of red wine every day had better heart health. But these people also did other things that are known to lower your risk for heart disease, like exercising and eating a balanced and nutritious diet.
When taking a blood pressure medication, avoiding or reducing alcohol continues to be the best advice.
Alcohol raises your blood pressure in the short term. And those temporary rises in blood pressure may turn into persistent high blood pressure if you regularly drink heavily or binge drink. Drinking alcohol can also indirectly lead to high blood pressure through weight gain.
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking blood pressure medications?
Certain classes of blood pressure medications — like beta blockers — are riskier to mix with alcohol than others. That’s why it’s important to be transparent with your healthcare team about how much you drink. This might make a difference in which medication they prescribe for you. They may ask you to wait to start a blood pressure medication until you lessen how much you drink per day.
Is having just 1 or 2 drinks OK?
There’s no amount of alcohol that’s safe to drink. This is true whether or not you’re taking a blood pressure medication.
If you do drink alcohol, the best way to lower your risk is to drink as little as possible.
What are the risks of mixing alcohol with blood pressure medications?
There are always risks with drinking alcohol while taking any medication. Generally, the more you drink, the greater those risks become. But alcohol affects everyone differently. Two people who take the same medication and drink the same amount of alcohol may still experience different reactions.
Less serious risks
Typical side effects of blood pressure medications include dizziness or lightheadedness. Most people only experience these when first starting the medication or when raising the dose of their current prescription. Drinking alcohol makes you more likely to experience these side effects and for them to be more severe.
Other side effects that could be more intense include sleepiness, dizziness, and fainting. Feelings of dizziness or passing out can happen without warning. These side effects can make you more likely to fall or have an accident.
More serious risks
Combining alcohol and blood pressure medications brings some more serious risks. Drinking while taking certain antihypertensives known as alpha blockers can cause dangerously low blood pressure. Alcohol can also cause heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) when mixed with many common medications, including lisinopril (Zestril) and losartan (Cozaar).
It’s hard to predict how much alcohol is needed to cause these complications, but your risk of experiencing them goes up with every drink you have. Before you have a drink, it’s best to discuss with your healthcare team whether any amount of alcohol is safe for you.
How alcohol interacts with ACE inhibitors like lisinopril
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are considered a first-choice medication for treating high blood pressure in many people. Lisinopril is the most common medication in this class. Alcohol isn’t listed as a drug interaction for ACE inhibitors. But both alcohol and ACE inhibitors dilate (widen) your blood vessels, which can make symptoms like dizziness and lightheadedness more likely and severe. And some research shows that drinking may interfere with how these medications work.
How alcohol interacts with ARBs like losartan
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are another first-choice option for treating hypertension. Losartan is the most common medication in this class.
Currently, there’s no research available on how alcohol affects ARBs. But, like ACE inhibitors, drinking alcohol with these medications can make side effects like dizziness and lightheadedness more severe. And the general consensus from most healthcare professionals is that drinking in excess on a regular basis will cause your blood pressure to rise, making it harder for these medications to do their job.
How alcohol interacts with calcium channel blockers like amlodipine and verapamil
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are split into two subgroups: dihydropyridines and nondihydropyridines.
Dihydropyridine CCBs are used more often and include medications like amlodipine (Norvasc). The effect of alcohol in people taking dihydropyridine CCBs for high blood pressure hasn’t been studied much. The research that’s available is inconclusive on how this medicine interacts with alcohol. It’s best to limit your drinking while taking medications like amlodipine to prevent possible dizziness and passing out.
A healthcare professional may recommend nondihydropyridine CCBs, such as verapamil (Calan) and diltiazem (Cardizem), if you have both high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems. Unlike amlodipine, nondihydropyridine CCBs have a direct interaction with alcohol. When taking either verapamil or diltiazem, your body takes longer to absorb and remove the alcohol from your bloodstream. This means each drink has a stronger effect than it would for people not taking these medications. You are likely to feel “drunk” longer and may be at a higher risk for alcohol poisoning.
How alcohol interacts with beta blockers like metoprolol
Beta blockers are blood pressure medications such as metoprolol (Lopressor) and atenolol (Tenormin). Studies on how alcohol affects beta blockers are limited and outdated. But many healthcare professionals will tell you to avoid drinking while taking them because of the way these medications work. They work by slowing down your heart rate. Side effects like dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting are common.
When you mix alcohol with beta blockers, you’re more likely to feel the side effects mentioned above more intensely. There’s also concern that alcohol makes beta blockers less effective at lowering blood pressure.
Are certain people more at risk when combining alcohol with blood pressure medications?
Yes. Some people are more at risk for problems when mixing alcohol with blood pressure medications, including:
People over 65 years old
Women
People who take multiple medications
People with other health conditions, like chronic kidney disease or heart failure
If you are in one of these groups, you may have more side effects or side effects that are more severe.
Are there any blood pressure medications that alcohol doesn’t affect?
There are risks when mixing any blood pressure medication with alcohol. Alcohol makes it harder for blood pressure medication to work. Drinking alcohol can also cause serious side effects when mixed with alpha blockers, beta blockers, or nondihydropyridine CCBs. No matter which blood pressure medication you’re taking, it’s important to ask your healthcare team if there’s a safe amount of alcohol you can drink.
How to stop drinking alcohol while taking blood pressure medications
There isn’t a specific guideline on how to stop drinking alcohol before or while you’re taking blood pressure medication, whether that’s an ACE inhibitor, ARB, CCB, or beta blocker. But there’s no question that cutting down or out alcohol is a great way to support your overall health. And it can help prevent or lessen side effects like dizziness and lightheadedness that can occur with blood pressure medications.
The specific strategy for quitting alcohol will depend on your drinking and medical history. Many people can safely stop drinking alcohol on their own. But quitting without medical support can be dangerous in some situations. If you’re thinking about quitting alcohol, reach out to a healthcare professional. They can help make sure you stay safe while stopping alcohol and provide tips to manage cravings and triggers.
Frequently asked questions
You don’t need to totally avoid any foods while taking lisinopril. But certain foods and drinks — like those high in sodium or potassium — can raise your risk of side effects or make the medication less effective. Lisinopril increases your blood potassium levels, so getting potassium from other sources may push your levels too high. So be sure to ask your primary care provider before taking potassium supplements or salt alternatives with potassium chloride.
Lisinopril can lead to liver damage, though this is pretty rare. While serious cases have been reported, liver damage from lisinopril is usually short lived and reversible. If you have a history of liver problems, let your healthcare team know. They may recommend you do regular liver function tests while you’re taking lisinopril. Get medical attention if you have symptoms of liver damage — such as dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or intense stomach pain.
Different types of alcohol — like red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits — have a similar effect on blood pressure. In other words, no alcoholic beverage is “safer” than another when it comes to high blood pressure. Drinking alcohol is associated with higher blood pressure. Similarly, studies show that reducing how much alcohol you drink — no matter the type — can lower your blood pressure.
You don’t need to totally avoid any foods while taking lisinopril. But certain foods and drinks — like those high in sodium or potassium — can raise your risk of side effects or make the medication less effective. Lisinopril increases your blood potassium levels, so getting potassium from other sources may push your levels too high. So be sure to ask your primary care provider before taking potassium supplements or salt alternatives with potassium chloride.
Lisinopril can lead to liver damage, though this is pretty rare. While serious cases have been reported, liver damage from lisinopril is usually short lived and reversible. If you have a history of liver problems, let your healthcare team know. They may recommend you do regular liver function tests while you’re taking lisinopril. Get medical attention if you have symptoms of liver damage — such as dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or intense stomach pain.
Different types of alcohol — like red wine, white wine, beer, and spirits — have a similar effect on blood pressure. In other words, no alcoholic beverage is “safer” than another when it comes to high blood pressure. Drinking alcohol is associated with higher blood pressure. Similarly, studies show that reducing how much alcohol you drink — no matter the type — can lower your blood pressure.
The bottom line
There are risks with drinking alcohol while taking blood pressure medication. Mixing alcohol can decrease how well your medication works and put you at risk for dizziness, fainting, and heart rhythm problems. Even though research is limited on this subject, most healthcare professionals suggest limiting or trying to avoid drinking if you’re taking blood pressure medications. It’s best to discuss this issue with your healthcare team so they can let you know if alcohol is safe for you.
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References
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