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Many of us rely on Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications as a way to remedy simple and commonplace illnesses without the inconvenience and expense of making an appointment with the doctor. However, it's important to be careful about how these medications interact with alcohol.

1. Alcohol may actually make that medication less effective. As a result you could end up taking more medication than you need, increasing the likelihood of adverse reactions to it, not to mention overdose.

2. These days, OTC medications come in a variety of forms: gel-tabs, gel-caps, capsule, dissolving strips, tablets and caplets. Be especially careful not to combine alcohol with any medication that is encapsulated by an enteric coating. Enteric coating is a special type of protective film that gives the caplet or capsule a shiny look. Not only does this coating make swallowing the medication a bit easier, it is designed to withstand the harshly acidic environment of the stomach, ensuring that the medication is not released into the bloodstream until it reaches the lining of the intestines. Alcohol strips away the enteric coating, resulting in the medication being released too soon. This becomes a problem particularly for allergy medications, many of which are formulated to be time-released.

3. Drowsiness. Alcohol dramatically increases feelings of drowsiness, and slows brain function. Antihistamines, which may already bring you to the Land of Nod, are outright dangerous when combined with alcohol because it may depress your respiratory function. Similarly, you should never combine alcohol with any OTC medication that already contains alcohol. NyQuil for example, contains 10% alcohol just by itself.

4. Don't aggravate an already upset stomach. Alcohol when combined with medications such as epinephrine or theophyilline (common ingredients in OTC asthma medications like Primatene Mist), has been known to cause nausea and vomiting. Similarly, you should avoid alcohol when you take OTC medications designed to prevent or treat acid reflux and indigestion. Alcohol will only irritate the stomach lining further, increasing the risk of bleeding.

If you find yourself using OTC medications for longer than the package's dosing instructions indicate, it may be time to schedule check-up with your family doctor. In all cases, be sure to read the labels of OTC medications, and check with your doctor before taking them in addition to any prescription medications.

Learn more about this author, Lauren Beyenhof.
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