A drug combination is when two or more drugs are taken simultaneously. This can aggravate adverse side effects and create new ones, making the situation worse than if you only took one or two pills. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. Zoloft and Marijuana
Zoloft is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that works to relieve symptoms of depression, such as sadness and lack of energy. It’s also often prescribed for anxiety disorders. According to a company that helps you obtain medical marijuana card online in Missouri and not only, people with anxiety disorders have used marijuana to calm down their nervous system and help them relax. However, when you combine Zoloft and marijuana they can have some adverse side effects.
Some of these effects include:
- Severe anxiety or panic attacks
- Cognitive problems like memory loss, confusion, and impaired thinking ability (sometimes called “brain fog”)
2. Xanax and Opiates
Opiates are addictive and dangerous, especially when combined with benzodiazepine-type drugs. Xanax is a benzodiazepine, and it can cause serious side effects when combined with opiates. Opiate use can cause respiratory depression, anxiety, and nausea. These drugs are also known to cause sleep problems. When combined with other medications that affect the central nervous system like Xanax or alcohol, opiates can be very dangerous because they all slow down the central nervous system (CNS).
3. Migraine Medications With Alcohol
If you’re going to drink, be careful about taking any medication that can interact with alcohol. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a vasodilator that widens blood vessels and increases blood flow. This can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or heart conditions because it can cause their heart rate to increase and their blood pressure to drop dangerously low.
A migraine medication like Imitrex or Zomig may also affect your body when combined with alcohol, which means that drinking while taking these drugs could worsen your migraines. In addition, experts warn against combining these medications with alcohol because they may increase the risk of ulcers or liver toxicity if taken together in high doses over time (especially after just one night out).
4. Benadryl With Other Antihistamines
A few common anticholinergic drugs are diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, and doxylamine. If you take these drugs in combination with other antihistamines or with alcohol, you may experience:
- Drowsiness and blurry vision
- Anticholinergic (for example, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention)
- Depression
- Confusion
You should also avoid combining diphenhydramine with certain antidepressants or other drugs with anticholinergic properties because of the potential for increased side effects such as drowsiness and confusion.
5. Antidepressants and Allergy Pills
This combination could lead to your body building up a tolerance for one drug and becoming dependent on another. This can make it harder for you to stop taking either one later.
6. Decongestants and Muscle Relaxers
It would help if you never combined a decongestant with a muscle relaxer. The combination of these can cause severe side effects, including:
- A rapid heart rate
- Tremors and shakiness (tremors)
- Dizziness or lightheadedness (dizziness)
7. Beta-blockers and Alcohol
Beta-blockers, which slow down your heart rate, might not work when taken with alcohol. This can happen because alcohol lowers blood pressure, and beta-blockers need to be at the right level. Combining these two medications can make you feel faint, dizzy, or lightheaded. In some cases, it might even cause cardiovascular problems such as abnormal heart rhythms or low blood pressure (hypotension).
If you take a beta-blocker for high blood pressure or angina (chest pain), talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol — especially if it’s a lot of alcohol over a short period.
A Combination of These Drugs Can Be Dangerous
You should avoid taking these drugs altogether because of the dangerous interactions when combining these drugs. If you have taken one of these combinations and have had an adverse reaction or side effect, it’s essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If necessary, emergency care should also be sought if someone else has had an adverse reaction due to your use of this combination.
