Many patients taking analgesics are interested in the question: is it possible to use the drug "Pentalgin" and alcohol together. Usually, during treatment with painkillers, doctors recommend that you refrain from drinking alcohol. What consequences can occur if I allow myself to drink a little after taking analgesic tablets? And how dangerous is this? To answer these questions, you need to understand the composition, pharmacological action and side effects of Pentalgin.
What is Pentalgin
"Pentalgin" is an analgesic drug (analgesic), which consists of the following components:
- drotaverine;
- caffeine;
- pheniramine;
- naproxen;
- paracetamol.
A drug with this composition is dispensed without a prescription. However, there are also prescription varieties of this medicine (Pentalgin Plus, Pentalgin N). They contain codeine, metamizole, as well as sedative components.
Each of these substances can react with ethyl alcohol. Therefore, the combined use of "Pentalgin" and alcohol does not pass without a trace for the body. The composition of some prescription types of the drug includes phenobarbital - a potent sedative and hypnotic substance from the group of barbiturates. Its content in the composition of the tablets "Pentalgin" small. But even in such small doses, phenobarbital is able to interact with alcohol. And the consequences of such a combination can be extremely negative. Other components of the drug are also potent and interact with alcohol.
Pentalgin is not only able to relieve pain. It eliminates cramping, lowers body temperature, reduces inflammation and soothes the nervous system. Due to such a wide spectrum of action, Pentalgin tablets are effective in various diseases accompanied by pain, inflammation and fever.
Indications and contraindications for the appointment of tablets
"Pentalgin" is taken for severe headache, joint, neuralgic and toothache. This tool is able to quickly eliminate discomfort. The medicine helps relieve inflammation and lower body temperature for colds. The medication also acts as an antispasmodic. Therefore, it is used for painful muscle cramps, as well as for attacks of renal and hepatic colic.
However, this drug can not always be used to relieve pain. Like any other medicine, Pentalgin has contraindications. It is not prescribed for diseases of the stomach (ulcer and gastritis), a tendency to tachycardia, bronchial asthma, vascular pathologies, hypertension, and serious ailments of the liver and kidneys. This medicine is not used in pediatric practice, it is intended only for the treatment of adult patients from 18 years of age. You can not take the drug and with an allergy to any of its active ingredients.
The instructions for the use of tablets also indicate that one of the contraindications to the use of the drug is a state of intoxication. This indicates a poor compatibility of Pentalgin and alcohol.
Undesirable effects of "Pentalgin"
Pentalgin contains potent substances, because the drug is used to quickly and effectively eliminate pain. In some patients, this can trigger the development of the following undesirable symptoms:
- lethargy and drowsiness;
- skin allergies;
- heart palpitations, increased blood pressure;
- stomach pain, dyspeptic symptoms;
- anemia
- Dizziness
- ringing and tinnitus;
- hearing and vision impairment;
- anxiety, increased nervousness.
It should be remembered that all side effects are significantly amplified after drinking. Therefore, doctors categorically do not recommend the combined use of "Pentalgin" and alcohol.
How does the drug interact with ethanol
"Pentalgin" is a combined preparation consisting of several medicinal substances. How do the components of these painkillers interact with alcohol? Can Pentalgin be used with alcohol together if the medicine does not contain codeine and phenobarbital?
Even the safest version of this medication (OTC) can harm the body when combined with alcohol. The analgesic and antipyretic effect of the drug is achieved due to the presence of paracetamol and naproxen in its composition. Alcohol significantly enhances the toxic effects of these substances on the liver and stomach. As a result, the organs are subjected to a double blow: from the side of the medicine, and from the side of alcohol.
Pentalgin contains caffeine. This substance has an effect on the body that is directly opposite to the effect of alcohol. Caffeine constricts blood vessels and increases pressure, and ethanol causes a drop in blood pressure. Thus, the therapeutic effect of the drug is leveled.
Tablets contain antispasmodic drotaverine. Alcohol enhances the negative impact of this component on the digestive organs. Regular joint use of alcohol and Pentalgin can cause stomach ulcers.
The composition of the drug includes pheniramine - an antihistamine that relieves the symptoms of a cold. Ethyl alcohol dramatically enhances the toxic effect of this substance on the central nervous system.
Joint administration with prescription drugs Pentalgin Plus and Pentalgin N is even more dangerous. They include potent components: phenobarbital and codeine. Ethanol potentiates the effect of these substances, which leads to a sharp inhibition of the central nervous system.
Consequences of combining analgesic and alcohol
Co-administration of the drug with alcohol can lead to negative consequences. The therapeutic effect of the tablets sharply decreases, as a result, the drug weakly relieves pain. Side effects amplify, the patient has a strong heartbeat, dyspeptic symptoms, lethargy, drowsiness. Due to the high load on the liver, serious lesions of this organ develop. Severe poisoning is possible, requiring urgent hospitalization.
If alcohol is used with drugs containing codeine and phenobarbital (Pentalgin N and Pentalgin Plus), then the central nervous system suffers. In this case, a violation of consciousness is possible, up to a coma, hallucinations and delirium.
What to do if the patient drank alcohol with tablets
If a patient drank alcohol while taking Pentalgin tablets, he should be given first aid. This must be done even in the absence of negative symptoms, to prevent poisoning. The patient needs to rinse the stomach with a weak solution of soda and take enterosorbent. This will help to cleanse the body and slightly reduce the harm from the joint administration of an analgesic with alcohol.
If the patient has severe weakness, drowsiness, pain in the liver or stomach, loss of consciousness or mental disorders, you should immediately seek medical help. In severe cases, the patient will need to undergo treatment in a hospital.
After what period of time can I drink alcohol
Doctors say the inadmissibility of taking Pentalgin and alcohol at the same time. How much can I drink after the last pill? It is necessary to wait for such a period of time during which the active components of the drug will be completely removed from the body.
Pentalgin is excreted rather slowly. To drink alcohol without harmful health effects, it must take from 3 to 30 days after taking the last pill. The exact time of abstinence from alcohol depends on the dosage and duration of the medication.
Permissible gap between drinking alcohol and taking medication
Can Pentalgin be taken immediately after alcohol? In no case should this be done. Ethanol will interact with the components of the drug, which will lead to negative consequences. However, it happens that a person has a headache or toothache, which must be immediately removed, and after taking alcohol a little time has passed.
Pentalgin after alcohol can be taken only when ethanol is completely eliminated from the body. This period is individual and depends on the amount of alcohol, weight and gender of the patient. If alcohol was consumed in small doses, then the period of its elimination for a man of average weight is 8 hours, and for a woman - 14 hours. After this time, you can take pain medication. If alcohol was consumed in large quantities, it is necessary to wait a longer period (up to 24 hours).