My name is Hanna and I have been working as a nurse for over ten years. During this time, I watched a lot of things, but today I want to talk about one important topic that many people ignore for some reason.
It is about alcohol and drugs. It would seem that what is difficult here? And in fact, this is a whole story!
Why did I decide to write about it?
You know, my old acquaintance, Maryna, recently came to my department. Usually a cheerful and energetic woman, but here – pale, with trembling hands.
It turned out that she drank a glass of wine after taking her usual blood pressure pills. “You will think!”, – You will say. Marina thought so too. And in the end, the case did not reach resuscitation.
And you know what? Such cases are not uncommon. It’s just that we often don’t think about the consequences. Had a drink, took a pill – so what? And in fact, our body is going through a real storm at this moment.
What is happening inside us?
Oh, if only you could see what happens in our bodies when alcohol meets medicine! I often think of it as a small town inside us. The liver is the main factory for processing everything we consume.
And one day, two uninvited guests come to town: Mr. Alcohol and Mrs. Tabletka. Mr. Alcohol, like a real hooligan, immediately runs to the factory and creates a commotion there. All workers (between us, doctors call them enzymes) rush to calm him down.
And Ms. Tabletka, meanwhile, cannot get where she needs to go. Can you imagine? He sits in a traffic jam, because all his efforts are devoted to the subjugation of Alcohol. As a result, she begins to behave unpredictably. Here are the side effects!
The most dangerous combinations
Over the years of work, I have looked at different situations. Here are a few combinations that particularly scare me:
Alcohol + painkillers
Many people think that drinking a little “for pain relief” is a great idea. Believe me, it’s bad! I’ve seen people end up in intensive care because of this combination.
Alcohol + antidepressants
Oh, how many times I watched this picture. A person drinks “for the mood”, and as a result gets such a “roller-coaster” in his head that his mother is not sad.
Alcohol + sleeping pills
You know, this combination just makes me shiver. Too often it leads to tragic consequences.
Alcohol + antibiotics
Many for some reason are sure that you can drink with antibiotics. No, you can’t! If you don’t want to spend the night hugging the toilet, you better refrain.
Alcohol + sugar-lowering agents
For my patients with diabetes, this is generally taboo. The sugar level can drop so that God forbid.
How to understand that it is time to sound the alarm?
Girls (and boys too), here’s a tip for you. If you experience any of the following symptoms after taking medication and alcohol, call 911 immediately:
- Your head spins as if you are on a merry-go-round
- Puts out like the first day on the ship
- Heart beats like you ran a marathon
- It’s as if cats are scratching in the stomach
It is better to overdo it than to fail, trust my experience!
What if there is no way without pills?
Well, ideally tie it with alcohol. At least for the duration of the treatment. Can’t you? Then here are a couple of tips from Aunt Anya:
- Talk to your doctor. Tell me honestly about your habits.
- Read the medication instructions. Yes, yes, from crust to crust!
- If you have already decided to drink, then at least wait 6 hours after taking the pills.
- Drink water. A lot of water. No, even more!
- And for the sake of all that is holy, don’t increase the dose of your medicine thinking it will allow you to drink safely!
Myths in which it is time to stop believing
During the years of work, I listened to everything. Here are the most dangerous myths:
Myth 1: “If you take a pill with alcohol, it will work better” Girl, it’s like washing your head in a puddle. It’s like washing too, and the result… you understand.
Myth 2: “It’s been a few hours – you can drink” Some medicines stay in the body longer than you think. Therefore, it is better to play it safe.
Myth 3: “Vodka with pepper cures a cold” Yes, and from the rest of all diseases too. Because a corpse cannot get sick. Sorry for the dark humor, but sometimes it is the only thing that saves us in our work.
What to do if you did interfere?
- Don’t panic! Panic has not saved anyone yet.
- Drink water. A lot of water. Imagine a camel in the desert.
- Stop taking both alcohol and medication. At least today.
- If it’s really bad, call 103 or 112. It’s better to blush in front of the doctors than in front of your children.
How to help a friend who is trapped in this?
If your girlfriend can’t get off the alcohol slide, here’s what you can do:
- Talk to your heart’s content. Just not with the bottle on the contrary!
- Offer a helping hand. Or both, if one is not enough.
- Bring her to us in “Transformation”. We will not condemn her, word of honor.
- Have patience. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.
Finally
Girls and boys, let’s live together! And the main thing is great! Alcohol and drugs are like a geek and a nerd in the same room. Nothing good will come to an end.
If you take medicine, it is better to forget about alcohol. At least for a while. Your liver will thank you. And if he doesn’t say, at least he won’t send you somewhere far away.
Remember: even a sip of wine can turn an innocent pill into a little time bomb. So it’s better not to risk it. We have only one health, there is no spare.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones. And remember: in life there are many ways to relax and have fun without the risk of ending up in my department. Maybe you will try it?