title: Drug/alcohol interactions: avert potential dangers.
abstract: Alcoholism is not uncommon among older people, but "binge" or facilitative drinking is more characteristic of this age group. Alcohol interacts with many drugs frequently prescribed for older patients--antidepressants, sedatives, hypnotics, tranquilizers, and others--and the combination can sometimes be fatal.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000378:metabolism; D001241:Aspirin / Q000378:metabolism; D002140:California; D003926:Diabetic Coma / Q000139:chemically induced; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004976:Ethacrynic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000378:metabolism; D010653:Phenylbutazone / Q000378:metabolism; D014861:Washington
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D010653:Phenylbutazone; D004976:Ethacrynic Acid; D001241:Aspirin; D010634:Phenobarbital