[Interaction between alcohol and drugs (author's transl)].

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
• Biochemistry

Context:

• Increasing global consumption of ethanol and pharmaceutical drugs necessitates understanding their interactions.
• Drug-ethanol interactions significantly impact drug efficacy and patient safety.
• Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibition by certain drugs can precipitate severe reactions with ethanol.

Purpose:

• To elucidate the multifaceted interactions between ethanol and commonly used drugs.
• To differentiate the effects of acute versus chronic ethanol consumption on drug metabolism.
• To explore interactions at both biotransformation and receptor levels.

Summary:

• Most drugs do not affect alcohol elimination; however, some inhibit acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to antabuse-like reactions with ethanol.
• Acute ethanol exposure generally enhances drug efficacy, whereas chronic exposure often reduces drug action via enzyme inhibition.
• Interactions also occur at the receptor level, particularly increasing the effects of central nervous system-acting drugs.

Impact:

• Highlights the critical need for patient counseling regarding concurrent ethanol and drug use.
• Informs clinical practice for managing patients with co-existing alcohol use and medication regimens.
• Provides a basis for further research into mitigating adverse drug-ethanol events.