Alcoholand prescription drugs

Alcohol Used by 84% of Australians Almost considered part of our lifestyle

Harm from alcohol 1998-99 4,800 deaths 400,000 hospital bed days Social costs $7.5 billion

Production loss Accidents Crime Health costs

Alcohol dependency 5% of Australians 20% use alcohol in a way that can harm

others Alcohol is related to death in adolescents

Unintentional injuries Homicide Suicide

Facts about drugsFacts about drugs

Tobacco = 71% of drug related-deaths

Alcohol = 26% of drug related-deaths

Other drugs = 3% of drug-related deaths

AlcoholHead to toe!

Brain

Heart, BP

Gut

Liver

Blood

Skin

Muscles

Endocrine/metabolic

Genitals

Bone

The “Reward” Pathway

Sex

Thirst

Hunger

Chocolate

Intoxication

Love

Money

Doing your tax

Short term effects of alcohol Sedation Slowed thinking and speech Impaired breathing Sleep disruption Irritation to gut lining Hangovers

What makes these effects worse? If we are young people If we are older people If we are pregnant If we are breast feeding If we have social problems If we have mental health problems AND

What happens if we add medication?

Short term effects may be made into long term effects

Make alcohol stay in blood stream longer

If we take medications Interactions Additive effects Effect on liver

How can this happen? Large does of alcohol can affect increase

levels of the drug and case adverse effects Sometimes alcohol decreases the availability

of the drug and dose may need to be increased

Alcohol can be toxic to liver

If alcohol is taken with Warfarin: is increased so risk of bleeding

increased

If alcohol is taken with Blood pressure meds: can cause postural

hypotension and increase risk of falls

If alcohol is taken with Sedatives: additive effect so more risk of

daytime drowsiness and falls

If alcohol is taken with Pain relievers: sedation can increase

If alcohol is taken with NSAIDS: increases risk of bleed

If alcohol is taken Alcohol acts as a diuretic and can wash

away some medications Herbal remedies

What can we do? Alcohol in moderation Have a list of what you take Read labels on medicine

What else can we do? Read CMI If taking a lot of medications be aware that

alcohol can affect them ASK your doctor or pharmacist

If you are concerned……. Ask you GP for

a Home Medicines Review

How does HMR work? Ask your GP GP makes a Referral and sends to pharmacy Pharmacist organises a time for interview Interview at your home, or at your choice Report to GP Return to GP for Management Plan You can agree/ disagree to plan

Thank you

Carlene Smith

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia

NSW Branch

02 9467 7124