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Is It Safe to Combine Cortisone and Alcohol?

Sandi Johnson
Sandi Johnson

Cortisone is a naturally occurring hormone in the human body. In response to certain environmental factors like injury, disease, and exposure to allergens or other stresses, the adrenal gland produces cortisone to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. As a medical treatment, cortisone and synthetic cortisone medications, known as corticosteroids, are prescribed to alleviate painful inflammation or to control allergic responses. Combining cortisone and alcohol, such as beer or wine, does not usually result in serious or life-threatening interactions. Although technically safe, the use of the two substances together can cause or worsen some unwanted side effects.

Both cortisone and alcohol are known to independently cause stomach irritation. When both substances are introduced orally, the chances of stomach irritation increase. For patients with stomach issues like ulcers, frequent heartburn, or similar digestive conditions, the use of of these substances at the same time can worsen potential irritation. While neither life-threatening nor typically serious enough to seek medical attention, the possible increased stomach upset is unpleasant enough to prevent most patients from drinking and taking cortisone at the same time again.

Combining cortisone and alcohol may result in stomach irritation.
Combining cortisone and alcohol may result in stomach irritation.

Injected cortisone does not pass through the stomach and, therefore, may not present the same risk of increased stomach irritation when combined with alcohol. Other side effects, however, typically present problems that cause most medical professionals to recommend avoiding alcohol while on cortisone or corticosteroids. Some patients, for example, experience increased sleeplessness or excitability when taking cortisone or corticosteroids. Alternatively, other patients may feel drowsy or sleepy while on some forms of cortisone. Alcohol may intensify this drowsiness, making the operation of cars or heavy equipment dangerous.

Cortisone is known to cause drowsiness, and alcohol can amplify this side effect.
Cortisone is known to cause drowsiness, and alcohol can amplify this side effect.

Potassium deficiency is also an area of concern with both cortisone and alcohol, whether taken together or separate. Alcohol is known to act as a diuretic, often flushing potassium and other nutrients from the body, leaving heavy drinkers malnourished. Similarly, cortisone is known to cause a drop in potassium. The potential for dangerous drops in potassium levels is possible, although unlikely, when patients consume both cortisone and alcohol.

Patient comfort is the primary motivation in abstaining from combining cortisone and alcohol.
Patient comfort is the primary motivation in abstaining from combining cortisone and alcohol.

Generally, health care professionals advise against consuming alcohol with any medication, including steroids like cortisone. Safety is not necessarily an issue in terms of cortisone and alcohol. Aside from stomach discomfort and the worsening of other side effects, there are few interactions regarding the combined use of cortisone and alcohol. Instead, patient comfort is the primary motivation for recommending against the combination. Accordingly, health care professionals prefer that patients abstain from drinking while taking any medication, to prevent any potential hazards and to minimize patient discomfort.

Discussion Comments

indemnifyme

I've never taken cortisone, but I have taken prednisone, which is another kind of steroid. It can also cause stomach issues, and when I was on it, my doctor told me not to drink. Because like combining cortisone and alcohol, combining prednisone and alcohol can result in a really upset stomach.

So I avoided alcohol all together when I was on prednisone, and it was actually really hard. I was on it for 6 weeks during the summer, and during that time I went to 3 weddings and 2 birthday parties. It was hard to abstain from drinking while everyone else was, but I did, for the sake of my stomach!

LoriCharlie

@Azuza - It's strange that your pharmacy didn't label the bottle with a warning that alcohol could affect how you feel while taking cortisone. Maybe it was an oversight by the pharmacist? Either way, when I'm taking new medicine I usually read up on it online a little bit before I start taking it, just so that I can stay informed.

I've never been on cortisone before, but a friend of mine is about to start taking it, so I've actually been researching it for her. I'm definitely going to tell her to steer clear of alcohol while she's on this medicine.

Azuza

I've found that just not drinking when I'm on medications for the short term is the best idea. I learned this the hard way though, while taking cortisone!

When I picked up the medication from the pharmacy, it didn't say anything on the bottle about not combining alcohol with it. So I figured it would be OK, and had a few drinks out the next night.

I ended up with an extremely upset stomach after only two drinks! When I went home, I did a search online and discovered mixing alcohol and cortisone was probably the cause.

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    • Combining cortisone and alcohol may result in stomach irritation.
      By: Janina Dierks
      Combining cortisone and alcohol may result in stomach irritation.
    • Cortisone is known to cause drowsiness, and alcohol can amplify this side effect.
      By: oporkka
      Cortisone is known to cause drowsiness, and alcohol can amplify this side effect.
    • Patient comfort is the primary motivation in abstaining from combining cortisone and alcohol.
      By: Piotr Marcinski
      Patient comfort is the primary motivation in abstaining from combining cortisone and alcohol.
    • The adrenal glands produce cortisone in response to environmental factors and various types of stress.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      The adrenal glands produce cortisone in response to environmental factors and various types of stress.
    • Digestive issues may occur as a result of combining cortisone and alcohol.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Digestive issues may occur as a result of combining cortisone and alcohol.