Cold and allergy medicines that contain central nervous system stimulants such as pseudoephedrine may increase side effects by mixing with caffeine-containing products, like energy drinks or coffee. Doing this may increase symptoms like restlessness, jitteriness and sleep issues caused by these medicines.
These beverages often include tonic herbs like ginseng or guarana that enhance caffeine’s stimulant effects by creating synergy. Furthermore, many contain high quantities of sugars.
Caffeine
Caffeine, one of the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive drugs, acts on your central nervous system to keep you alert and prevent fatigue. Naturally found in coffee, tea and chocolate as well as many cola soft drinks and energy drinks; caffeine also appears as an ingredient in many cough/cold remedies and pain relievers over-the-counter medication products; too much caffeine should not be combined with certain medicines, especially infants or pregnant women consuming other medication; collaboration among healthcare professionals to address interactions and toxicity can help manage caffeine consumption when taken together with caffeine drug interactions and drug toxicity can prevent these from occurring.
Overindulging in caffeine can lead to tremors, insomnia, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and dehydration as well as an increase in blood pressure. Children may be particularly sensitive to these side effects of coffee consumption while pregnant women should limit their consumption as small amounts pass through the placenta to their baby. Furthermore, caffeine may interfere with certain blood pressure medications like verapamil and clonidine which should also be avoided.
Physicians should assess patients’ ability to metabolize caffeine, and prescribe appropriate medication accordingly. Caffeine can interact with certain antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; such as fluoxetine). Furthermore, caffeine interferes with iron absorption which may result in dizziness or nausea as well as decreasing effectiveness of contraceptive pills as well as increasing bleeding among hemophiliacs as well as aggravating heart conditions such as tachycardia or arrhythmia.
Mixing cough and cold medications with energy drinks is often dangerous, since many over-the-counter medicines contain both caffeine and decongestants like pseudoephedrine – both substances which may disrupt sleep – in one pill, making you restless and unable to relax or fall asleep. Therefore, it is best to take them on an empty stomach. You should also try not drinking caffeine with allergy medicines like fexofenadine as this could overstimulate the central nervous system, leaving you jittery or restless; other allergy remedies like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) don’t interact in this way.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are prescription drugs prescribed for treating anxiety, insomnia and seizures. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness and memory problems. Furthermore, benzos are addictive and withdrawal symptoms may be severe; acting on GABA-A receptors in your brain they include Ativan(r), Alprazolam (Xanax), Diazepam (Valium) and Clonazepam (Klonopin). They have been classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as Schedule IV controlled substances
Combining benzodiazepines with other drugs may alter their effects and increase their risk of harmful side effects, including opioid painkillers like hydrocodone or oxycodone, antidepressants, or certain types of antihistamines. Mixing them with alcohol can be especially dangerous as this could interfere with breathing patterns leading to coma or even death.
Do not mix alcohol and benzodiazepines together. Informing your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant will allow them to help make the best decisions for both your health and safety.
Some individuals misuse benzodiazepines alone or with other drugs like cocaine and amphetamines to achieve an intense sense of euphoria or high. Others take them after taking stimulants as a way of “coming down.” Without your knowledge and even without consent benzos may also be given out anonymously by “spiking drinks”, potentially endangering both themselves and children’s health in this potentially life-threatening method.
Dependency may be an inherent risk of taking benzodiazepines, but your healthcare provider is aware of this potential complication and will take measures to lower it, such as prescribing smaller doses for shorter periods or switching you over to medications with less dependency potential. Your healthcare provider may also recommend behavioral therapies as ways of helping manage anxiety or insomnia more effectively. Keeping benzos locked away and monitoring access can help avoid misuse while it is illegal to sell or give benzodiazepines away to other people.
Diuretics
Diuretics are a group of drugs used to flush excess water and salt out of the body, including thiazide (used for high blood pressure) and loop diuretics (for gout). Combining these medications with energy drinks may result in excessive urination, dehydration, heart problems or psychotic patients abusing diuretics for euphoria – issues which also arise for health professionals and consumers. [177] Additionally, energy drinks often contain diuretics or laxatives which have not been evaluated for long-term safety tests – this poses both health professionals and consumers with serious concerns over safety [178] This presents health professionals and consumers with serious safety considerations when mixing these substances with energy drinks [178]. [177] This issue arises for health professionals as well as consumers as it presents many unique risks [178].
Alcohol
Energy Drink (ED) consumption among teenagers and young adults in the US is common; most ED consumers are teens and young adults [1]. Mixing alcohol with energy drinks may also be prevalent among youth due to them being easily accessible (otc sales or storage in medicine cabinets) or because many young people feel that adult warnings against their behavior don’t apply to them; mixing these substances together may result in extreme intoxication that could even prove fatal; watch for signs such as low body temperature, slow or difficult breathing and loss of bladder control when mixing alcohol and energy drinks [2]. [2]
If you observe any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately and have the person placed on their side to prevent vomiting and choking.
