Hello,
I would not get too alarmed and rush to conclusions based on one
night of seeming introvertedness and increased thirst. Your girlfriend
might have been suffering from something as harmless as a combination
of lack of sleep the night before, an overly salty meal several hours
earlier and a decision to take a break from drinking alcohol because
she wasn't feeling too well.
However, it is always judicious to watch over those you love, and
your concern is certainly not to be ignored. Perhaps the following
references will help to ease your mind, and serve to provide you with
further insight if your girlfriend's unusual behavior starts to become
more habitual.
==
Many medications can cause one to seem introverted simply because they
induce a sense of calmness or drowsiness. Sedatives are often
prescribed to help reduce anxiety and help to make one calmer, but
over the counter sleep-aids and cold medications can make one drowsy -
and thus, more introverted, as well.
WrongDiagnosis is a good place to find cross-referenced information on
medications and side effects.
According to WrongDiagnosis, the following medications can contribute
to drowsiness (and therefore induce a sedative or introverted effect
due to sleepiness):
Sleeping pills
Certain anti-depressants
Tranquilizers
Antihistamines
Certain cold medications
Certain decongestants
Beta blockers
Certain heart pills
Certain cold and flu medications
Antihistamines
Alcohol
Caffeine withdrawal
See http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/causes/drowsiness.htm
==
As you can see from the following list, several of of the same
medications cause a dry mouth (leading to an increased desire for
water)
Antihistamines
Certain diuretics
Certain high blood pressure medications
Certain muscle spasm medications
Certain decongestants
Certain antidepressants
Neuroleptics
Anticholinergics
Amphetamine intoxication
See http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/causes/dry_mouth.htm
==
Other less common medications can cause increased thirst:
Diuretics
Diuretic overdose
Steroids
Ecstasy
See also drugs causing dehydration
See http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/causes/thirst.htm
==
As the following excerpt states, there are over 150 medications that
should not be mixed with alcohol - far too many to list here.
"Drinking alcohol while taking certain medications can cause problems.
In fact, there are more than 150 medications that should not be mixed
with alcohol. For example, if you are taking antihistamines for a cold
or allergy and drink alcohol, the alcohol will increase the drowsiness
that the medicine alone can cause, making driving or operating
machinery even more dangerous.
See http://sbi.utah.gov/liquor/alcohol.html
===
Antihistamines, Drowsiness and Alcohol:
Many over-the-counter cold and allergy medications contain
Antihistamines, which can cause extreme drowsiness and a dry mouth.
Alcohol is never a good combination with these medications since it
can increase the symptoms of drowsiness.
See side effects of Antihistamines on the following link:
http://www.baptistonline.org/health/healthieryou/pharmacy/coldmedications.asp
-
Benadryl is one of the most common cold medications containing
antihistamines. Take a look at the side effects noted below:
"Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur ·
sleepiness, fatigue, or dizziness; headache; dry mouth;"
http://www.drugs.com/benadryl.html
-
Antihistamines. "Drugs such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl and others)
are available without prescription to treat allergic symptoms and
insomnia. Alcohol may intensify the sedation (sleepiness) caused by
some antihistamines. Combining alcohol and antihistamines can
potentially can cause dizziness also."
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/aware_circ1.php
-
Note that even some aids for Menstrual Discomfort may contain
antihistamines. Please see the following article:
"OTC Medications and Drowsiness," by W. Steven Pray, Ph.D., R.Ph.
http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/Cons/ACF2F4B.cfm&pub_id=8&article_id=68
==
The following overview of sedatives can be found on the following link
- http://www.hipusa.com/mentalhealth/sedatives.html:
"Sedatives are used to treat agitation, reduce daytime activity,
temper excitement and have a calming effect with little impact on
motor or mental functions. Hypnotics produce drowsiness and facilitate
the onset and maintenance of sleep. Hypnotics cause a more pronounced
depression of the central nervous system than do sedatives.
Anxiolytics reduce anxiety."
"Common sedatives, hypnotics and anxiolytics include Valium, Xanax,
Ativan, Tranxene, Dalamine, Restotril, Seconal, Phenopbarbital,
Nembutal, Buspirone, Zolpidem and Halcion. Common side effects include
drowsiness, poor coordination, depression and light-headedness."
"The sedative, hypnotic and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) substances
include the benzodiazepines, carbamates, barbiturates,
anti-histamines, beta-blockers and the barbiturate-like hypnotics.
These substances include all prescription sleeping medications and
almost all prescription anti-anxiety medications."
"These agents are brain depressants that slow the central nervous
system. At high doses, these agents can be lethal, especially when
mixed with alcohol. Substances with rapid onset and/or short to
intermediate lengths of action may be especially vulnerable to abuse.
These agents act to slow the body and cause drowsiness and a reduction
of symptoms including anxiety, sadness, jitteriness, shaking and
worrying. These agents are used in the treatment of anxiety,
depression, insomnia and epilepsy. These agents create an euphoric
state often accompanied by slowed speech and loss of coordination.
These agents reduce tension and induce a state of relaxation,
drowsiness and sleep while decreasing alertness."
==
For an overview of the various sedatives, tranquilizers and
barbituates, see the following article:
"Sedatives, Tranquilizers, Narcotic Analgesics."
http://www.dss.mil/nf/adr/drugs/drugsT3.htm
As noted in the above article, some of the more common tranquilizers
include Valium, Librium, Ativan, Diazepam, Equanil, Miltown, Serax,
and Tranxene.
==
Medicinenet is a good site for researching individual medications and
their side effects.
I have provided an example of two of the most common sedatives below,
but you can research any of the other brand names mentioned in the
references I have provided in my answer.
Valium: Alcohol should be avoided by patients taking benzodiazepines
- SIDE EFFECTS: The most frequent side effects of diazepam are
drowsiness, fatigue, and ataxia (loss of balance). Rarely, diazepam
causes a paradoxical reaction with excitability, muscle spasm, lack of
sleep, and rage. Confusion, depression, speech problems, and double
vision are also rare side effects of diazepam."
http://www.medicinenet.com/diazepam/article.htm
Xanax: "Alcohol should be avoided by patients taking benzodiazepines -
The most frequent side effects of alprazolam taken at lower doses are
drowsiness or lightheadedness, which probably reflect the action of
the drug. Side effects of higher dosages (those used for panic
attacks) include fatigue, memory problems, speech problems,
constipation, and changes in appetite with resultant changes in
weight."
http://www.medicinenet.com/alprazolam/article.htm
==
From "Tranquilizers."
http://www.zoot2.com/justthefacts/drugs/tranquilizers.asp
Q: What are tranquilizers?
A: "Tranquilizers are a group of drugs that are used to treat medical
conditions such as severe anxiety, stress disorders and muscle
tension. Doctors to treat these conditions prescribe them."
Q: So are sleeping pills tranquilizers?
A: "Most sleeping pills prescribed these days have the same chemical
make up as tranquilizers. Medically speaking, drugs used to calm
people are known as tranquilizers and those used to treat sleeping
problems are called sleeping pills. Some of the most commonly
prescribed tranquilizers are Valium®, Librium®, Ativan®, and Serax®.
Some common sleeping pills include Dalmane®, Halcion®, Restoril® and
Mogadon®."
"However, some sleeping pills are not classified as tranquilizers,
they are barbiturates."
Q: Is it dangerous to take other drugs with tranquilizers and sleeping pills?
A: "Remember that mixing two kinds of any drugs is always risky. With
tranquilizers and sleeping pills, a big danger comes when they are
taken with alcohol. The danger comes from the fact that both alcohol
and tranquilizers/sleeping pills have similar effects on the body.
Both reduce the amount of activity in the central nervous system. If
someone drinks alcohol and takes a tranquilizer or a sleeping pill,
the amount of activity in their nervous system will be greatly
reduced. This can lead to death."
==
As a general rule, any medication that can be classed as a central
nervous system depressant, such as barbituates, should never be mixed
with acohol:
"Because barbiturates work on the central nervous system, they may add
to the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow the central
nervous system, such as antihistamines, cold medicine, allergy
medicine, sleep aids, medicine for seizures, tranquilizers, some pain
relievers, and muscle relaxants. They may also add to the effects of
anesthetics, including those used for dental procedures. The combined
effects of barbiturates and alcohol or other CNS depressants (drugs
that slow the central nervous system) can be very
dangerous, leading to unconsciousness or even death. Anyone taking
barbiturates should not drink alcohol and should check with his or her
physician before taking any medicines classified as CNS depressants."
"Taking an overdose of barbiturates or combining barbiturates with
alcohol or other central nervous system depressants can cause
unconsciousness and even death."
See "Barbituates."
http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/barbiturates.jsp
==
From "Questions and Answers Concerning Sleep and Anxiety Medications,"
By Dr. Richard Boyum, Ed.D. and Dr. Richard Kark, M.D.
http://www.selfcounseling.com/help/depression/sleepmedications.html
Question: Can a person consume alcohol when using these medications?
Answer: "Combining alcohol especially with the benzodiazepine-type
drugs can potentially be a problem. It can be a major problem with
heavy alcohol use. Heavy use of both can lead to depression of the
central nervous system to the point where breathing can stop. Lack of
coordination and poor judgment and other problems occur at lower
doses. Mixing alcohol with Trazodone and tricyclic antidepressants is
less of a problem but still a concern. Zero or very minimal alcohol
use is always the best policy when mixing alcohol with sleep
medications. The best policy is to not use a sleep aid on the same
night that you have been drinking alcohol."
==
I hope the information I have provided proves helpful to you. If you
have need for further clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.
My best to you both!
umiat
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medications and drowsiness
sedatives and side effects
tranquilizers and side effects
medications AND alcohol
medications that should not be mixed with alcohol
medications that cause sleepiness and dry mouth
side effects of Benadryl
side effects of Antihistamines
sleep medications and alcohol
introvertedness and medication |
