[Alcohol-drug interactions]

Abstract

Interactions of alcohol with drugs are numerous, varied sometimes with an inverse effect according to acute or chronic consumption. These interactions result from kinetic or dynamic modifications. Considering pharmacokinetics, alcohol modifies the drug bioavailability, slows down (acute alcohol toxicity) or accelerates (chronic alcoholism) its metabolism. Then the pharmacological (or toxic) activity of drugs (or their metabolites) can increase or decrease. Pharmacodynamic modifications mostly occur during acute alcohol consumption. There is only an increase in drug (or metabolite) activity when this is similar to alcohol pharmacological or toxic activity. The result of these interactions is difficult to predict. Sedative drugs and drugs with a narrow therapeutic range are especially involved.