Paxlovid has been in use to treat COVID-19 since December of 2021. Since that time, it has successfully kept thousands of high-risk patients out of the hospital and saved lives. This antiviral is a combination of two medications, one that inhibits the COVID virus from replicating itself and entering new cells. The other boosts the functionality of the first. Together, they shorten the duration of the viral infection and mitigate symptoms in order to avoid the need for a hospital stay. It is not recommended to drink alcohol while on a course of Paxlovid. For people with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), this recommendation may be difficult to abide by.
If you are on a medication like Paxlovid, where alcohol use is contraindicated and you know you cannot stop drinking for long enough, you may have an AUD. The best course of action is an alcohol rehab center like Promises Behavioral Health, where you will receive the addiction treatment you need and deserve to ensure a long and healthy life. Once your COVID is no longer contagious and symptoms have abated, we would welcome you for a visit and preliminary screening. Call 844.875.5609 or fill out this form to connect with one of our staff.
Can You Drink Alcohol with Paxlovid?
The risks of combining alcohol and Paxlovid may not put you in the hospital. However, the effects of combining alcohol with this antiviral are why doctors put a warning on the prescription to avoid alcohol during treatment.
There are other drugs that are contraindicated with Paxlovid due to interactions, such as certain statins (used for cholesterol), amiodarone for heart arrhythmia, anti-seizure medicines such as phenobarbital, colchicine for gout, and many more. Due to digital medical records, most physicians have access to your prescription information, but your alcohol use may not be in your chart, depending on whether you have had transparent conversations with your physicians about it. It is vital that you are honest with your prescriber about your relationship with alcohol if you do not think you can abstain during the Paxlovid treatment.
Alcohol and Paxlovid
There are a few reasons that physicians recommend you avoid mixing alcohol and Paxlovid. First, alcohol can negatively affect the ability of the anti-viral to do its work:
- Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb and metabolize Paxlovid
- Paxlovid’s efficacy is lessened when alcohol is introduced into the body
The above effects put you at risk. If Paxlovid is not doing its job properly, your protection from the worst of the virus diminishes. There are other risks to you when combining Paxlovid and alcohol, including:
- Impaired judgment
- Poor coordination
- Increased drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Increased risk of side effects
- Amplification of side effects
If you can easily refrain from drinking during the five-day course of Paxlovid in treating your COVID, it is important to do so. If you begin to experience withdrawal from alcohol when you stop drinking, please reach out for support. We are here to help at 844.875.5609.
Reach out to Promises Alcohol Rehab Center Today
People come to terms with their drinking in different ways and at different times. For some, health issues arise that make an AUD impossible to ignore. For others, the family intervenes and makes their fears known. For others, the simple fact that they need potentially life-saving medication that won’t allow them to drink is the wake-up call they need.
Regardless of what brings you to seek treatment for your alcohol abuse, it is a decision worthy of celebration. Let Promises help you begin recovery from alcohol addiction. Find out about our evidence-based therapies and highly trained professional staff. Just fill out the Promises online contact form or call us at 844.875.5609.