Don't mix alcohol & pain killers - Brief Article

Running & FitNews, June, 1999

Runners may fall into an unsuspected risk group for drug complications. Runners and other athletes are often frequent users of over-the-counter pain medication, and some may also consume alcohol with the satisfying understanding that a bit of alcohol is great for their lipid profiles. Both chronic alcohol use or acetaminophen in large doses alone can cause liver damage. And consuming both regularly increases the risk even more. The Food and Drug Administration will soon require warnings on all over-the-counter pain medications regarding alcohol use. The warnings will indicate that as few as three drinks a day may cause complications--liver damage in the case of acetaminophen and stomach irritation and bleeding in the case of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like Advil, Nuprin, and aspirin.

Remember that three drinks a day may be closer to what you consume than you might think. The standard one drink is equivalent to 12 ounces (one can) of beer, a one-and-a-half ounce shot of hard liquor, or five ounces of wine. Obviously, there is nothing ambiguous about a can of beer, but liquor and wine can surprise you. Next time you're pouring for yourself, just for the heck of it, pour your glass of wine, then empty it into a measuring cup to see how many ounces your glass of wine typically is. You might find that your one or two glasses of wine with dinner is really three or more by FDA standards. A one-and-a-half ounce shot of liquor is much less than you might think, too. Take care that your healthy lifestyle is not creating unnecessary risks. (CN)