Can I drink alcohol after taking Metoprolol?
Disease description:
My father has hypertension and has been taking Betaloc recently. He wants to drink alcohol today. May I ask, is it okay to drink alcohol while taking Betaloc?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xin
It is not recommended to drink alcohol after taking Betaloc. Betaloc, also known as metoprolol tartrate, is a beta-blocker primarily used to treat cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. This medication is metabolized in the liver, and alcohol also requires liver metabolism. Therefore, consuming both together can increase the burden on the liver and may lead to liver damage. Additionally, alcohol may interfere with the metabolism of Betaloc, thereby affecting its efficacy and potentially causing adverse drug reactions. Moreover, Betaloc has the effect of lowering heart rate and blood pressure, while alcohol may cause increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure. These opposing effects may counteract the therapeutic benefits of Betaloc and could even lead to adverse outcomes. Therefore, to ensure treatment effectiveness and patient safety, alcohol consumption should be avoided after taking Betaloc.
