Diet pills are widely available over-the-counter in many different forms, from herbs to stimulants to medications that block fat absorption. The manufacturers of these pills purport their benefit as a weight loss supplement. But as with any medication, there can be dangerous interactions. If you are someone who takes these diet pills, drinking alcohol can put you at a serious health risk.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a depressant. It is legal in the United States and many countries around the world and is the active part of beers, wines and hard liquors that can affect mood, motor skills and mental clarity. It is a common recreational drink but can be dangerous when consumed in large quantities frequently --typically more than one drink for women and more than two drinks for men can increase risks of alcohol use, which could lead to alcoholism or liver disease.
Diet Pills
Diet pills attempt to curb weight loss in many ways. Alli is a name-brand medication and the only diet pill confirmed by the Food and Drug Administration to aid in weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. But research is limited for other types of medications, and like any drug, these have potential interactions that could cause problems or increase your risk of certain conditions. Stimulants are a type of diet pill that can have dangerous interactions with alcohol, which is a depressant.
Masking Effects
Stimulants, such as those found in diet pills, can mask the effects of alcohol on your body. This may cause you to drink more in order to obtain the sensation you would expect when drinking alcohol, but by the time you experience this effect you may be overly intoxicated. As a result, you are likely to suffer from alcohol poisoning when mixing drinking with certain diet pills.
Liver Toxicity
Medications can be very taxing on the liver, as can alcohol. The liver is required by the body to process and break down the toxins put into your body through drinking and taking medications, enabling them to be released from the body through your urine and stool. When the two are combined, they can overwhelm the liver, increasing liver toxicity and potentially leading to medical problems such as cirrhosis of the liver and even liver failure.
Agoraphobia Risk
According to the American Association of Family Physicians, alcohol consumption and stimulants like those found in diet pills can increase your risk of panic attacks and agoraphobia. The risk of agoraphobia is increased if you are someone with a history of panic attacks. While taking alcohol or other medications and stimulants on their own can cause or provoke agoraphobia, taking them in conjunction with one another can increase the likelihood.
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