Introduction
Many patients take cortisone permanently for a variety of reasons. Especially when taking cortisone for a long time, the question arises at some point whether cortisone may also be taken with alcohol and how these two substances are tolerated. In summary, it can be said that a small amount of alcohol together with cortisone is not dangerous.
Alcohol consumption should only not be exaggerated, as this will lead to an increased effect of cortisone. And if the effect is intensified, the side effects will of course also increase. Cortisone is a messenger substance produced from cholesterol that belongs to the group of steroid hormones.
Strictly speaking, cortisone belongs to the glucocorticoids, a subgroup of the steroid hormones. It is a fat-soluble (lipophilic) hormone that can enter the cell relatively unhindered and is important for the regulation of various processes within the cell. These processes include the sugar balance, fat metabolism and protein turnover.
In long-term stress situations, the hormone is increasingly produced in the cells of the adrenal cortex and released into the bloodstream. In this context it has a similar effect to adrenaline and noradrenaline. Due to its mechanism of action, however, the first effects only appear some time after administration.
Cortisone and alcohol
As with most medicines, the effect of cortisone can be severely impaired by excessive consumption of alcohol. In most known cases, the effect of a drug is intensified by the alcohol, which increases the risk of adverse side effects. However, there is nothing wrong with the occasional consumption of wine or beer.
The only unpleasant and dangerous interactions occur when alcohol is taken in very large quantities. Some patients report that they generally tolerate alcohol less well in connection with therapy with cortisone-containing medication. Many complain of headaches and nausea.
It is therefore advisable to drink alcohol very rarely, if at all, while taking medicines containing cortisone, and to reduce the total amount drastically. However, patients who take high doses and/or suffer from diabetes should urgently refrain from or limit their alcohol consumption. This is advisable because cortisone (actually its active form cortisol) has a stimulating effect on sugar metabolism and provides sugar molecules in the body.
Particularly when there is a lack of energy within the organism, the hormone can break down the sugar and fat stores and in this way provide important energy suppliers. If cortisone and alcohol are taken at the same time, the sugar metabolism can become irregular. In some cases, increased hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia may occur. If you are uncertain, it is advisable to contact your doctor directly and clarify any questions you may have!
Effect of cortisone and alcohol
The effect of taking cortisone and alcohol at the same time must be considered from different points of view. The desired effect of cortisone itself is also present when alcohol is taken at the same time. This effect is mainly limited to an anti-inflammatory effect and a weakening of the immune system.
If alcohol is taken at the same time, however, this effect of cortisone can be enhanced. Especially when high doses of cortisone are taken, the risk of suffering from typical side effects of the medication is higher. The amount of alcohol ingested also has an influence on the effect of the two substances.
When we talk about the interaction between cortisone and alcohol, we are talking about the influence that a joint intake of two substances has on the body. The reason for the interaction between cortisone and alcohol is that the substances are broken down in the body. The active substances contained in the substances are broken down in the body in the liver.
If the enzymes necessary for the breakdown of substances in the liver are occupied by the alcohol, the cortisone is broken down less quickly and it develops a stronger effect in the body. The same applies to alcohol, which also has a stronger effect, as here too the breakdown is weakened by the “overtaxed” enzymes. Possible consequences are an unwanted rise in blood pressure, increased blood sugar and increased fats in the blood.
As both cortisone and alcohol have an irritating effect on the stomach lining, this effect is drastically increased when taken simultaneously. Stomach pains and even the development of a stomach ulcer when taken over a longer period of time are therefore possible consequences of taking them at the same time. Electrolyte shifts can also occur with both alcohol and cortisone.
Taking them at the same time increases this effect, which can be accompanied by unpleasant and sometimes dangerous consequences. It is known that the intake of potassium can be disturbed when taking both cortisone and alcohol. Potassium, even if only in small amounts, is an important component of the body and is essential for the function of nerves and muscle cells. Life-threatening interactions between the two substances are generally not to be expected, especially with moderate dosage and short-term intake. Nevertheless, in view of the side effects mentioned, simultaneous intake should be avoided.
