2. Alcohol and prescription drugs

3. Alcohol Used by 84% of Australians Almost considered part of our lifestyle

4. Harm from alcohol 1998-99 4,800 deaths 400,000 hospital bed days Social costs $7.5 billion Production loss Accidents Crime Health costs

5. Alcohol dependency 5% of Australians 20% use alcohol in a way that can harm others Alcohol is related to death in adolescents Unintentional injuries Homicide Suicide

6. Facts about drugs  Tobacco = 71% of drug related-deaths  Alcohol = 26% of drug related-deaths  Other drugs = 3% of drug-related deaths

7. Alcohol Head to toe! Brain Heart, BP Gut Liver Blood Skin Muscles Endocrine/metabolic Genitals Bone

8. The “Reward” Pathway Sex Thirst Hunger Chocolate Intoxication Love Money Doing your tax

9. Short term effects of alcohol Sedation Slowed thinking and speech Impaired breathing Sleep disruption Irritation to gut lining Hangovers

10. What makes these effects worse? If we are young people If we are older people If we are pregnant If we are breast feeding If we have social problems If we have mental health problems AND

11. What happens if we add medication? Short term effects may be made into long term effects Make alcohol stay in blood stream longer

12. If we take medications Interactions Additive effects Effect on liver

13. How can this happen? Large does of alcohol can affect increase levels of the drug and case adverse effects Sometimes alcohol decreases the availability of the drug and dose may need to be increased Alcohol can be toxic to liver

14. If alcohol is taken with Warfarin: is increased so risk of bleeding increased

15. If alcohol is taken with Blood pressure meds: can cause postural hypotension and increase risk of falls

16. If alcohol is taken with Sedatives: additive effect so more risk of daytime drowsiness and falls

17. If alcohol is taken with Pain relievers: sedation can increase

18. If alcohol is taken with NSAIDS: increases risk of bleed

19. If alcohol is taken Alcohol acts as a diuretic and can wash away some medications Herbal remedies

20. What can we do? Alcohol in moderation Have a list of what you take Read labels on medicine

21. What else can we do? Read CMI If taking a lot of medications be aware that alcohol can affect them ASK your doctor or pharmacist

22. If you are concerned……. Ask you GP for a Home Medicines Review

23. How does HMR work? Ask your GP GP makes a Referral and sends to pharmacy Pharmacist organises a time for interview Interview at your home, or at your choice Report to GP Return to GP for Management Plan You can agree/ disagree to plan

24. Thank you Carlene Smith The Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch 02 9467 7124