Hormonal drugs and alcohol: are they compatible?

Home>Articles>Hormonal drugs and alcohol

quick menu (hide)

• Alcohol and hormonal levels
• Do hormonal drugs and alcohol go together?
• Androgens and alcohol
• Glucagon and ethanol
• Thyroid hormones
• Insulin and alcohol
• Alcohol and corticosteroids
• Estrogens and gestagens

Hormone therapy is prescribed for menopause, problems with the menstrual cycle, excess weight, problems with testosterone production in men, after a number of surgical interventions, oncology and many other health problems. Both men and women take special medications. The course of such therapy is usually quite long. And this raises the question: is it possible to combine hormonal drugs and alcohol? The answer is clear and categorical - no. Ethanol, as well as its breakdown products, have an extremely negative effect on all organs and systems. In combination with hormones, various unpredictable reactions can occur in the body.

Attention! Moderate alcohol consumption is only permissible in the case of female contraceptives. In this case, it is necessary to strictly adhere to certain restrictions: one glass of wine or beer, and no more than a glass of whiskey maximum 2 times a week. Please note that alcohol should only be of high quality. If you do not follow these recommendations, the hormonal pills will stop working.

Alcohol and the hormonal background of a healthy person

Drinking alcohol does not leave its mark on hormonal levels. The larger the dose of ethanol, the more noticeable the negative consequences will be. What is the reason? When ethanol enters the body, the production of stress hormone is triggered. As a result, a person develops anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. All this affects the general condition of the body.

In men, constant consumption of alcohol leads to a sharp decrease in the production of testosterone, the key sex hormone in the male body. At the same time, the liver, loaded with ethanol breakdown products, is no longer able to block the production of female hormones. As a result of this process, libido decreases, difficulties with potency appear, breasts begin to grow, and fat folds are deposited in the abdominal area.

There is also a weakening of muscle tone, the condition of the skin worsens, and clearly visible bags under the eyes appear. Beer can be considered the most dangerous “enemy”. This drink is a low-alcohol drink, and many people simply drink it in huge quantities. But it contains phytoestrogens, those same female sex hormones. They change not only the appearance, but also the character of a man, making him weak-willed, suspicious and lacking initiative.

In women, under the influence of alcohol, estrogen (the female sex hormone) is suppressed. The figure changes to a male type, the voice becomes rougher, the menstrual cycle is disrupted, which often leads to infertility, the development of polycystic ovaries, fibroids, and uterine bleeding. It should be remembered that the female body is more sensitive to alcohol than the male body. This is due to the fact that the breakdown products of ethanol are neutralized more slowly, which means they take longer to poison various organs and systems. Alcohol causes only a short-term state of euphoria, which is followed by severe depression. All this depletes the adrenal glands , which produce essential hormones.

Thus, it is not difficult to understand that even for a healthy hormonal system, alcohol is a dangerous enemy. If there are any malfunctions that require drug correction, drinking alcohol becomes even more dangerous: irreversible processes are launched in the body that can lead to irreparable consequences.

What common?

Due to the presence of a powerful active ingredient, these drugs are prescribed only in cases where gentle weight loss methods have proven ineffective. A significant advantage of these drugs compared to other anorexigenic drugs is the possibility of their use in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The main principle of action of sibutramine is based on increasing the activity of adrenergic and serotonin receptors . Its bioavailability reaches 77% after transformation in the liver, which ensures a rapid therapeutic effect:

• The feeling of hunger is suppressed and the feeling of fullness is maintained for a long time.
• The processes of intracellular thermal production increase.
• Lipid deposits are broken down.
• The level of total cholesterol and uric acid decreases.

The official status of these drugs has long been in doubt, since clinical trials demonstrated a high incidence of side effects. In the USA and Europe, the sale of sibutramine was suspended due to the identification of severe side effects in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases. In Russia, drugs are sold by prescription and are included in the list of potent drugs subject to special registration. But in Ukraine you can find dietary supplements containing sibutramine on free sale.

Since 2010, this substance has been included in the list of prohibited dopings , so it cannot be taken by athletes before competitions. However, as a medicine for obesity, it is recommended for use by patients with a BMI over 30 and 27 kg/m^2 in the presence of diseases accompanied by lipid metabolism disorders.

Both medications have a very wide list of contraindications , so laboratory testing is mandatory before prescribing them. The incidence of side effects reaches 70%, among which the most common are headaches, dry mouth, weakness, sweating, constipation, hemorrhoids and depression. As a rule, they develop during the first month of use or with prolonged use of capsules. Treatment with capsules with a dosage of 15 mg is carried out in short courses and strictly under the supervision of a doctor.

Combining alcohol with hormonal drugs: risks and consequences

It must be said right away that alcohol is unacceptable when taking hormonal drugs. Such combinations put a serious strain on the endocrine system. The adrenal glands work intensively with the sex glands producing large quantities of adrenaline, cortisol and aldosterone.

The situation can also develop in other scenarios:

1. The simplest and relatively safe option is to reduce the effect of the hormonal drug. As a result, all therapy will be useless, and the process of removing the “explosive mixture” from the body will fall entirely on the liver and kidneys.
2. In more complex situations, mixing hormonal pharmacological agents with alcohol can provoke an exacerbation of ulcers, convulsions, thrombophlebitis and severe headaches.

Attention!

Patients are usually warned about the incompatibility of hormonal drugs and alcohol by their attending physician. This information is also contained in the instructions for pharmacological agents. Don't reassure yourself that you've only drunk a little. In this case, what matters is the fact that ethanol enters the body, and not its quantity.

Characteristics of "Goldline Plus"

Goldline Plus capsules are produced by the same manufacturer and represent a more advanced pharmacological formula . In addition to sibutramine, the main component of the drug, the composition contains microcrystalline cellulose, which acts similarly to fiber. This composition allows you to quickly get rid of extra pounds, and according to reviews, its effectiveness reaches 80–85%.

Hormones androgens and antiandrogens with alcohol

This type of hormones is classified as steroid. They are produced by the gonads and the adrenal cortex. Thanks to androgens, glucose levels decrease, as well as the volume of subcutaneous fat, and secondary sexual characteristics are formed in men. Pharmacological agents of this group of hormones are most often taken by men in case of malfunctions of the endocrine system, infertility and oncology. In the fight against malignant neoplasms of the prostate gland, antiandrogens are most effective. In certain cases, they are also prescribed to women (during menopause, osteoporosis, detection of tumors in the uterus and mammary glands).

When these hormones are taken with alcohol, men's estrogen levels increase. Firstly, this completely distorts the picture of therapy, and secondly, it has a negative impact on the functioning of the whole organism.

Attention! The main active components of antiandrogens are testosterone and bicalutamide.

The thyroid gland and its hormones

In the treatment of hypo- or hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, two hormones are most often used: triiodothyronine and thyroxine. They regulate metabolic processes and are responsible for the correct mechanism of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. In case of excessive functioning of the thyroid gland, antagonist drugs are used that suppress the production of the previously mentioned hormones.

Often these drugs are recommended to be taken for:

• lack of iodine in the body;
• hyper- or hypothyroidism;
• autoimmune thyroiditis.

When considering whether hormonal drugs are compatible with alcohol, it is worth paying attention to the fact that if a person drinks alcohol-containing drinks during therapy, his health will deteriorate . The dose of each drug is calculated individually by the doctor (based on the results of a blood test). The effect of ethanol changes the level of hormones, so it will be necessary to urgently make adjustments to the dosage of the drug. It is impossible to do this. The functioning of various organs and systems will be disrupted due to an excess of hormones in the body. The easiest consequence will be the banal ineffectiveness of therapy.

Insulin and alcohol

Such an experiment usually leads to a hypoglycemic coma, and in some cases causes death. Insulin regulates blood glucose levels in diabetes. Once in the blood, ethanol begins to actively affect the liver and kidneys, which provokes hypoglycemia. The combination of alcohol and insulin worsens a person’s well-being, and it is impossible to help a person in a state of alcohol intoxication. This condition ends in death.

Alcohol and corticosteroids

Pharmacological agents of this group are prescribed for:

• allergic reactions of varying severity;
• rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis;
• asthmatic condition;
• different forms of leukemia;
• atopic dermatitis and eczema;
• diseases of the kidneys and pancreas.

The interaction of these hormones with alcohol causes acute poisoning, bleeding, increased blood pressure, which leads to a hypertensive crisis, as well as suppression of the nervous system. Ulcers begin to form in the gastrointestinal tract.

What to choose?

There is no significant therapeutic difference between these drugs. It is much more important to correctly select the optimal dosage and course of administration, which can only be done by the attending physician.

Some doctors recommend a combination remedy, while others prescribe taking classic Goldline capsules with regular fiber. But according to subjective reviews, Plus capsules turn out to be more effective and faster-acting.

Medicine and healthComment

Estrogens and gestagens

Most often, doctors prescribe the drug "Estrofem". It is effective in inhibiting the ovulation process, decreased ovarian function, female infertility and atherosclerosis. During hormonal therapy, alcohol consumption should be completely avoided . But often patients do not take doctors’ warnings seriously. The result is the following picture: alcohol increases the level of estrogen in the body, and plus the same hormone is added to this, only in tablet form.

If we are talking about a short-term increase in estrogen, then the kidneys and liver can easily cope with its elimination themselves. With a constantly high level of this hormone, the liver works with serious malfunctions. In advanced cases, the organ may stop functioning altogether.

When deciding whether you can drink alcohol with hormonal drugs, always remember that even minimal doses of high-quality alcohol and the most joyful occasions are not worth risking your health and life.

Your loved ones and true friends who wish you well will definitely support you and will not insist that you drink.

What is the difference?

Very often you can find information that Goldline Plus is safer and has received the status of a medicine only due to the presence of microcrystalline cellulose . There are opinions that it is produced in Russia, and Goldline is its Indian generic. These are all myths, since both drugs are produced by the same Russian manufacturer and both are prescription drugs due to the sibutramine content.

Goldline Plus causes the same side effects because it contains the same amount of active ingredient as Goldline. The only difference is that monocrystalline glucose stimulates additional processes in the intestines:

• Absorbs and utilizes harmful substances.
• Increases the feeling of fullness due to the fact that it swells in the stomach, causing a “false” feeling of fullness.
• Normalizes stool.

Therefore, Plus capsules have a faster effect , but with the same indications and contraindications as regular medicine. Release forms and prices have slight differences due to the presence of an additional component in the Plus tablets.

Goldline Plus capsules can be found in pharmacies much more often, so they have a pronounced price range.