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New Irish study shows high alcohol consumption in older
population on prescribed medication
Researcher warns of future increase in risk of alcohol related adverse drug events
03.07.14
Over half of all older Irish adults prescribed medications which have the potential to interact
with alcohol, still regularly consume alcohol during the course of their prescription, a new
study from RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)'s School of Pharmacy has found.
Alcohol can interact harmfully with certain prescription medications, which are known as
alcohol interactive (AI medicines).The research, developed in conjunction with the Health
Research Board (HRB) Centre for Primary Care Research and Trinity College Dublin (TCD),
has recently been published in the journal BMC Geriatrics. This study is based on data from
The Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
The study, led by Dr Gráinne Cousins, Lecturer in RCSI's School of Pharmacy, found that
72% of adults over the age of 60 residing in Ireland are prescribed AI medications. Of this
figure, 60% of people reported consuming alcohol during the course of their prescriptions.
Almost one in five older adults combined heavy drinking with cardiovascular agents and antidiabetic agents, with 16% of the sample combining heavy drinking with central nervous
system (CNS) agents.
Lead researcher of this study, Dr Grainne Cousins
The research also identified younger (aged between 60-64 years of age), urban dwelling
men, with higher levels of education (with third-level qualification or higher), a history of
smoking, and increasing co-morbidities were most at risk of exposure to heavy alcohol
consumption and AI medications.
Speaking on these findings, Dr Cousins said, ‘Older adults are susceptible to adverse
effects from the simultaneous use of prescription medications and alcohol, in part because of
changes in absorption, distribution and metabolism of alcohol and other medication with age.
The major adverse effects of mixing alcohol with such AI medicines can include the raising
of blood alcohol levels, altering the metabolism of the drugs, liver toxicity, gastrointestinal
inflammation and bleeding, sedation and interference with the overall effectiveness of the
medication itself.'
Dr Cousins continued, ‘The use of psychotropic drugs (for example anti-depressants,
anxiolytics, anti-psychotic medications) with heavy alcohol consumption is of particular
concern to us as they may cause the most dangerous alcohol-related adverse drug
reactions. For example, consumption of alcohol increases the sedative effects of
benzodiazepines, anti-depressants, which can result in outcomes such as falls, motor
vehicle accidents and even death.'
As the proportion and age of the older population continues to increase, the number of
people using AI medications will also increase. If such alcohol consumption trends continue
the number of older adults at risk of alcohol related drug events will increase in future years.
Our findings emphasise the importance of patient education in understanding the potential
risks associated with their combined alcohol and medication use. Prescribers and
Pharmacists, should be aware of potential interactions, and screen their patients for alcohol
use and provide warnings to minimise this risk to their patients'.
This study, which aimed to estimate the prevalence of exposure to AI medications and
alcohol use in a nationally representative sample of older adults, also revealed a number of
other key findings:
• More than 1 in 10 people taking anti-epileptics, antipsychotics or hypnotics reported heavy
drinking, with 18% of those taking antidepressants also reporting heavy drinking.
• The proportion of older adults at risk of alcohol related adverse drug events will increase in
future years.
• Of the 60% reporting concurrent alcohol and medication use:
o 28% who used anti-histamines were identified as heavy drinkers
o 20% combined heavy drinking with anti-coagulants, anti-platelets and
cardiovascular agents
RCSI is a not-for-profit health sciences institute which focuses on education and
research to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide. RCSI is
headquartered in Dublin and is a recognised College of the National University of Ireland. In
2010, RCSI was granted independent degree awarding status by the State, which enables
the College to award degrees alongside its traditional powers to award licentiates.
Editor's Notes:
• Journal Reference: BMC Geriatrics 2014, 14:57 doi:10.1186/1471-2318-14-57
(http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/14/57)
• A total of 3,507 people in Ireland aged 65 years or more, were identified from the
TILDA (The Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing) database. TILDA is led by Trinity College
Dublin (TCD) in collaboration with eight national research institutions and funded by the
Department of Health, Atlantic Philanthropies and Irish Life.
• TILDA is a nationally representative cohort study of people aged 50 years and over
and resident in Ireland, charting their health, social and economic circumstances over a 10
year period.