Michele asked
Hello I just started taking Vimovo. Is it ok to have an occasional glass of wine while taking this medication?
Answer
It is recommended to not drink alcohol while using the medication Vimovo due to a potential drug interaction. Even occasional consumption of alcohol is generally not recommended while using Vimovo.
Vimovo is a prescription drug that combines two medications (esomeprazole and naproxen). Esomeprazole is also the active ingredient in Nexium while naproxen is available over the counter as Aleve.
Naproxen is classified as an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Combining alcohol and naproxen increases the risk of developing stomach irritation and less commonly, gastrointestinal bleeding. Both NSAID medications and alcohol are known irritants of the protective mucus lining in the stomach. In addition, NSAID drugs can decrease platelet aggregation, increasing the risk of bleeding and increasing the risk of ulcers forming.
If you do consume the occasional alcoholic drink, it is important to look for signs and symptoms of GI irritation/bleeding. This may include stomach pains, nausea and a black/dark color to the stool. If you notice these, it is important to speak with your doctor.
How alcohol is metabolized: Alcohol is primarily metabolized via alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1), and catalase. The byproducts of alcohol include acetaldehyde and acetate and contribute to many of the negative effects. Genetic variation of these enzymes causes varying degrees of alcohol metabolism—which is why everyone tolerates alcohol differently. This metabolism takes place mostly in the liver. CYP enzymes play a particularly important role in drug metabolism and drug interactions occur via the inhibition or induction of these enzymes. Alcohol does impact CYP enzymes, especially CYP2E1.Some drugs may cause a “disulfiram-like reaction” when taken with alcohol. This can cause flushing, nausea, vomiting, and general “hangover effects”. These drugs inhibit aldehyde dehydrogenase which is crucial in metabolism of alcohol. Some of these drugs include disulfiram and chloramphenicol. Disulfiram is actually used clinically to treat alcohol dependence since it makes drinking alcohol much less desirable. Vimovo does not cause a disulfiram-like reaction.
However, as mentioned above, the routine use of Vimovo (more specifically the ingredient naproxen) and alcohol is not recommended due to the increased risk of GI bleeding.
Very sparing use of alcohol (e.g. a glass of wine) may be OK if you have no prior history of GI problems, ulcers or bleeding. Be sure to speak with your doctor regarding this before combining Vimovo and alcoholic beverages.
