Does Consumption Of Alcohol Cause Low Blood Pressure?

Posted on Tue, 30 Aug 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 30 Aug 2016 Answered on

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Can drinking liqour lower blood pressure? I use a nebulizer with albuterol and that lowers my blood pressure and raises my pulse a lot. If I drink 2 hours later is that dangerous?

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Should be avoided.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome To HCM. I am Dr Anshul Varshney. I understand your concern.

Albuterol definitely causes tachycardia, that is increase in pulse rate.

However this side effect is transient and can be slightly minimizes by diluting the solution with saline and increasing the duration of nebulization.

Alcohol can transiently increase blood pressure.

It doesn't help in reducing the blood pressure.

Ideally it shoukd be avoided with Albuterol.

I hope it helps you.
If you have any further query, please ask me.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anshul Varshney (14 hours later)

thankyou for answering. I drink 2 vodka dirty martini s on Friday nights, have done so for years. But 3 weeks ago I did the albuterol treatment an hour prior to my martini. I was entertaining and felt jumpy after the treatment. I had 1 martini, appetizers and a cup of coffee and started another martini and blacked out quickly 2 times. Now yesterday I finally did another treatment and my blood pressure dropped and pulse went up. I'm trying to blame the treatment on my ability to have martini s. ?????

Answered by Dr. Anshul Varshney (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Alcohol should be avoided.

Detailed Answer:
Actually Albuterol can cause tremors and anxiety and if mixed with alcohol can actually cause this to severe extent.

BP Medicines can interact with alcohol so ask your doctor to give you Medicines for the morning time so that in case you consume any alcohol beverage in night there might not be any interaction and you may feel comfortable.

So, overall you have two options. Either you should avoid alcohol or take Medicines in morning time.

I hope it helps you.
Good luck.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng