Page 18 - Boca ViewPointe - March '22

Page 18, Viewpointe March 2022
Who Doesn’t Enjoy A Cocktail Before Dinner??

By Harold Katz, R.Ph. (2) The alcohol can reduce the activity of the medication
and change the therapeutic results for which the drug was
It would probably be prescribed.
impossible to determine how The classes of drugs that can interact with alcohol
many people who never imbibed include: antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines,
before, started drinking an muscle relaxants, opioids, blood thinners, and a variety
alcoholic beverage because the of OTC (over the counter) drugs, including a few herbal
USDAHS (U.S. Department of preparations.
Agriculture and Human Services) Boca Pointers may be interested in a few of the examples
indicated that one glass of wine of alcohol/medication reactions:
for women, two for men, or two • Alcohol/penicillin: alcohol decreases the activity and
beers, or one five- ounce cocktail were permissible, health wise. It effectiveness of the penicillin.
is very possible, however, to estimate how many alcohol drinkers • Alcohol/aspirin: alcohol interferes with blood clotting some medical conditions) the amount of alcohol to cause
also take prescription medicines or OTC (over the counter) drugs. formation, as does aspirin, prolonging bleeding. these reactions is unknown. If a single drink of anything
That’s because statistics tell us that for adults and especially • Alcohol/muscle relaxants: the combination can result compromises your health status, it should perhaps be
for seniors, well north of 90% take at least one medication and in prolonged bleeding. eliminated. The American Diabetes Association, for example
frequently 6 to 10 different drugs daily. So there you have it: • Alcohol/ibuprofen-nsaids: increases risk of stomach states clearly “If you use insulin don’t drink”.
The USDHS says it’s O.K. to imbibe, but many medication ulcer and bleeding. So what is a well-meaning patient to do? Bring your
directives say otherwise. This article looks at the interactions • Alcohol/opioids: results in drowsiness and loss of motor “brown bag” of meds to your doctor appointment and ask
between alcoholic drinks and medications, and the dangers that skills. about possible alcohol/med reactions. Pass your drug list by
may be involved. • Alcohol/herbal drugs: will cause drowsiness, may cause your favorite pharmacist for comments. Read the label on
The package literature on some medications indicate that liver damage. any OTC supplement that you are considering using and note
taking alcohol with the medication can cause: nausea, vomiting, • Alcohol/antihistamines: drowsiness, dizziness, loss of the side effects listed. Be aware that alcohol itself is a very
headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, or changes in blood motor skills. active drug within the body and all its possible interactions
pressure. Other meds have no alcohol warnings at all. Generally, • Alcohol/insulin: raises blood sugar levels and with meds may not be apparent at any given time. The safest
there are only two types of alcohol/drug reactions: triglyceride levels. course? Moderation or abstinence. Give the medication a
(1) The alcohol can enhance (increase) the action of a drug Nothing mentioned above implies that a single cocktail chance to do its job.
and by so doing, virtually increase the dose of the drug, possibly before dinner will precipitate any of these reactions;
beyond safety levels. however, for new imbibers (and experienced imbibers with Harold Katz R.Ph., Edgewater Estates. 
Comedy Off The Green Summer Comedy Series

Announced For May 21 And June 25

By Hillary Reynolds City but his roots are in stand-up comedy. Prior to his big opening act for the likes of David Alan Grier, Richard
move to Boca Raton in March 2020, he’d been a writer Lewis and Kevin Nealon, among others.
The producers of Comedy on the Green return to for Diane Sawyer and Anderson Cooper among many Tickets for the shows range from $30-$45. They go
Mizner Park with Comedy Off the Green, an indoor others. Currently, he’s a writer/producer and on-air talent on sale on March 1, 2022 and can be purchased at https://
summer series, set for Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. and for Ashleigh Banfield’s NewsNation show ‘Banfield.’ He miznerparkculturalcenter.com/events-tickets/. For more
9:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. headlines comedy clubs across the country, has appeared information visit www.comedyonthegreen.org or reach
at the Mizner Multicultural Center, 201 W. Plaza Real. on Comedy Central on two occasions and has been the organizers by phone at 610-659-8583. 
“With the Florida heat around the corner and more people
in Boca feeling safer, we are taking Comedy on the Green
OFF the green and into the air conditioning,” said Dave
Siegel, co-producer. “There’s been a lot of buzz from the
first round of shows. Instead of us trying to convince quality
comedians from New York and Los Angeles to come to
Boca…they are now reaching out to us. This brand is quickly
becoming a destination for comics.”
New York City-based
comedian Jon Fisch
will open the limited
engagement on May 31.
Fisch is one of only
a handful of comedians
who has appeared on
both The Late Show with
David Letterman and The
Late Show with Stephen
Colbert. He was the host of
the widely popular podcast
In the Tank. With his
current podcast, Spiraling
Up, Fisch talks with people Jon Fisch
from the comedy world
about handling daily struggles and digging themselves
out of life’s major ruts. Sounds heavy, but it’s funny too.
You may recognize him from Comedy Central or NBC’s
Last Comic Standing 4, where he was the New York City
Capital One Audience Favorite. Fisch has performed at
multiple comedy festivals including the HBO Comedy
Arts Festival, the Great American Comedy Festival and
Montreal’s prestigious “Just for Laughs” Festival. Based
in New York City, Fisch can be seen regularly at the
Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club.
Comedy Off the Green is the brainchild of Boca Raton
residents Siegel, a stand-up comic by night, and his wife,
Stephanie Tsoflias Siegel, a former broadcast journalist
in New York City and talent development executive, who
conceived and produced Comedy on the Green at the
Mizner Park Amphitheater during the lockdown.
“Like any new venture, we’re pivoting for the
Summer based on ticket holder needs and interests,” said
Stephanie. “The space we’ve selected will be enhanced
to reflect our unique Comedy on the Green brand. The
energy inside the theater will feel very similar to our
successful first round of outdoor shows. People can
expect really good comedy, a young energized crowd and
a night out you can’t find anywhere else in this city.”
Siegel is a news writer/producer out of New York