[Alcohol and drug interactions].

Alcohol appears to interact with many drugs in many different and complicated ways. The absorption and metabolism of drugs can be altered under the influence of acute or chronic alcohol intake, and it is possible that alcohol itself or its metabolic products may interfere with the effect of several drugs. These interactions are not only of biological interest but also of clinical importance, and the general practitioner should therefore be aware of them. The therapy of patients with chronic alcoholism is often complicated by such interactions, and it is thus important to know both the habits of the patient with respect to alcohol intake and possible interference with the drugs used.