NutriStack
Alcohol and Morphine, contraindicated.
Alcohol can add to morphine's opioid sedation and respiratory depression. This can lead to extreme drowsiness, impaired airway protection, slow breathing, coma, and fatal overdose. The risk rises with higher morphine doses, alcohol intoxication, sleep-disordered breathing, lung disease, or other sedatives.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
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From the interaction database
What the row says.
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At a glance
- Pair type
- Contraindicated
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Contraindicated · Strong evidence
Contraindicated
What is happening. Alcohol can add to morphine's opioid sedation and respiratory depression. This can lead to extreme drowsiness, impaired airway protection, slow breathing, coma, and fatal overdose. The risk rises with higher morphine doses, alcohol intoxication, sleep-disordered breathing, lung disease, or other sedatives.
Mechanism. Morphine depresses brainstem respiratory rhythm and blunts carbon dioxide responsiveness through mu-opioid receptor signaling. Alcohol independently depresses central nervous system activity and arousal, making it harder to compensate for opioid-suppressed breathing.
Recommendation. Do not drink alcohol while taking morphine. If you accidentally combine them, avoid taking more morphine or other sedatives and make sure someone can monitor you. Seek emergency care for slow breathing, confusion, blue lips, or inability to stay awake.
Sources (2)
- Boom M, Niesters M, Sarton E, Aarts L, Smith TW, Dahan A. Non-analgesic effects of opioids: opioid-induced respiratory depression. Curr Pharm Des. 2012;18(37):5994-6004. PMID 22747535
- Jones CM, Paulozzi LJ, Mack KA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol involvement in opioid pain reliever and benzodiazepine drug abuse-related emergency department visits and drug-related deaths - United States, 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2014;63(40):881-885. PMID 25299603
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Alcohol and Morphine are in the same stack, this pair applies −25 to your Stack Score (per scored contraindication row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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