"Should I refrain from taking my ADD medication on days I plan to drink alcohol?"
by
Larry Silver, M.D.
There are no firm guidelines for using methylphenidate (Concerta, Metadate) and alcohol. My personal experience plus those of others I have discussed this with is that methylphenidate will potentiate the effect of the alcohol. This means that it will take less alcohol to feel the buzz or to get high.
My first suggestion is not to be on medication if you are going out and know you will drink. If you must use medication while working and you must taste wine at work, be a little more cautious than if you were not on medication.