The best advice about alcohol is that if you drink, do it in moderation. And if you're taking medication, it might be best not to drink any alcohol.

Alcohol can increase the potency and side effects of many prescription drugs, including pain relievers and antidepressants. In addition, regularly combining alcohol with over-the-counter pain relievers, including acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may increase your risk of liver damage.

Using alcohol to help relieve your pain can also lead to dependence and addiction. If you regularly drink more than a moderate amount of alcohol, talk with your doctor about the safest and most successful way to limit your consumption.

Moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two for men. One drink equals one 12-ounce (360-milliliter, mL) bottle of beer, one 5- ounce (150-mL) glass of wine or one 1.5-ounce (45-mL) shot glass of 80- proof liquor.

For men and women age 65 and older, moderate drinking is one drink daily. The amount is less for older people because they process alcohol more slowly.