How alcohol changes the way your body breaks down medicines

Inter-Enzyme Crosstalk in the Cytochrome P450 Ensemble: Implications for the Effects of Alcohol on Drug Metabolism and Alcohol-Drug Interactions

['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11146395

This project looks at how drinking alcohol alters the liver enzymes that process drugs so people who drink can better avoid harmful alcohol–drug reactions.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorWASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PULLMAN, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11146395 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Researchers are studying the cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver to see how alcohol changes the mix and behavior of these drug-processing proteins. They will examine how individual P450 enzymes interact with one another (enzyme 'crosstalk') using laboratory experiments and biochemical analyses, and may use models or human-derived samples to track those changes. The team will link these enzyme-level changes to differences in how common medicines are metabolized when alcohol is present. Findings aim to clarify why some drugs act differently or cause harm in people who drink alcohol.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People who drink alcohol regularly or have alcohol-use problems and who take prescription or over-the-counter medicines would be most relevant to this work.

Not a fit: People who never drink alcohol or whose medications are processed entirely outside the cytochrome P450 system are unlikely to see direct benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians and patients avoid dangerous alcohol–drug interactions by improving predictions of how medicines are broken down.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows alcohol changes P450 enzyme levels and drug metabolism, but detailed study of how P450 enzymes influence one another is newer and less established.

Where this research is happening

PULLMAN, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome, Alcohol-Induced Disorders

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.