There are many different opinions on the admissibility of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people search the Internet for information about which is a myth and which is true. People are often interested in how long it takes for the active components of antibiotics to leave the body and when they can drink alcohol after taking the last pill. Questions often arise about what consequences can occur if these 2 substances are taken at the same time. The interest is due to the reluctance of many people, even during treatment for a bacterial infection, to deny themselves the pleasure of drinking a glass of wine or a bottle of beer with dinner.
What are antibiotics?
These are synthetic or natural substances that have a good antimicrobial effect. They are used in the treatment of various infectious processes, since the active components of antibacterial drugs effectively destroy pathogenic microorganisms (bactericidal) or stop their reproduction (bacteriostatic). Some medications in this group are capable of performing both actions, depending on the dose taken. The indications for prescribing these medications are bacterial infections and only a doctor can prescribe them.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict compliance with all doctor's recommendations. The first thing is the elimination of alcohol during the therapeutic course. Many people are confused by this warning. But the course of therapy with these drugs is prescribed when there is a threat that the disease will become chronic or develop serious complications, and lasts only 5-10 days, a maximum of a week. This is not such a long period to sacrifice alcohol for the sake of health.
Why don't doctors recommend alcohol during antibiotic therapy?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol if the patient is being treated for a bacterial infection. Also, alcohol-containing drinks should not be drunk with any medications, since their combined use can lead to disorders of somatic organs and systems. It is worth talking about several reasons that give doctors the right to prohibit patients from drinking alcohol while receiving antibiotic therapy.
Slow down the elimination of half-life products.
The mention of alcohol and antibiotics in the same sentence provokes in many people the appearance of fatal consequences in their thoughts about the appearance of acute side effects. With the simultaneous use of these 2 substances, antibacterial drugs can cause a pronounced reaction similar to disulfiram. This reaction consists of the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- shaking;
- nausea;
- headache;
- facial redness;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- incrise of cardiac frecuency;
- feeling like you can't breathe.
The appearance and intensification of such signs is directly related to the reaction of the antibacterial drug to ethyl alcohol. The pill taken slows down the breakdown of ethanol into safe substances and the dangerous toxin acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning. That is why experts categorically do not recommend taking a course of antibiotics and continuing to drink alcohol.
An incorrect response to treatment is also possible. Ethyl alcohol has a retarding effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a decrease in their protective capabilities, and the body is at the mercy of bacteria.
Increased toxicity
The use of ethyl alcohol in the treatment of infections poses a great threat to the liver. The active components of antibacterial agents can accumulate in the efferent bile ducts, clogging them, and alcohol interferes with the process of fatty acid synthesis occurring in hepatocytes. This increase in the toxic effect causes alterations in the liver. The negative effect that occurs when the drug and a drink containing alcohol are combined affects other vital organs. Most often they suffer from:
- kidneys;
- brain;
- the cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal tract.
Weakening of the immune system.
To deal with an infection, an immune response is needed. If it is violated, the illness will be prolonged. However, drinks containing ethanol during metabolism cause a weakening of the defense system, so recovery will have to wait a long time. Additionally, the following negative phenomena occur:
The simultaneous use of antibiotics and alcohol leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effect and provokes the development of harmful health consequences. Therefore, during a course of antibiotics, you should forget about drinking alcohol-containing drinks.
Ethanol contributes to the disturbance of nighttime sleep, which promotes the production of cytokines. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response to pathogens. Its deficiency causes a slowdown in the functioning of the immune system.
Reduced therapeutic effect of antibacterial drugs.
The liver breaks down antibiotics and ethyl alcohol using special enzymes (proteins): acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase. If you use both substances at the same time, the result will be one of two options:
Regular alcohol consumption for several days (a typical situation of excessive alcohol consumption) causes the opposite situation. Enzymes break down the drug more quickly, resulting in a decrease in the substance necessary for the body's recovery. This causes a slowdown in the healing process and, in some cases, even leads to the development of resistance to antibacterial agents.
When a large amount of alcoholic beverages consumed in a short period of time enters the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol and the breakdown of the drug slows down. The result of this is a rapid increase in the amount of active medicinal components in the blood. This leads to a slowdown in the healing process and, in some cases, causes increased resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Greater chance of developing side effects from medications.
In some cases, different groups of antibiotics can cause the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (for example, skin rash);
- Oral candidiasis;
- The appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- The appearance of dysbiosis due to a disturbance in the intestinal microflora;
- Acute headache, dizziness, lack of night sleep, daytime sleepiness;
- Alterations in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (rare or frequent urination) and in the musculoskeletal system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If a patient drinks an alcohol-containing beverage during treatment for a bacterial infection, the likelihood of unpleasant reactions increases. This once again proves that the use of the drug should not be combined with a drink containing alcohol.
How long after stopping the antibiotic can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after consuming the drug. Also, if the patient has undergone antibiotic treatment, this time is not enough for him. You should wait at least a week before drinking alcohol. This waiting period is necessary so that the patient's body is completely cleansed of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids a possible reaction - a disulfiram-like effect. Depending on the drug groups, the waiting time is as follows:
- A person who has no history of chronic illness and has not received chemotherapy or radiation in the past 12 months can drink a small amount of alcohol 24 hours after finishing antibiotic therapy.
- Patients prescribed metronidazole should avoid drinking alcohol for 2 days after the last injection or tablet.
- After completing the course of tinidazole therapy, alcohol remains prohibited for another 72 hours. Patients with a history of hepatitis or cirrhosis should avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 2 weeks after completing antibiotic therapy.
Ethyl alcohol can be found in mouthwashes, sprays, natural medicinal herbs, and dietary supplements. Therefore, the question of whether to take them during a course of antibiotics or immediately after its completion should be discussed with your doctor.
What antibacterial medications can you drink alcohol with?
There have been no in-depth studies confirming that the simultaneous use of ethanol and medications that relieve bacterial infections poses a health threat. There was an experiment with rats. It was done with Azithromycin, which is part of a group of antibiotics used to treat many diseases. The results of the study showed that its effectiveness does not decrease when taken together with alcohol. However, sometimes azithromycin itself, which is a fairly powerful medication, can cause serious side effects, particularly liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is allowed to take this medication and alcoholic beverages together, since the effects of their simultaneous use have not been sufficiently studied. Determining their possible interactions requires time and accumulated statistics. However, to avoid problems, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are other medications for the treatment of bacterial infections that have not been shown to have a negative interaction with alcohol. The annotations of the 5 most prescribed medications do not contain contraindications directly related to ethyl alcohol. These include medicines containing the following substances:
- Cephalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
You can also take cough and cold medicines containing ethanol with these antibacterial agents. However, it is necessary to understand that alcohol found in the body simultaneously with the active component of antibiotics can create an increased load on all systems and lead to damage to liver tissues. So is mixing these 2 substances worth the risk?
With what medications is alcohol prohibited?
There are several antibiotics that can interact directly with ethanol. During treatment it is strictly prohibited to drink alcohol in any quantity. These include medicines with the following active ingredients:
- Linezolid. The product is effective against bacteria resistant to other types of antibiotics. The medication is prescribed for skin infections.
- Fluoroquinolones. Its combination with alcohol is very dangerous due to the direct effect of the drug on the central nervous system. A patient who makes a mistake can end up in a coma.
- Aminoglycosides. These medications are incompatible even with other medications, especially with drinks containing ethyl alcohol.
- Cycloserine. Used in the treatment of lung infections and tuberculosis. In combination with alcohol it causes the appearance of convulsive syndrome.
- Lincosamides. Antibiotics of this group, when consumed with alcohol-containing drinks, have a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. Antibacterial drug used to destroy single-celled pathological microorganisms. Included in the group of drugs prescribed to relieve the patient from helicobacteriosis.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. Antimicrobial medication used to treat vaginal and dental infections. It is added to ointments and gels that are used to treat bedsores and trophic ulcers.
- Cephalosporins cause severe alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol consumed during treatment with these medications causes sharp "jumps" in blood pressure. Adverse reactions occur even when the drug is applied externally.
What to do in case of simultaneous use?
Conscious unwillingness to listen to the doctor's advice or inattention can create a situation where antibiotics and alcohol enter the stomach at the same time. A person who commits a dangerous mixture does not necessarily feel bad immediately. If such a situation occurs, it is necessary to monitor the condition. If no negative reactions appear, it is not necessary to seek medical help, but to help yourself:
- Drink 1. 5-2 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Induce artificial vomiting.
- Take enterosorbent (you can finely grind activated carbon and dilute it in water at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight).
- Call your doctor and tell him or her that you were taken off the last pill and explain why and what time it happened. The doctor will decide if it is necessary to adjust the dose in a specific case.
It is good if you have the opportunity to donate blood for analysis. Their results will allow us to understand whether the combination of an antibacterial drug and ethanol had a negative effect on blood counts. But if soon after a dangerous combination pronounced negative signs from the digestive, cardiovascular or nervous system appear, it is better to call an ambulance. This is especially true for people with a history of allergies or diabetes, as their bodies may react unpredictably due to increased sensitivity.
It must be remembered that the combined use of alcohol and antibiotics is very dangerous, since it causes an increased load on the somatic organs, especially the liver. You can drink a little alcohol once, as this will not lead to dangerous consequences or side effects. But it is better to first take a course of antibiotics and then relax.