There are many different opinions regarding the admissibility of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people are looking for information about which is a myth and which is true on the Internet. People are usually 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 are often asked about what consequences may occur if these 2 substances are taken at the same time. The interest is associated with the reluctance of many people, even during treatment of 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 drugs in this group are capable of 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 adherence to all doctor’s recommendations. Elimination of alcohol during the therapeutic course comes first. Many people are confused by this warning. But a course of therapy with these drugs is prescribed when there is a threat of the disease becoming chronic or developing serious complications, and it lasts only 5-10 days, a maximum of a week. This is not such a long period to sacrifice alcohol for the sake of your health.
Why don't doctors recommend alcohol during antibacterial therapy?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol if the patient is undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection. Moreover, alcohol-containing drinks should not be drunk with any medications, since their combined use can cause 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 undergoing a course of antibiotic therapy.
Slowing down the elimination of half-life products
The mention of alcohol and antibiotics in the same phrase provokes in many people the appearance of fatal consequences in their thoughts regarding the occurrence of acute side effects. With the simultaneous use of these 2 substances, antibacterial drugs can provoke a pronounced disulfiram-like reaction. This reaction consists of the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- tremor;
- nausea;
- headache;
- facial redness;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- increased heart rate;
- 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 decomposition 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 antibacterial therapy and continuing to drink alcohol.
It is also possible that an incorrect treatment response may occur. Ethyl alcohol has a slowing effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a decrease in their protective abilities, and the body is at the mercy of bacteria.
Increased toxicity
The use of ethyl alcohol in the treatment of infection 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 that occurs in hepatocytes. This increased toxic effect provokes disturbances in the liver. The negative effect that occurs when the drug and an alcohol-containing drink are combined affects other vital organs. Most often they suffer:
- kidneys;
- brain;
- the cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal tract.
Weakening of the immune system
To cope with an infection, an immune response is needed. If it is violated, the disease will drag on. However, ethanol-containing drinks during metabolism lead to a weakening of the defense system, as a result of which recovery will have to wait a long time. In addition, 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, when undergoing a course of antibiotic therapy, you should forget about drinking alcohol-containing drinks.
Ethanol contributes to disruption of nighttime sleep, which promotes the production of cytokines. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response to pathogens. Their deficiency leads to 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 consumption of alcohol over several days (a situation typical of binge drinking) provokes the opposite situation. Enzymes break down the drug faster, resulting in a decrease in the substance necessary for recovery in the body. This provokes a slowdown in the healing process, and in some cases even leads to the development of resistance to antibacterial agents.
When a large quantity of alcoholic beverages consumed in a short period of time enters the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol, and the decomposition 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 provokes an increase in resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Increased likelihood of developing medication side effects
Different groups of antibiotics in some cases can provoke the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (for example, rash on the skin);
- Oral candidiasis;
- The appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- The occurrence of dysbiosis due to disruption of intestinal microflora;
- Acute headache, dizziness, lack of sleep at night, daytime drowsiness;
- Disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (rare or frequent urination) and the musculoskeletal system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If a patient drinks an alcohol-containing drink during treatment for a bacterial infection, the likelihood that unpleasant reactions will occur increases. This once again demonstrates that you should not combine the use of medicine with an alcohol-containing drink.
How long after stopping the antibiotic can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after consuming the drug. Moreover, if the patient has undergone a course of antibiotic therapy, this time is not enough for him. You need to wait at least a week before drinking alcohol. This waiting period is necessary so that the patient’s body is completely cleared of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids a possible reaction - a disulfiram-like effect. Based on the drug groups, the waiting time is as follows:
- A person who has no history of chronic illness and has not had chemotherapy or radiation in the past 12 months can drink a small amount of alcohol 24 hours after finishing antibiotic therapy.
- Patients who have been 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 completion of antibiotic therapy.
Ethyl alcohol can be found in mouth rinses, sprays, natural herbal medicines, and dietary supplements. Therefore, the question of the advisability of taking them during a course of antibiotic therapy or immediately after its completion should be discussed with your doctor.
What antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol with?
There have been no in-depth studies confirming that the simultaneous use of ethanol and drugs that relieve bacterial infections poses a health threat. There was one experiment on rats. It was carried out 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 strong medicine, can cause serious side effects, in particular, liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is permissible to take this drug and alcoholic drinks together, since the effects of their simultaneous use have not been sufficiently studied. In order to determine their possible interactions, time and accumulated statistics are needed. However, in order to avoid troubles, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are a number of other drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections that have not been shown to have a negative interaction with alcohol. The annotations for the 5 most commonly prescribed drugs do not contain any contraindications directly related to ethyl alcohol. These include medications that contain the following substances:
- Cephalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid.
You can also take cough and cold medications containing ethanol with these antibacterial agents. However, you need to understand that alcohol that is in the body simultaneously with the active component of antibiotics can create an increased load on all systems and provoke damage to the liver tissues. So is it worth the risk and mixing these 2 substances?
What medications are alcohol prohibited with?
There are several antibiotic drugs that can interact directly with ethanol. During treatment, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol in any quantity. These include drugs with the following active ingredients:
- Linezolid. The product is effective against bacteria resistant to other types of antibiotics. The medicine is prescribed for skin infections.
- Fluoroquinolones. Their 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 may end up in a comatose state.
- Aminoglycosides. These drugs are incompatible even with other medications, especially with drinks containing ethyl alcohol.
- Cycloserine. Used in the treatment of pulmonary infections and tuberculosis. In combination with alcohol it leads to the appearance of convulsive syndrome.
- Lincosamides. Antibiotics from this group, when consumed with alcohol-containing drinks, have a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. An antibacterial drug used to destroy single-celled pathological microorganisms. Included in the drug group prescribed to relieve the patient of Helicobacteriosis.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. An antimicrobial medicine used to treat vaginal and dental infections. It is added to ointments and gels used to treat bedsores and trophic ulcers.
- Cephalosporins provoke severe alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol consumed during a treatment course with these drugs causes sharp "jumps" in blood pressure. Adverse reactions occur even when the medicine 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 ill immediately. If such a situation occurs, you need to monitor the condition. If negative reactions do not appear, you do not need to seek medical help, but 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 that the last pill was removed and explain why and what time this happened. The doctor will decide whether the dose needs to be adjusted in a particular case.
It’s good if you have the opportunity to donate blood for analysis. Its results will make it possible 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 systems 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 in unpredictable ways due to increased sensitivity.
It must be remembered that the combined use of alcohol and antibiotics is very dangerous, as it provokes an increased load on somatic organs, especially the liver. You can drink a little alcohol once, as this will not cause dangerous consequences or side effects. But it is better to first take a course of antibiotic therapy and then relax.