While some antibiotics may interact with alcohol, the risks are not the same for all types of antibiotics. Doctors will give different recommendations on how much alcohol a person should drink, depending on the type of antibiotic they prescribe.
Antibiotics are medicines that target bacteria to treat and prevent infections. There are different types of oral antibiotics.
Although the risk of drinking alcohol with some types of antibiotics may be lower than with others, it is still recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while taking any antibiotic.
This article discusses the risks of mixing antibiotics and alcohol. The effect of alcohol on the immune system is also being investigated.
Not all antibiotics interact with alcohol. Depending on the type of antibiotic a person is taking, a doctor may recommend limiting or avoiding alcohol.
It is not safe to mix certain types of antibiotics (such as tetracyclines and nitroimidazoles) with alcohol. This can cause dangerous side effects or make it less effective in removing bacteria.
Nausea is a common side effect of antibiotics, and drinking alcohol can make it worse for some people.
Although nausea is a common side effect of antibiotics and alcohol, not everyone experiences it when using both drugs.
Certain types of antibiotics may reduce the risk of drinking alcohol. However, drinking any amount of alcohol still poses a risk for people taking antibiotics. Avoiding alcohol completely during treatment will help avoid discomfort and other more serious consequences.
This section discusses recommendations and possible side effects of drinking alcohol with various antibiotics.
Tetracycline antibiotics include doxycycline and minocycline. This class treats a wide range of bacterial infections.
People should avoid or limit alcohol while taking doxycycline. Alcohol can interfere with this antibiotic and may be less effective in people who abuse alcohol or have alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Hepatotoxicity is a rare side effect of minocycline. Because alcohol can also adversely affect the liver, people should avoid mixing alcohol with minocycline.
Linezolid belongs to the oxazolidinone class of antibiotics. Doctors use oxazolidinones to treat infections in the abdomen, skin, lungs, and urinary tract.
In addition to its antibacterial action, linezolid also reduces the action of MAO-A and MAO-B. Monoamine oxidase breaks down tyramine. Tyramine is a substance found in foods such as homemade beer and red wine.
Blood levels of tyramine may increase when people drink beer and wine containing linezolid. They may experience side effects from increased levels of tyramine rather than alcohol itself.
After drinking these types of alcohol while taking oxazolidinones, people may experience the following mild, moderate, or severe side effects:
Avoid red wine and beer while taking linezolid. They should also avoid other foods that contain tyramine, such as hard cheeses and bacon.
Doctors prescribe sulfa antibiotics to treat urinary tract, respiratory, and abdominal infections. Sulfonamide antibiotics include the combination drug trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also known to medical professionals as Septra.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole affects the metabolism of folic acid in bacteria. In rare cases, it can also affect the metabolism of folic acid in the cells of the body.
People with a folate deficiency may be at risk of a further decrease in folate levels while taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Folic acid levels can be low in people who drink alcohol regularly, so trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole should be used with caution.
Although occasional alcohol consumption is safe when taking sulfa drugs, healthcare professionals should exercise caution when prescribing trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to individuals who drink regularly.
All fluoroquinolone labels now highlight the potential mental health side effects of the drug. These side effects may include:
Mixing alcohol with fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin can increase these mental health side effects.
In rare cases, fluoroquinolone therapy may cause seizures. People with a history of epilepsy are most at risk.
Because alcohol lowers the seizure threshold, doctors recommend that people with epilepsy avoid mixing alcohol with fluoroquinolones.
Fluoroquinolones are sometimes safe, but regular alcohol consumption can cause CNS side effects.
Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic prescribed by doctors to treat abdominal infections, sexually transmitted infections, and other anaerobic infections.
Metronidazole can interfere with the function of key enzymes that help the body digest alcohol. The level of acetaldehyde in the blood rises when metronidazole inhibits the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase. This can lead to the toxic effects of alcohol.
Despite this interaction, not everyone has these reactions when drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole. However, people should avoid drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole.
The table below summarizes the recommendations and consequences of drinking alcohol while taking various antibiotics.
Some studies have linked moderate alcohol consumption to a lower risk of infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) defines moderate drinking as:
The CDC describes binge drinking as four drinks at a time for women and five drinks at a time for men. Alcohol abuse was defined as drinking 8 or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more drinks per week for men.
Scientists have linked alcoholism and alcoholism to a weakened immune system. People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of infection.
There are several antibiotics that should not be mixed with alcohol. Not only do they interfere with the action of antibiotics, but they can also cause many harmful side effects.
The above list is not exhaustive. If a person has concerns about the use of alcohol and antibiotics, a healthcare professional should be consulted.
An antibiotic called doxycycline may be less effective for people with alcoholism.
However, this does not apply to all antibiotics. People who take certain types of antibiotics may drink alcohol in moderation and with caution. However, before doing so, a person should first consult a doctor.
Taking antibiotics such as metronidazole and tinidazole while drinking alcohol can cause some unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects such as liver damage and seizures.
Alcohol affects how some antibiotics work differently, which can change their effectiveness or side effects.
People should be aware that combining alcohol with antibiotics may worsen some gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Before mixing alcohol and antibiotics, a person should check with their doctor as some of the potential side effects can be dangerous.
Doctors advise people to avoid drinking alcohol while taking the antibiotic metronidazole.
Taking drugs can mean that other substances, such as alcohol, become more dangerous.
Post time: Sep-05-2023