Antibiotics....?

Question

why can't you drink on antibiotics; i have been told all sorts of different reasons...?

Answer 1

It's one of the great myths that mixing antibiotics with alcohol can seriously mess you up. While it's unwise to mix medicine with liquor, few drugs are affected by the action of pints.

The way it works is this... antibiotics have different routes of leaving the body, some broken down in the liver, excreted in the urine or passing straight through in the faeces. To a large extent this determines how long they stay active in the body and how often you need to take them. Alcohol may increase the excretion rate or slow down the rate drugs are broken down. This will not harm you, but it may limit their effectiveness. But occasionally antibiotics can pose a danger. The most harmful is metronidazole (Flagyl), which is used for mouth abscesses, gut inflections or bladder bugs. It's closely related to Antabuse, a drug once used to deter alcoholics from drinking as it caused severe nausea and vomiting when mixed with booze. This led to rumours of wives spiking their husband's drinks to stop them in their tracks. On a number of occasions it did so... permanently. Most antibiotics around now won't become toxic if mixed.

But if you're starting a course, consult a pharmacist.

Aloha

Answer 2

I think it because some antibiotics can interact with alcohol, also antibiotics can increase the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Some antibiotics you can drink in moderation with but if you have been specifically told not to then I wouldn't risk it as there is usually a good reason for it.

Answer 3

You shouldnt drink on any med. For one, alcohol isnt good for you, (and I do drink ocassionally) BUT with meds it doesnt mix. The doc wants you to eat right and take your meds, and dont drink. Be careful with antibiotics too, becuz theyll ruin your guts and the flora in your intestines. Im living with an illness caused from too many antibiotics for 5 yrs now. Men and women need to know more about antibiotics. They can be good. BUT if taken too many, they are bad. Doctors hand them out like candy these days, cuz they dont know as much as theyd like to. If they dont know whats wrong, they give you an antibiotic.

Answer 4

The real reason is that they stop the anti biotics from working. Also some types of antibiotics can react badly with alcohol and make you vomit x

Answer 5

Antibiotics are a course of treatment, if you drink alcohol it kills the antbiotic and there for breaking the course and allowing the harmful thing it is treating to re-establish its self

Answer 6

Best not to drink, but a bit won't hurt - but always follow the medical directions for maximum effect. Also complete the course. Never take them unless prescribed - the less you take the more effective they will be. Er - you slayed any vampires lately?

Answer 7

Main reason - alcohol can stop the antibiotic working.

Other reasons:

Alcohol and the drug react and make you hideously stoned.

Interaction of drug and alcohol can cause liver and especially kidney and sometimes even brain damage.

Answer 8

It depends on the antibiotics I suppose. Usually it states on the bottle and it tells you why. If you look on the papers that come with your prescription about the drug your taking it'll tell you why.

Answer 9

it may harm the effects of the antibiotic

Answer 10

depends on the drug, but mainly 1) they arent as effective 2) some of them like metronidizole slow down your alcohol metabolism and youll feel like **** if youve been drinking heavily. look up "disulfirim reaction"