Why are you not meant to drink alcohol when taking antibiotics?

Answer 1

Alcohol is contraindicated in few antibiotics.

Nick Carr takes a lighthearted look at some of the medical myths that have become part of our culture. Is it OK to drink alcohol while you are taking penicillin? Can you really contract a sexually transmitted disease from a toilet seat? If children have green snot does that mean they need antibiotics, and will worms make them grind their teeth? Nick shines the light of medical science on these and other myths to reveal just how accurate, or not, they are.

GEORGE NEGUS: Dr Nick Carr set out to do some medical myth-busting.

DR NICK CARR: When I was a young doctor, I found that whenever I prescribed antibiotics for someone, they always said to me, "Doctor, I can't have a drink "while I'm on these, can I?" It wasn't something they'd taught me in medical school. I had a good look in the books - couldn't find anything about it there. So I wondered, "Where does this story come from?" Well, the myth began at what used to be called the VD clinics - what are now known as the sexual health centres. The first true antibiotic was penicillin. It proved remarkably effective in curing some very nasty ailments. The problem was it didn't stop people having a few drinks and having more fun.

DR NORMAN ROTH, SEXUAL HEALTH PHYSICIAN: If they took alcohol while on penicillin, they might get frisky and pass on the disease before the penicillin could clear it up.

DR NICK CARR: So it's nothing to do with a real interaction between penicillin and alcohol?

DR NORMAN ROTH: Nothing to do with the pharmacology, no. It was a moral agenda to keep people under control.

PENICILLIN CAN BE TAKEN WITH ALCOHOL.

DR NICK CARR: So dismiss the myth. There are plenty of reasons for being cautious about alcohol, but taking penicillin isn't one of them. In fact, it's OK to drink alcohol with nearly all antibiotics, though just a few might make you nauseous. So read the label carefully.

http://www.abc.net.au/dimensions/dimensions_health/Transcripts/s776185.htm

BUT do avoid alcohol with Flagyl (metronidazole) as it is similar chemically to Anatabuse- the drug given to alcoholics which makes them feel nauseous when they drink alcohol.

Avoiding alcohol with most antibiotics is not necessary.

Answer 2

Drinking can impede the effectiveness of the antibiotics. Also, as your liver's under enough stress during an infection, it's possibly not the best idea to pound it further. I know there's a couple of specific antibiotics that interact with alcohol and can make you feel pretty rotten, not that I speak from the voice of experience!!

Answer 3

I asked doctors several times this question. The answer was always the same. "You may drink alcohol. If anything alcohol could could only amplify the effect of antibiotics.

Answer 4

relies upon how nicely you recognize your physique and its interplay with alcohol. in the experience that your a pro drinker then you would be waiting to tackle some drinks, yet once you in basic terms drink on the weekends or at times, then its maximum suitable to attend. the only element that consuming rather can do is make the antibiotics extremely much less effective.

Answer 5

depends on the antibiotic. alcohol suppresses your immune system and can destroy some antibiotics which makes it less likely you will be cleared of the infection. also, some antibiotics like sulfa drugs (bactrim/sulfamethoxazole, metronidiazole, fluconazole, and others) closely resemble the drug Antabuse- a drug given to alcoholics that makes them really sick if they start hitting the booze. so in about 10-20% of people those drugs will act like antabuse and if they drink theyll have bad nausea and vommitting for a couple hours

Answer 6

If the alcohol stopped the antibiotics working, wouldn't it kill the germs instead?

The real reason is that antibiotics make you tired and alcohol makes you tired. The combined effect can, in extreme cases, make you so tired that nasty things can happen - for example, being too tired to breathe when you fall asleep. It would certainly diminish the effectiveness of your immune system.

But alcohol in moderation should have very little effect. That means one glass of wine instead of the usual whole bottle :-)

Answer 7

In addition to the alcohol interfering with the antibiotics, the combination can cause undesirable side effects ranging from nausea to coma. Stick to the intake beverage recommended by the pharmacist and water, juices and milk the rest of the day.

Be healthy.

Answer 8

Alcohol prevents the body from absorbing some forms of antibiotics.

Answer 9

the antibiotics wont be fighting what its meant to be fighting because the contents in the alcohol might be weakening your liver and that inevitably slows the efficiency of the anitbiotics if not totally.

Answer 10

alcohol inhibits the effects of the antibiotic