2007-03-01 08:45:27 · 8 answers · asked by duncandog 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
A widespread myth holds that you shouldn't drink alcohol while taking antibiotics, but in fact, drinking doesn't lessen the effects of the drugs. However, alcohol can lower your general energy and delay your recovery so it is best to minimize drinking until you've finished the prescribed course of antibiotic treatment. (Beyond that, chronic liver damage from excessive alcohol consumption can affect the metabolism and toxicity of antibiotics.)
Although it is sensible, to avoid drinking alcohol when taking any medication; it is unlikely that drinking alcohol, in moderation, will cause problems if you are taking most common antibiotics.
It is however, necessary to completely AVOID drinking when taking the following antibiotics:
Metronidazole - the side-effects include flushing, breathlessness, headache, increased or irregular heart rate, low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting. Tinidazole is chemically similar to metronidazole and so may cause the same reaction. When taking co-trimoxazole and alcohol, there is a very slight possibility of side effects that are similar to metronidazole. However these effects are very rare and drinking alcohol in moderation does not normally cause a problem.
It should be noted that antibiotics may have a variety of side effects that might be made worse by alcohol, for example, sleepiness and dizziness. Alcohol is likely to worsen these effects.
2007-03-01 10:11:08 · answer #1 · answered by Funky 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There may or may not be a "negative reaction", but the antibiotics will be rendered useless by the alcohol, so if you insist on having a drink, just throw the antibiotics away! You didn't really want to get better anyway, did you?
2007-03-01 08:57:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some antibiotics will give you an upset stomach if you use them and drink alcohol. they will not cancel each other out. Me personally i would risk the chance of antibotics not working just for a drink. you can drink once you fininsh your pills.
2007-03-01 09:51:43 · answer #3 · answered by Swan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol doesn't inactivate antibiotics!! It does depend on what specific one you are taking. Most of them there is not interaction. Call your pharmacist to check the specific drug, their phone number is on the bottle.
2007-03-01 09:00:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the alcohol cancells out the antibiotic.
2007-03-01 08:50:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
no alcohol.blacnks out the antibiotic.
2007-03-01 08:53:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it depends what kind of your antibotics they are but definatley do not take the drugs with alcohol.
2007-03-01 08:53:43 · answer #7 · answered by Courtney 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sorry to say but if you drink while taking them there worthless
2007-03-01 13:13:35 · answer #8 · answered by sean l 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋