There are many different opinions about the acceptability of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of infections. Many people are searching the Internet for information about which things are myths and which are true. People are often concerned about how long it takes for the active ingredients of antibiotics to leave the body and when they can drink alcohol after taking the last pill. People often ask questions about possible consequences if these two substances are used at the same time. The concern is associated with the fact that many people, even during the treatment of bacterial infections, do not want 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 good antibacterial effects. They are used in the treatment of various infectious processes, since the active ingredients of antibacterial drugs effectively destroy pathogenic microorganisms (bactericidal) or prevent their reproduction (bacteriostatic). ). Some drugs in this group have the ability to do both, depending on the dose used. The indication for prescribing these drugs is bacterial infection and only a doctor can prescribe it.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict compliance with all the doctor's recommendations. Eliminating alcohol during treatment is the first thing. Many people are confused by this warning. But a course of treatment with these drugs is prescribed when there is a risk of the disease becoming chronic or developing serious complications and lasts only 5-10 days, a maximum of a week. This is not a long time to sacrifice alcohol for your health.
Why do doctors not recommend alcohol during antibacterial treatment?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol if the patient is being treated for a bacterial infection. Furthermore, it is not recommended to drink alcoholic beverages with any medications, as their combined use can cause disorders of the somatic organs and systems. It is worth mentioning a number of reasons why doctors have the right to prohibit patients from drinking alcohol while being treated with antibiotics.
Slows down the elimination of half-life products
The mention of alcohol and antibiotics in the same phrase makes many people think of the deadly consequences associated with the occurrence of acute side effects. With simultaneous use of these two substances, antibacterial drugs can cause a pronounced disulfiram-like reaction. This reaction includes the appearance of the following symptoms:
- stomach-ache;
- concussion;
- nausea;
- headache;
- blush;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- increased heart rate;
- feeling like you can't breathe.
The appearance and intensification of such signs are directly related to the reaction of antibacterial drugs with ethyl alcohol. Oral medications slow down the process of breaking down ethanol into a safe substance and the dangerous toxin acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning. That is why experts strongly do not recommend taking a course of antibacterial treatment and continuing to drink alcohol.
It is also possible to react incorrectly to treatment. Ethyl alcohol has the effect of slowing down the effect of antibiotics: they lose their activity, leading to a decrease in protective ability and the body is subject to the domination of bacteria.
Increased toxicity
The use of ethyl alcohol in the treatment of infections poses a great threat to the liver. The active components of antibacterial agents can accumulate in the bile ducts, clogging them, and alcohol interferes with the synthesis of fatty acids that occurs in liver cells. This increased toxic effect causes liver disorders. The negative effects that occur when drugs and alcoholic beverages combine affect other vital organs. Usually they have to endure:
- kidney;
- Brain;
- Cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal.
Weakens the immune system
To deal with infection, an immune response is required. If violated, the disease will last a long time. However, drinks containing ethanol in the metabolic process lead to a weakening of the defense system, so recovery will have to wait a long time. There are also the following negative phenomena:
The simultaneous use of antibiotics and alcohol leads to reduced treatment effectiveness and causes harmful health consequences. Therefore, when undergoing a course of antibiotic treatment, you should forget to drink alcoholic beverages.
Ethanol contributes to nighttime sleep disruption, promoting cytokine production. These are specific proteins that trigger an immune response to pathogens. Their deficiency leads to a slowdown in the functioning of the immune system.
Reduces the 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 alcohol consumption over many days (a typical situation of binge drinking) will cause the opposite condition. Enzymes break down drugs faster, leading to a decrease in substances necessary for the recovery process in the body. This causes a slowdown in the healing process and in some cases even leads to the development of resistance to antibacterial agents.
When large amounts of alcoholic beverages consumed in a short period of time enter the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol and the process of breaking down the drug slows down. The result of this is a rapid increase in the amount of active drug ingredients in the blood. This leads to a slowing of the healing process and in some cases causes an increase in antibacterial resistance.
Increases the likelihood of developing side effects of the drug
Different groups of antibiotics can in some cases cause the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (eg, skin rash);
- Oral thrush;
- The appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- The appearance of physiological disorders due to violations of intestinal microflora;
- Acute headache, dizziness, insomnia at night, drowsiness during the day;
- Disorders of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (rare or frequent urination) and the musculoskeletal system (myalgia and joint pain).
If the patient drinks alcoholic beverages during treatment of a bacterial infection, the likelihood of unpleasant reactions increases. This once again proves that you should not combine the use of the drug with alcoholic beverages.
How long after stopping antibiotics can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after administration. Furthermore, if the patient has already undergone a course of antibiotic treatment, this time is not enough for the patient. You need to wait at least a week before drinking alcohol. This waiting period is necessary so that the patient's body is completely rid of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids a possible reaction - a disulfiram-like effect. Based on drug classes, waiting times are as follows:
- A person with no history of chronic disease and who has not had chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the past 12 months can drink small amounts of alcohol 24 hours after finishing antibiotic therapy.
- Patients who have been prescribed Metronidazole should avoid alcohol for 2 days after the last injection or tablet.
- After completing the course of treatment with Tinidazole, 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 completing antibiotic treatment.
Ethyl alcohol can be found in mouthwashes, sprays, natural herbal remedies, and dietary supplements. Therefore, the question of whether to take them during antibiotic treatment or immediately after completion should be discussed with your doctor.
What antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol with?
There have been no in-depth studies confirming that concurrent use of ethanol and drugs that reduce bacterial infections pose a health threat. There was an experiment on mice. It is done with Azithromycin, a drug in the antibiotic group used to treat many diseases. Research results show that its effectiveness is not reduced when used with alcohol. However, sometimes Azithromycin itself, which is quite a powerful drug, can cause serious side effects, especially liver damage.
Bacteriophages. It is permissible to take this medicine and alcoholic beverages together because the effects of their simultaneous use have not been fully studied. To determine their possible interactions, temporal and cumulative statistics are needed. However, to avoid trouble, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are a number of other medications to treat bacterial infections that have not been shown to interact negatively with alcohol. Annotation for the 5 most commonly prescribed drugs that do not have any contraindications directly related to ethyl alcohol. These include drugs containing the following substances:
- Cephalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid.
You can also take cough and cold medications that contain ethanol along with these antibacterial agents. However, you need to understand that alcohol entering the body simultaneously with the active ingredient of the antibiotic can create an increased load on all systems and cause damage to liver tissues. So is it worth the risk of mixing these two substances?
What drugs are alcohol prohibited to use with?
There are some antibiotics that can directly interact 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 antibiotics. The drug is prescribed for skin infections.
- Fluoroquinolone. Their combination with alcohol is dangerous due to the direct effect of the drug on the central nervous system. Patients who make mistakes can fall into a coma.
- Aminoglycosides. These drugs are incompatible even with other drugs, especially with drinks containing ethyl alcohol.
- Cycloserine. Used in the treatment of lung infections and tuberculosis. Combined with alcohol leads to convulsions.
- Lincosamide. Antibiotics of this group, when used with alcoholic beverages, will have negative effects on the liver and central nervous system.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. An antibacterial drug used to destroy protozoan pathological microorganisms. Included in the group of drugs prescribed to relieve patients infected with Helicobacteriosis.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. An antibacterial medication used to treat vaginal and dental infections. It is added to ointments and gels used to treat bed sores and trophic ulcers.
- Cephalosporin causes severe alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol consumed during treatment with these medications can cause blood pressure to spike. Adverse reactions occur even when the drug is applied externally.
What to do in case of concurrent use?
Intentionally not wanting to listen to your doctor's advice or being inattentive 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 tired 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 weak potassium permanganate solution.
- Induce artificial vomiting.
- Take enteric absorbent (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 when this happened. Your doctor will decide whether a dose adjustment is needed in your particular case.
It's good if you have the opportunity to donate blood for analysis. Its results will help one understand whether the combination of antibacterial drugs and ethanol has a negative impact on blood counts. But if immediately 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 can react in unpredictable ways due to increased sensitivity.
It must be remembered that the combined use of alcohol and antibiotics is very dangerous, because it increases the load on vegetative organs, especially the liver. You can drink a little alcohol at a time as this will not cause dangerous consequences or side effects. But it is better to do a course of antibiotics first and then relax.