Scientists say that the active active ingredients of antibiotics are in the body for at least 3 days. There are long-acting (long) drugs, they are removed only after 2-3 weeks. Consulting a doctor can help prevent side effects. It is important to pay attention to the following parameters before starting to drink alcohol after antibiotics:
- the duration of treatment with the drug;
- its compatibility with ethyl alcohol;
- the time after which alcohol is allowed after the last dose.
Mix drugs with alcohol
From the point of view of some doctors, taking antibiotics at the same time as alcohol can lead to liver dysfunction, as well as reduce the effectiveness of drugs to almost nothing.
Other experts speak only of abstinence for four hours, assuring that at the end of this period the drugs already complete the active phase, and alcohol consumption will not affect the state of health in any way.
What happens if you mix it with alcohol
Antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of many diseases. During the treatment, many events take place: birthdays, corporate parties, weddings and other events. Therefore, many are concerned about the question of how much alcohol should not be drunk after antibiotics. Let's consider this problem in more detail.
Interaction
To understand whether it is possible to drink alcohol after antibiotics, you need to have information about the interaction of drugs and alcoholic drinks.
Any substance entering the body begins to be digested. First there is a splitting into its constituent parts, then the complete disintegration of the substance. Only the original elements remain. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats.
If you drink alcohol after antibiotics, the decay products of the alcoholic product are also split. If at this time the drug is not completely eliminated from the blood, its residues can dock with the decay products of alcohol. A mixture is formed that causes malfunctions in the work of internal organs.
Drinking alcohol after antibiotics can cause the following problems:
- the load on the liver will increase several times, due to which the natural filter will not cope with the overload;
- allergic reactions of a different nature;
- mental health issues will begin;
- dizziness and vomiting.
How the reaction will manifest if you drink alcohol after taking antibiotics depends on the specific type of drug, the amount of alcohol you drink, the person's age and sex, and individual characteristics. from the body.
It's safe to say that you can't drink alcohol after antibiotics. The rule also applies to drugs in the annotation for which there is no direct indication of incompatibility with alcohol-containing products. The mildest side effects if you drink alcohol after a course of antibiotics will be the absence of the expected therapeutic effect.
Despite various important activities that cannot do without alcohol-containing products, drinking alcohol after antibiotics is unacceptable.
Alcohol while taking antibiotics can lead to serious irreversible consequences. The main negative reactions of this combination include:
- Increase the resistance of pathogenic microflora. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed to destroy pathogenic microorganisms in the human body. At the same time, alcohol weakens the effect of these drugs, and at this time the bacteria adapt and adapt to the active substance, thereby increasing their resistance to this group of antibiotics.
- The transition from the acute form of the disease to the chronic. Alcohol can accelerate the metabolism of the active substance, while the drug breaks down faster and does not have time to act on the focus of inflammation. To do this, the doctor prescribes a double dose of antibiotics, the load on the body increases, and the disease is treated longer and more difficult.
- An increase in blood viscosity with a combination of alcohol and antibiotics can lead to the development of a stroke or myocardial infarction, as well as problems with the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
- Decreased drug concentration due to the use of alcoholic beverages. At the same time, the doctor increases the dosage of antibacterial drugs, and with such a load the liver and kidneys work for wear. Perhaps the development of acute insufficiency of these organs.
- Impaired liver function. Ethyl alcohol and antibiotics are broken down by the same liver enzymes. Under such an influence, the production of these substances can completely stop, which will lead to severe intoxication and inhibition of the organ.
- Risk of developing severe allergic reactions. The human body can react inadequately to such a complex of influences. Anaphylactic shock or angioedema with a fatal outcome is an irreversible result of the interaction of alcohol with antibiotics.
- Particularly dangerous is a disulfiram-like reaction, which occurs due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde (an intermediate metabolite of ethyl alcohol) in tissues and organs, it acts as a powerful nootropic on the central nervous system. Its excretion is disturbed and against this background severe intoxication occurs, accompanied by: nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, fever, drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, dizziness and convulsions.
Compatible drugs
Among antibacterial agents, there are separate categories of drugs that allow combined use with alcoholic beverages:
- cephalosporins;
- preparations of the penicillin series;
- macrolides.
If you are taking drugs containing penicillin, you can drink alcohol no earlier than 4 hours after completing a course of antibiotics. This time is quite enough for the complete absorption of the drug into the blood and its breakdown in the liver, which signals the fulfillment of the therapeutic function and the beginning of the process of elimination of the remnants of the drug by the kidneys.
If you start taking alcohol earlier than this period, or if you drink too much of it, the treatment effect will not follow. The fact is that ethanol in large quantities enhances the production of liver enzymes, which begin to actively break down not only alcohol, but also the drugs themselves.
This, in turn, contributes to the rapid removal of drugs from the body, due to which the drug does not have time to perform its functions. In addition, alcohol has a diuretic effect, which also contributes to reducing the concentration of drugs and reducing their effectiveness to zero.
But there is a group of antibacterial drugs that should never be taken with alcohol or just before drinking it. This is due to the ability of these antibiotics to block the production of enzymes that break down ethanol.
The effect of drugs of this group on the body is similar to the effect of the drug, which is used to code patients suffering from alcohol addiction.
Antibacterial therapy, carried out with the help of drugs with similar properties, requires complete rejection of alcohol. Violation of this rule is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.
There are a huge number of groups of antibacterial agents that cannot be combined with any alcohol. These drugs include:
- Nitroimidazoles. High risk of developing a disulfiram-like reaction (alcohol intake is possible only after 2 days).
- Fluoroquinolones, when combined with alcohol, depress the nervous system until the development of coma, alcohol is allowed only after 36 hours.
- When interacting with ethyl alcohol, cephalosporins give a disulfiram-like reaction, alcohol can be taken after 24 hours (in case of kidney disease, the interval is extended).
- Tetracyclines damage liver cells for a very long time, they are excreted from the body, drinking alcohol no earlier than after 3 days.
- Aminoglycosides are oto - and nephrotoxic, increase the side effects of drugs, alcohol is allowed to be taken no earlier than 2 weeks later.
- Lincosamides affect the central nervous system and liver, cause a reaction to disulfiram, alcohol is allowed only after 4 days.
- Macrolides cause liver cirrhosis. It is very slowly excreted from the body, say the consumption of alcoholic beverages only after 4 days.
- Anti-tuberculosis drugs cause the development of drug hepatitis with a fulminant course, any alcohol is strictly prohibited.
When can you drink alcohol after antibiotics: general rules
Compliance with the correct intake of antibiotics will help cure the disease faster without the risk of adverse effects. Basic rules:
- take medication only as directed by a doctor (self-medication is dangerous to health);
- be sure to observe the exact dosage and time of taking the antibiotic;
- the duration of treatment with the drug will be determined by the doctor. On average, it lasts 5-15 days, and taking long-acting drugs - 1-4 days;
- you need to drink tablets with clean non-carbonated water, chamomile decoctions, not hot tea without sugar;
- during antibiotic treatment, it is better to refuse to take fatty foods, which slow down the absorption of the active substance from the intestines into the blood. Be sure to consume animal protein in the form of chicken, rabbit, or turkey meat. Limit the amount of fast carbohydrates;
- absolute contraindication: alcohol after antibiotics if less than 3 days have passed.
Today, antibiotics are an integral part of the treatment of viral infections. This raises the question of when you can drink alcohol after antibiotics. Antibiotics are used in the fight against most viruses and bacteria known to modern medicine. What to do with alcohol consumption after antibiotics?
The duration of antibiotic treatment is usually several days to several months, depending on the complexity of the disease. Alcohol is not permitted during this time. Regulate your intake of other heavy foods. When using alcohol after antibiotics, the doctor does not guarantee you the maximum effectiveness of the course, moreover, complications often occur.
You may start drinking alcohol after antibiotics after some time. Do not drink during treatment. The number of days to wait before consuming alcohol varies by drug.
Why are alcohol and antibiotics incompatible things? The fact is that the antibiotic taken automatically reduces the activity of your internal organs, which not only fight infection, but also cleanse the body after drinking alcohol.
Drinking alcohol during antibiotic treatment means ruining your liver, kidneys and heart. After antibiotics, there is a serious failure of the natural intestinal microflora. If you drink in this state, you will end up in a hospital bed.
If you drink alcohol directly after the pill, without waiting, you will experience side effects such as:
- Hepatic insufficiency;
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- fuzzy mind.
These are the main reasons why alcohol after taking antibiotics is allowed only after a few days after the end of the course.
Duration of sobriety
Of course, the question of how long it takes to start drinking alcohol after taking antibiotics should be asked by your doctor. If you forgot to ask the doctor about it and can no longer reach him, refer to the annotation attached to the remedy. Read it carefully in search of information about the duration of administration, the compatibility of the drug with alcohol, the period after which you can drink alcohol.
Most often, when asked how many days you can return to the "alcoholic" life, the answer is a few days. The period of abstinence varies from three days to a full week. Regardless of the specific remedy used and the duration of its complete removal from the body.
Even if the instructions do not indicate whether it is possible to drink alcohol after antibiotics, it is better to postpone the festivities for a few days. The point is not only in the compatibility of drugs and alcohol, but also in a fragile body. Even the smallest dose can be a serious poison for him.
Strict prohibition
The strict prohibition of drinking alcohol during a course of antibiotics is not a whim of doctors. Even if you do not notice any side effects when combining these two components, it does not mean that the body has not been harmed.
With the combination of ethanol and drugs, there is not necessarily a direct effect. However, the therapeutic properties of the drug will be reduced. As a result, the disease will not be overcome, and an additional course will be required, which will seriously affect the liver and a number of other organs related to the excretory system.
There is a whole group of antibiotics, the combination of which with alcohol is strictly prohibited. The annotation of these drugs always notes the lack of compatibility with ethanol. In addition, an appropriate warning to the patient will be given by the physician.
In particular, alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited if you have been prescribed a drug from the group of tetracyclines. They are widely used in medicine for the treatment of various infections. Preparations of the levomecithins group are not combined with ethanol, as they cause serious side effects. When combined with alcohol consumption, the toxic effect of the drug is enhanced.
Cephalosporins are also powerful drugs. If taken simultaneously with alcohol, you can lead to severe intoxication of your body, which does not contribute to a quick recovery from the disease. In the group of drugs that are prohibited from drinking alcohol are antibiotics for tuberculosis and leprosy, as well as macrolides, which increase their toxic properties when combined with alcohol. First of all, in such cases, the brain and liver suffer.
Time range
There are antibiotics, in the instructions for which you will not find information about compatibility with ethyl alcohol. These are drugs against fungi, drugs with penicillin.
It has already been mentioned above that this gap in the instructions does not give the green light to the consumption of alcohol. Consider the individuality of your body. For some, the combination of alcohol and an antibiotic will only cause mild intoxication, and for some there is even a possibility of death.
In this case, the minimum period of abstinence is three days. Of course, if you have any questions, it is best to contact your doctor who will explain the answers to your questions.
Admission rules
You must take antibiotics correctly to increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the likelihood of side effects. The prescription of antibiotics is done only by a doctor; tests are carried out beforehand to help the doctor determine which antibiotics are best suited.
Self-purchasing antibiotics can lead to side effects or simply zero effectiveness.
The use of antibiotics is subject to strict rules. For example, when using antibiotics twice a day, it is better to bring the interval between doses up to 12 hours. Usually, during this time, a tablet maintains the required concentration of the substance in the blood.
Meat is best eaten boiled, while choosing chicken or turkey, prepare stewed vegetables. It is important to observe the drinking regime. Normally, a person needs 30 ml per kilogram of body weight.
However, during the illness, the intoxication syndrome increases, so it is advisable to increase the rate of consumption per liter.
Keep in mind that high temperature increases the fluid requirement of the body, and it is actively used to remove bacterial decay products from the body.
In case of infectious diseases, be sure to go on sick leave. Exclude sports, in some cases bed rest is recommended. If you can't lie down all day, take a walk outside. You can combine antibiotics with other medications only as directed by your doctor.
When can you drink alcohol
The timing of complete elimination of antibiotics from the body is strictly individual. For example, aminoglycosides are eliminated from the circulatory system after 2. 5 hours.
The same substances contained in the intra-auricular fluid leave the body only 14-15 days after taking the last pill. Drinking alcohol before this period is fraught with serious problems, up to complete deafness.
The length of the "abstinence" period is determined by the type of drug, the patient's age, medical condition and metabolic characteristics. In some cases, alcohol consumption is allowed already 1-1. 5 days after the end of treatment, in others it may take about 3-10 days of absolute refusal of alcohol.
Only a doctor can determine exactly how many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol. Many experts are of the opinion that you can taste delicious wine (or something stronger) only 10 days after the end of the therapeutic course.
For patients with diseases of the liver, kidneys and other organs, these periods may be extended, depending on the individual recommendations of the doctor.
In addition, a number of factors speak in favor of the absolute refusal of alcohol during treatment, as well as immediately after its completion:
- During this period, the human body, weakened by infection, is more susceptible to the effects of antibiotics, which have a negative effect on the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs harm the gastrointestinal tract, suppressing its microflora. If alcohol is added to this, the body may simply not withstand the load, which threatens the development of acute kidney and liver failure.
- The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy is reduced by almost 100% if you drink alcohol in parallel. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms, which antibiotics aim to humiliate, will lose sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its action. Repeated violation of the drinking abstinence regime will lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which can lead to the death of the patient.
These are the main reasons why you should stop drinking during a therapeutic course and immediately after its completion. Indeed, part of the pathogenic bacteria remains active for some time, and the weakening of the action of drugs will contribute to the further development of pathogenic microflora.
Summary
- During this period, the human body, weakened by infection, is more susceptible to the effects of antibiotics, which have a negative effect on the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs harm the gastrointestinal tract, suppressing its microflora. If alcohol is added to this, the body may simply not withstand the load, which threatens the development of acute kidney and liver failure.
- The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy is reduced by almost 100% if you drink alcohol in parallel. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms, which antibiotics aim to humiliate, will lose sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its action. Repeated violation of the drinking abstinence regime will lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which can lead to the death of the patient.
- How many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol, the doctor determines, taking into account the type and nature of the course of the disease, the age of the patient and the characteristics of his body.
- Light alcoholic beverages (for example, wine) can be drunk 3-5 days after the end of treatment, strong drinks - no earlier than 10 days later.
- Violation of the recommended periods of abstinence is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.