There are many different opinions regarding the admissibility of the use of ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people search the Internet for information about what is a myth and what is true. People are usually interested in how long it takes for the active components of antibiotics to leave the body and when they can drink alcohol after taking the last tablet. Questions are often asked about the consequences that can occur if these 2 substances are taken at the same time. This interest is due to the reluctance of many people, even during treatment for a bacterial infection, to deprive themselves of 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 a good antimicrobial effect. They are used in the treatment of various infectious processes, since the active components of antibacterial drugs effectively destroy pathogenic microorganisms (bactericidal) or stop their reproduction (bacteriostatic). Some drugs in this group are capable of both actions, depending on the dose taken. The indications for prescribing these medications are bacterial infections and only a doctor can prescribe them.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict adherence to all doctor's recommendations. The elimination of alcohol during the therapeutic course is a priority. Many people are confused by this warning. But treatment with these drugs is prescribed when there is a risk that the disease will become chronic or develop serious complications, and it lasts only 5-10 days, a maximum of a week. That's not such a long time to sacrifice alcohol for the sake of your health.
Why don't doctors recommend alcohol during antibacterial treatment?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol if the patient is undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection. In addition, alcohol-containing drinks should not be drunk with any medications, since their combined use can cause disorders of somatic organs and systems. It is worth talking about several reasons that give doctors the right to prohibit patients from drinking alcohol during antibiotic treatment.
Slow down the elimination of half-life products
The mention of alcohol and antibiotics in the same sentence causes many people to have fatal consequences in their thoughts regarding the appearance of acute side effects. With the simultaneous use of these 2 substances, antibacterial drugs can cause a pronounced disulfiram-like reaction. This reaction consists of the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- trembling;
- nausea;
- headache;
- facial redness;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- increased heart rate;
- feeling like you can't breathe.
The appearance and intensification of such signs is directly related to the reaction of the antibacterial drug to ethyl alcohol. The pill taken slows the breakdown of ethanol into safe substances, and the dangerous toxin acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning. This is why experts categorically advise against taking antibacterial treatment and continuing to drink alcohol.
It is also possible that an incorrect response to treatment may occur. Ethyl alcohol has a slowing down effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a reduction in their protective capabilities, and the body is at the mercy 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 efferent bile ducts, obstruct them, and alcohol interferes with the process of fatty acid synthesis occurring in hepatocytes. This increased toxic effect causes liver problems. The negative effect that occurs when the drug and an alcohol-containing drink are combined affects other vital organs. Most often they suffer:
- kidneys;
- brain;
- the cardiovascular system;
- Digestive tract.
Weakening of the immune system
To deal with an infection, an immune response is necessary. If it is violated, the illness will drag on. However, drinks containing ethanol, during metabolism, lead to a weakening of the defense system, which will require a long time to recover. Additionally, the following negative phenomena occur:
The simultaneous use of antibiotics and alcohol leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effect and provokes the development of adverse health consequences. Therefore, when undergoing antibiotic treatment, you should forget about drinking alcohol-containing drinks.
Ethanol helps disrupt nighttime sleep, which promotes cytokine production. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response against pathogens. Their deficiency leads to a slowdown in the functioning of the immune system.
Reduced 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 consumption of alcohol over several days (a typical situation of excessive alcohol consumption) causes the opposite situation. The enzymes break down the medication more quickly, resulting in less of the substance needed for recovery 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 a large amount of alcoholic beverages consumed in a short period enters the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol and the breakdown of the drug slows down. This results in a rapid increase in the amount of active medicinal components in the blood. This leads to a slowdown in the healing process and in some cases causes an increase in resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Increased likelihood of developing medication side effects
Different groups of antibiotics can in some cases cause the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (eg, rash);
- Oral candidiasis;
- The appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- The appearance of dysbiosis due to disruption of the intestinal microflora;
- Acute headache, dizziness, lack of sleep at night, daytime sleepiness;
- Disorders of the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (rare or frequent urination) and the musculoskeletal system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If a patient drinks an alcohol-containing drink during treatment of a bacterial infection, the likelihood of unpleasant reactions increases. This once again demonstrates that the use of medications should not be combined with an alcohol-containing drink.
How long after stopping the antibiotic can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after consumption of the drug. In addition, if the patient has followed a course of antibiotic therapy, this time is not enough. You should wait at least a week before drinking alcohol. This waiting period is necessary so that the patient's body is completely cleared of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids a possible reaction – a disulfiram-like effect. Depending on the drug groups, the waiting time is as follows:
- A person who has no history of chronic illness and who has not received chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the past 12 months can drink a small amount of alcohol 24 hours after finishing their antibiotic treatment.
- Patients prescribed metronidazole should avoid drinking alcohol for 2 days after the last injection or tablet.
- After completing 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 completion of 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 its completion should be discussed with your doctor.
With what antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol?
No comprehensive studies have confirmed that the simultaneous use of ethanol and drugs that relieve bacterial infections poses a health threat. There was an experiment on rats. It was performed with Azithromycin, which is part of a group of antibiotics used to treat many diseases. The results of the study showed that its effectiveness does not decrease when taken with alcohol. However, azithromycin itself, which is a fairly powerful drug, can sometimes cause serious side effects, including liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is allowed to take this medicine and alcoholic beverages together, since the effects of their simultaneous use have not been sufficiently studied. In order to determine their possible interactions, time and accumulated statistics are required. However, in order to avoid problems, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are a number of other medications for the treatment of bacterial infections that do not have a negative interaction with alcohol. The annotations of the 5 most commonly prescribed medications do not contain any contraindications directly linked to ethyl alcohol. These include medicines that contain the following substances:
- Cephalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
You can also take cough and cold medicines containing ethanol with these antibacterial agents. However, you need to understand that alcohol present in the body along with the active component of antibiotics can create an increased load on all systems and cause damage to liver tissue. So, is it worth the risk to mix these 2 substances?
With what drugs is alcohol prohibited?
There are several antibiotics that can interact directly with ethanol. During treatment, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol in any quantity. These include medicines containing the following active ingredients:
- Linezolid. The product is effective against bacteria resistant to other types of antibiotics. The medicine is prescribed for skin infections.
- Fluoroquinolones. Their combination with alcohol is very dangerous due to the direct effect of the drug on the central nervous system. A patient who makes a mistake can end up in a comatose state.
- 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. In combination with alcohol, this leads to the appearance of convulsive syndrome.
- Lincosamides. Antibiotics of this group, when consumed with alcohol-containing drinks, have a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. Antibacterial drug used to destroy single-celled pathological microorganisms. Included in the group of drugs prescribed to relieve the patient of helicobacteriosis.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. Antimicrobial drug used to treat vaginal and dental infections. It is added to ointments and gels used to treat bedsores and trophic ulcers.
- Cephalosporins cause severe alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol consumed during treatment with these medications causes sudden "jumps" in blood pressure. Adverse effects occur even when the drug is applied externally.
What to do if used simultaneously?
Conscious refusal to listen to the doctor's advice or inattention can create a situation in which antibiotics and alcohol enter the stomach simultaneously. A person who commits a dangerous mixture does not necessarily feel sick immediately. If such a situation occurs, you must monitor the situation. If no negative reactions appear, you do not need to consult a doctor, but help yourself:
- Drink 1. 5-2 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Cause artificial vomiting.
- Take enterosorbent (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 them the last pill was removed and explain why and what time it happened. The doctor will decide whether the dose needs to be adjusted in a particular case.
It is good if you have the opportunity to donate blood for analysis. Its results will make it possible to understand whether the combination of an antibacterial drug and ethanol had a negative effect on the blood count. But if, shortly after a dangerous combination, pronounced negative signs from the digestive, cardiovascular or nervous system appear, it is better to call an ambulance. This is especially true for people with a history of allergies or diabetes, as their bodies may react unpredictably due to increased sensitivity.
It should be remembered that the combined consumption of alcohol and antibiotics is very dangerous, as it causes increased load on somatic organs, including the liver. You can drink a little alcohol once, as it will not lead to dangerous consequences and side effects. But it is better to take antibiotic therapy first and then relax.