There are many different opinions about the acceptability of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people are looking for information about what is myth and what is true on the Internet. People are usually interested in how long it takes for the active components of the antibiotic to leave the body, and when they can drink alcohol after taking the last pill. Questions are often asked about what the consequences might be if these 2 substances are taken together. The interest is associated with the reluctance of many people, even during the treatment of bacterial infections, 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 a good antimicrobial effect. They are used in the treatment of various infectious processes, because the active components of antibacterial drugs effectively destroy pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria) or stop their reproduction (bacteriostatic). Some drugs in this group are able to perform both actions, depending on the dose taken. The indication for prescribing this drug is a bacterial infection, and only a doctor can prescribe it.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict adherence to all the doctor's recommendations. Elimination of alcohol during the therapeutic course is preferred. Many people are confused by this warning. But a course of therapy with these drugs is prescribed when there is a threat of the disease becoming chronic or having serious complications, and it 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 therapy?
Doctors advise not to drink alcohol if the patient is undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection. In addition, drinks containing alcohol should not be taken with any medication, as their combined use can cause organ and somatic system disorders. It is worth discussing some of the reasons that give doctors the right to prohibit patients from drinking alcohol during a course of antibiotic therapy.
Slows the elimination of half-life products
The mention of alcohol and antibiotics in the same phrase evokes in many people the appearance of fatal consequences in their thinking about the occurrence of acute side effects. With the simultaneous use of these 2 substances, antibacterial drugs can provoke a pronounced disulfiram-like reaction. This reaction consists of the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- tremors;
- nausea;
- Headache;
- facial redness;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- increased heart rate;
- I feel like I can't breathe.
The appearance and intensification of the signs are directly related to the reaction of antibacterial drugs to ethyl alcohol. Taken pills slow down the breakdown of ethanol into a safe substance, and the dangerous toxin acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning. That is why experts absolutely do not recommend taking a course of antibacterial therapy and continue drinking alcohol.
It is also possible that an incorrect treatment response may occur. Ethyl alcohol has a slow effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a decrease in their protective ability, 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. Active components of antibacterial agents can accumulate in the efferent bile duct, clogging it, and alcohol interferes with the process of fatty acid synthesis that occurs in hepatocytes. This increased toxic effect creates disturbances in the liver. The negative effects that occur when drugs and alcohol-containing drinks are combined affect other vital organs. They often suffer from:
- kidney;
- the brain;
- cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal tract.
Weakness of the immune system
To overcome infection, an immune response is required. If violated, the disease will linger. However, drinks containing ethanol during metabolism lead to a weakening of the immune system, as a result of which recovery will have to wait a long time. In addition, 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 dangerous health consequences. Therefore, when undergoing a course of antibiotic therapy, you should forget about drinking alcoholic beverages.
Ethanol contributes to the disruption of night sleep, which promotes the production of cytokines. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response to pathogens. Their deficiency leads to a slowdown in the function 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 ingredients at the same time, the result will be one of two options:
Regular consumption of alcohol for several days (a typical situation for excessive drinking) creates the opposite situation. Enzymes break down the drug more quickly, resulting in a decrease in the substance needed for recovery in the body. This slows down the healing process, and in some cases even leads to the development of resistance to antibacterial agents.
When a large amount of alcoholic beverages taken in a short period of time enters the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol, and the breakdown of the drug slows down. The result is a rapid increase in the amount of active drug components in the blood. This leads to a slowdown in the healing process, and in some cases leads to increased resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Increased likelihood of developing drug side effects
Different groups of antibiotics in some cases can trigger the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (for example, rashes on the skin);
- Oral candidiasis;
- The appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- The occurrence of dysbiosis due to intestinal microflora disorders;
- Acute headache, dizziness, lack of sleep at night, daytime sleepiness;
- Disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (infrequent or frequent urination) and the musculoskeletal system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If the patient drinks alcoholic beverages during treatment for a bacterial infection, the likelihood of an unpleasant reaction will increase. This again shows that you should not combine the use of drugs with alcoholic beverages.
How long after stopping antibiotics can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after taking the drug. Moreover, if the patient has undergone a course of antibiotic therapy, this time is not enough for him. You should wait at least a week before drinking alcohol. This waiting period is necessary so that the patient's body is completely cleansed of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids possible reactions - disulfiram-like effects. Based on the drug group, the waiting time is as follows:
- A person who has no history of chronic disease and has not undergone chemotherapy or radiation in the past 12 months can drink a small amount of alcohol 24 hours after finishing antibiotic therapy.
- Patients who have been given Metronidazole should avoid drinking alcohol for 2 days after the last injection or tablet.
- After completing the course of Tinidazole therapy, 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 therapy.
Ethyl alcohol can be found in mouthwashes, sprays, natural herbal remedies and dietary supplements. Therefore, the question of the appropriateness of taking it during the course of antibiotic therapy or immediately after its completion should be discussed with your doctor.
What antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol?
There are no in-depth studies that confirm that the simultaneous use of ethanol and drugs that relieve bacterial infections poses a health threat. There was an experiment on rats. It is carried out with Azithromycin, which is part of a group of antibiotics used to treat many diseases. The results of the study show that its effectiveness does not decrease when taken with alcohol. However, sometimes Azithromycin itself, which is a relatively strong drug, can cause serious side effects, in particular, liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is allowed to take this drug and alcoholic beverages together, because the effect of their simultaneous use has not been sufficiently studied. To determine the possibility of their interaction, time and accumulated statistics are needed. However, to avoid problems, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are several other drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections that have not been shown to have a negative interaction with alcohol. Annotations for the 5 most commonly prescribed drugs do not contain any contraindications directly related to ethyl alcohol. This includes medicines that contain the following substances:
- Cephalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-Clavanic acid.
You can also take cough and cold medicines that contain ethanol with this antibacterial agent. However, you need to understand that alcohol that is in the body simultaneously with the active components of antibiotics can create an increased load on all systems and cause damage to liver tissue. So is it worth the risk and mixing these 2 ingredients?
What medicines are prohibited to use alcohol?
There are several antibiotic drugs that can interact directly with ethanol. During treatment, it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol in any quantity. These include drugs with the following active ingredients:
- Linezolid. This product is effective against bacteria that are resistant to other types of antibiotics. This medicine is prescribed for skin infections.
- Fluoroquinolones. Their combination with alcohol is very dangerous because of the direct effect of the drug on the central nervous system. A patient who makes a mistake may end up in a coma.
- Aminoglycosides. This drug is not compatible even with other drugs, especially with drinks containing ethyl alcohol.
- Cycloserine. Used in the treatment of lung infections and tuberculosis. In combination with alcohol it leads to the appearance of seizure syndrome.
- Lincosamides. Antibiotics from this group, when consumed with alcoholic beverages, have a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. Antibacterial drugs used to destroy single-cell pathological microorganisms. Included in the group of drugs prescribed to relieve Helicobacteriosis patients.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. Antimicrobial drugs 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 taken during the course of treatment with these drugs causes a sharp "jump" in blood pressure. Adverse reactions occur even when the drug is used externally.
What to do in case of simultaneous use?
Conscious refusal to listen to the doctor's advice or not paying attention can create a situation where antibiotics and alcohol enter the stomach at the same time. A person who does a dangerous mixture does not necessarily feel sick immediately. If such a situation occurs, you need to monitor the situation. If a negative reaction does 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 an enterosorbent (you can finely grind activated carbon and dissolve it in water at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight).
- Call your doctor and tell him that the last pill has been taken and explain why and what time this 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. The results will allow to understand whether the combination of antibacterial drugs and ethanol has a negative effect on blood counts. But if, immediately after a dangerous combination, 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 in unpredictable ways due to increased sensitivity.
It should be remembered that the combined use of alcohol and antibiotics is very dangerous, because it creates an increased load on somatic organs, especially the liver. You can drink a small amount of alcohol once, because this will not cause harmful consequences or side effects. But it is better to first take a course of antibiotic therapy and then rest.