There are many different opinions about the permissibility of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people search for information on what is myth and what is truth on the Internet. People are usually interested in how long it takes the active components of antibiotics to leave the body and when they can drink alcohol after taking the last pill. Questions are often asked about what consequences can occur if these 2 substances are taken at the same time. The interest is related to the reluctance of many people, even during the treatment of 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 have both actions, depending on the dose taken. Indications for prescribing these drugs are bacterial infections and only a doctor can prescribe them.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict compliance with all the doctor's recommendations. Eliminating alcohol during the therapeutic course is in the first place. Many people are confused by this warning. But the course of treatment with these drugs is prescribed when there is a threat of chronification of the disease or the development of serious complications and lasts only 5-10 days, a maximum of a week. This is not such a long period to sacrifice alcohol for the sake of your health.
Why do doctors not recommend alcohol during antibacterial therapy?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol if the patient is undergoing treatment for a bacterial infection. In addition, alcoholic beverages should not be drunk with drugs, 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 while undergoing a course of antibiotic therapy.
Slowing down the elimination of half-life products
Mentioning alcohol and antibiotics in the same phrase provokes in many people the occurrence of fatal consequences in their thoughts about the occurrence of acute side effects. With the simultaneous use of these 2 substances, antibacterial drugs can cause a pronounced reaction similar to disulfiram. This reaction consists in the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- tremor;
- nausea;
- headache;
- facial flushing;
- stomach pains;
- 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 accepted pill slows down the breakdown of ethanol into safe substances, and the dangerous toxin acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning. That is why experts strongly do not recommend a course of antibacterial therapy and continued alcohol use.
Incorrect response to treatment may also occur. Ethyl alcohol has a retarding effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a decrease in their protective abilities and the body is left at the mercy of bacteria.
Increased toxicity
The use of ethyl alcohol in the treatment of infection poses a great threat to the liver. The active components of antibacterial agents can accumulate in the efferent bile ducts, blocking them, and alcohol interferes with the process of fatty acid synthesis that occurs in hepatocytes. This increased toxic effect provokes disturbances in the liver. The negative effect that occurs when combining the drug and an alcoholic drink affects other vital organs. They most often suffer from:
- kidneys;
- brain;
- cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal tract.
Weakening of the immune system
An immune response is needed to deal with the infection. If it is disturbed, the disease will drag on. However, ethanol-containing drinks during metabolism lead to a weakening of the defense 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 harmful effects on health. Therefore, when undergoing a course of antibiotic therapy, you should forget about drinking alcoholic beverages.
Ethanol contributes to the disruption of nocturnal sleep, which promotes the production of cytokines. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response to pathogens. Their deficiency leads to a delay in the functioning of the immune system.
Reduced therapeutic effect of antibacterial drugs
The liver breaks down antibiotics and ethyl alcohol with the help of 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 for several days (a situation typical of binge drinking) provokes the opposite situation. Enzymes break down the drug faster, which leads to a decrease in the substance needed for recovery in the body. This provokes a delay 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 of time enters the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol and the breakdown of the drug slows down. The result of this is a rapid increase in the amount of active medicinal components in the blood. This leads to a delay in the healing process and in some cases provokes an increase in resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Increased likelihood of developing side effects from medications
Different groups of antibiotics in some cases can cause the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (eg skin rash);
- Oral candidiasis;
- The occurrence 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, drowsiness during the day;
- Disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (infrequent or frequent urination) and musculoskeletal system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If the patient drinks an alcoholic beverage during the treatment of a bacterial infection, the likelihood of unpleasant reactions increases. This once again shows that you should not combine the use of the drug with an alcoholic drink.
How long after stopping the antibiotic can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after taking the drug. In addition, 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 cleared of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids a possible reaction - a disulfiram-like effect. Based on drug groups, waiting times are as follows:
- A person who has no history of chronic disease and has not had chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the last 12 months can drink a small amount of alcohol 24 hours after finishing antibiotic therapy.
- Patients 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 therapy.
Ethyl alcohol can be found in mouthwashes, sprays, natural herbal remedies, and nutritional supplements. Therefore, the question of the appropriateness of taking them during a course of antibiotic therapy or immediately after its completion should be discussed with your doctor.
With what antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol?
There are no in-depth studies confirming that the simultaneous use of ethanol and drugs that relieve bacterial infections poses a threat to health. There was one experiment on rats. It was done 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 together with alcohol. However, sometimes azithromycin itself, which is quite a strong drug, can cause serious side effects, in particular liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is permissible to take this drug and alcoholic beverages together, since the effects of their simultaneous use have not been sufficiently studied. It takes time and accumulated statistics to determine their possible interactions. However, to avoid trouble, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are a number of other drugs to treat bacterial infections that have not been shown to interact negatively with alcohol. The annotations to the 5 most frequently prescribed drugs do not contain contraindications directly related 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 antibacterials. However, you should understand that alcohol, which is in the body at the same time as the active component of antibiotics, can create an increased load on all systems and provoke damage to liver tissues. So is it worth the risk and mixing these 2 substances?
With what drugs is alcohol prohibited?
There are several antibiotic drugs that can interact directly with ethanol. During the 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 types of antibiotics. The drug 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 fall into a comatose state.
- Aminoglycosides. These drugs are incompatible even with other drugs, especially with drinks containing ethyl alcohol.
- Cycloserine. It is used in the treatment of lung infections and tuberculosis. In combination with alcohol, it leads to the appearance of a convulsive 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. An antibacterial drug used to destroy unicellular pathological microorganisms. Included in the group of drugs prescribed to relieve the patient from Helicobacteriosis.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. An antimicrobial drug used to treat vaginal and dental infections. It is added to ointments and gels used to treat bedsores and trophic ulcers.
- Cephalosporins provoke severe alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol consumed during a course of treatment with these drugs causes sharp "surges" in blood pressure. Adverse reactions occur even with external application of the drug.
What to do in case of simultaneous use?
Conscious unwillingness to listen to the doctor's advice or carelessness 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 bad right away. If such a situation occurs, you should monitor the condition. If no negative reactions occur, you do not need to seek medical help, but help yourself:
- Drink 1. 5-2 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Induce artificial vomiting.
- Take an 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 that the last pill has been taken 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 soon after a dangerous combination, pronounced negative signs of 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, as it provokes an increased load on the somatic organs, especially the liver. You can drink a little alcohol once as it will not cause any dangerous consequences or side effects. But it is better to first take a course of antibiotic therapy and then relax.