There are many different opinions about the permissibility of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people search the Internet for information about which is a myth and which 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 pill. Questions are often asked about the consequences of taking these two substances at the same time. The interest comes from the fact that even when treating a bacterial infection, many people are reluctant to deny themselves 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. It is used to treat various infectious processes, as the active components of antibacterial drugs effectively destroy pathogenic microorganisms (bactericidal) or stop their reproduction (bacteriostatic). Some drugs in this group can have both effects, depending on the dose taken. Indications for prescribing these drugs are bacterial infections and can only be prescribed by a doctor.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict adherence to all the doctor's recommendations. Alcohol withdrawal is the first priority during the therapeutic course. Many people are confused by this warning. But with these drugs, a therapeutic course is prescribed if there is a risk of the disease becoming chronic or developing serious complications, and it lasts only 5-10 days, no more than a week. This is not such a long time to sacrifice alcohol for your health.
Why do doctors not recommend alcohol during antibacterial therapy?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol when a patient is being treated for a bacterial infection. In addition, alcoholic beverages should not be taken with any medication, as their combined consumption 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 therapy.
Slowing down the clearance of half-life products
The very mention of alcohol and antibiotics in the same phrase conjures up in many people's minds the appearance of fatal consequences in terms of the occurrence of acute side effects. With the simultaneous use of these two substances, antibacterial drugs can cause a pronounced disulfiram-like reaction. This reaction consists of the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- tremor;
- nausea;
- headache;
- redness of the face;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- increased heartbeat;
- it feels like you can't breathe.
The appearance and intensification of such signs is directly related to the reaction of the antibacterial drug with ethyl alcohol. The pill taken slows down the breakdown of ethanol into safe substances, and the dangerous toxin acetaldehyde accumulates in the blood, causing severe poisoning. Therefore, experts categorically do not recommend carrying out antibacterial therapy and continuing to drink alcohol.
It is also possible that an inappropriate treatment response occurs. Ethyl alcohol has a slowing effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a decrease in their protective capacity, and the body is at the mercy of bacteria.
Increased toxicity
The use of ethyl alcohol in the treatment of infections poses a great danger to the liver. The active components of antibacterial agents can accumulate in the efferent bile ducts, clogging them, and alcohol interferes with the process of fatty acid synthesis in liver cells. This increased toxic effect causes disturbances in the liver. The negative effect that occurs when combining the drug with an alcoholic drink also affects other vital organs. They most often suffer from:
- kidney;
- brain;
- the cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal tract.
Weakening of the immune system
An immune response is needed to fight infections. If it is violated, the disease will be prolonged. However, ethanol-containing drinks lead to a weakening of the defense system during the metabolism, as a result of which you have to wait a long time for recovery. In addition, the following negative phenomena occur:
The simultaneous use of antibiotics and alcohol leads to a decrease in the therapeutic effect and leads to the development of harmful health consequences. Therefore, during antibiotic therapy, you should forget about drinking alcoholic beverages.
Ethanol contributes to the disruption of nighttime sleep, which promotes the production of cytokines. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response against pathogens. Their lack 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 with the help of special enzymes (proteins) - acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase. If you use both materials at the same time, the result will be one of two options:
Regular alcohol consumption over several days (a situation typical of excessive drinking) causes the opposite situation. Enzymes break down the drug faster, as a result of which the amount of the substance needed for recovery in the body decreases. This slows down the healing process and in some cases even leads to the development of resistance to antibacterial agents.
If a large amount of alcoholic beverages consumed in a short period of time enter the body, liver enzymes begin to break down 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 slows down the healing process and in some cases leads to an increase in resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Increased likelihood of drug side effects
Different groups of antibiotics can cause the following side effects in some cases:
- allergic reactions (such as skin rashes);
- oral candidiasis;
- Appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- Occurrence of dysbiosis due to disruption of intestinal microflora;
- Acute headache, dizziness, lack of sleep at night, daytime sleepiness;
- Disorders of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (rare or frequent urination) and the locomotor system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If the patient drinks alcoholic beverages during the treatment of a bacterial infection, the likelihood of unpleasant reactions increases. This proves again that the drug should not be combined with alcoholic beverages.
How long can I drink alcohol after stopping the antibiotic?
The half-life is at least 2 days after taking the medicine. Moreover, if the patient has undergone antibiotic treatment, this time is not enough for him. You should wait at least a week before drinking alcohol. This waiting time is necessary so that the patient's body is completely cleansed of antibiotic residues and the patient avoids a possible reaction - a disulfiram-like effect. Based on the drug groups, the waiting time is as follows:
- A person who has not had a chronic illness and has not received chemotherapy or radiation in the past 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.
- Alcohol is prohibited for another 72 hours after the end of tinidazole therapy. Patients with a history of hepatitis or cirrhosis should avoid alcoholic beverages for at least 2 weeks after completing antibiotic therapy.
Ethyl alcohol is found in mouthwashes, sprays, natural herbal preparations, and dietary supplements. Therefore, discuss the question of whether it is advisable to take it during or immediately after antibiotic therapy with your doctor.
What antibacterial agents can you drink alcohol with?
No in-depth studies have been conducted to confirm that the simultaneous use of ethanol and drugs to relieve bacterial infections poses a health risk. An experiment was conducted on rats. It was done with azithromycin, which belongs to a group of antibiotics used to treat many diseases. The results of the study showed 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, especially liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is allowed to take this medicine together with alcoholic beverages, as the effects of their simultaneous use have not been sufficiently studied. It takes time and accumulated statistics to determine potential interactions. However, to avoid problems, consult your doctor before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol.
There are many other medications for bacterial infections that have not been shown to interact negatively with alcohol. The notes for the 5 most frequently prescribed drugs do not contain any contraindications directly related to ethyl alcohol. These include medicines containing the following substances:
- Cephalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
With these antibacterial agents, you can also take cough and cold medicines containing ethanol. However, you should understand that alcohol, which is in the body at the same time as the active component of antibiotics, can cause an increased load on all systems and can damage liver tissues. So is it worth taking a risk and mixing these 2 substances?
Which medicines are forbidden to drink alcohol with?
There are several antibiotics that can interact directly with ethanol. It is strictly forbidden to drink any amount of alcohol during the treatment. These include medicines containing 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 may fall into a coma.
- Aminoglycosides. These drugs are also incompatible with other drugs, especially with drinks containing ethyl alcohol.
- Cycloserine. It is used to treat lung infections and tuberculosis. In combination with alcohol, it leads to the appearance of a convulsive syndrome.
- Lincosamides. Antibiotics belonging to this group have a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system when consumed together with alcoholic beverages.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. An antibacterial drug used to kill single-celled pathogenic microorganisms. It includes a group of drugs prescribed for the relief of patients with 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 cause severe alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol consumed during treatment with these drugs causes sharp "jumps" in blood pressure. Side effects also occur when the drug is used externally.
What to do in case of simultaneous use?
If you consciously refuse to listen to the doctor's advice, or if you are careless, you 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 this situation occurs, you should monitor the condition. If negative reactions do not appear, then 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 (activated charcoal can be finely ground and diluted in water, 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight).
- Call your doctor and tell them that the last tablet has been removed and explain why and when this happened. The doctor decides whether the dose needs to be adjusted in a given case.
It is good if you have the opportunity to give blood for analysis. Its results make it possible to understand whether the combination of the antibacterial drug and ethanol had a negative effect on the blood count. But if pronounced negative signs of the digestive system, cardiovascular system or nervous system appear soon after a dangerous combination, 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 causes an increased load on the somatic organs, especially the liver. You can drink a little alcohol once in a while because it does not cause any dangerous consequences or side effects. But it is better to do an antibiotic therapy first and then relax.