There are very different opinions regarding the admissibility of using ethyl alcohol in the treatment of bacterial infections. Many people search for information on the Internet 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 what consequences might 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 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, 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 drugs are bacterial infections and only a doctor can prescribe them.
The main condition for effective treatment is strict compliance with all doctor's recommendations. The elimination of alcohol during the therapeutic process comes first. Many people are confused by this warning. But a course of therapy with these drugs is prescribed when there is a risk that the disease will become chronic or develop serious complications and lasts only 5-10 days, a maximum of a week. This is not such a long time to sacrifice alcohol for the sake of your health.
Why don't doctors recommend alcohol during antibacterial therapy?
Doctors strongly advise against drinking alcohol if the patient is being treated for a bacterial infection. Also, alcohol-containing drinks should not be drunk with any medications, since their combined use can cause disorders of the organs and somatic systems. It is worth talking about several reasons that give doctors the right to prohibit patients from drinking alcohol during a course of antibiotic therapy.
Slowing 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 reaction similar to disulfiram. This reaction consists of the appearance of the following symptoms:
- colic;
- tremor;
- nausea;
- heachache;
- facial redness;
- stomach cramps;
- confusion;
- increased sweating;
- increased heart rate;
- feeling like you can't breathe.
The appearance and intensification of such signs are 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 serious poisoning. This is why experts categorically advise against following a course of antibacterial therapy and continuing to drink alcohol.
It is also possible that an incorrect therapeutic response may occur. Ethyl alcohol has a slowing effect on antibiotics: they lose their activity, which leads to a decrease in their protective abilities 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, blocking them, and alcohol interferes with the process of fatty acid synthesis that occurs in hepatocytes. This increased toxic effect causes liver problems. The negative effect that occurs when combining the drug and an alcohol-containing drink affects other vital organs. Very often they suffer:
- kidneys;
- brain;
- the cardiovascular system;
- Gastrointestinal tract.
Weakening of the immune system
An immune response is required to deal with an infection. If it is violated, the disease will drag on. However, drinks containing ethanol 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 causes the development of harmful health consequences. Therefore, during a course of antibiotic therapy, you should forget about drinking alcohol-containing drinks.
Ethanol contributes to nighttime sleep disruption, which promotes cytokine production. These are specific proteins that activate the immune response to 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 alcohol consumption over several days (a typical situation of binge eating) causes the opposite situation. Enzymes break down the drug faster, resulting in a decrease in 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 of time enters the body, liver enzymes begin to metabolize ethanol and the decomposition 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 slowdown in the healing process and in some cases causes increased resistance to antibacterial drugs.
Greater chance of developing side effects of medications
Different groups of antibiotics in some cases can cause the following side effects:
- Allergic reactions (for example, skin rash);
- oral candidiasis;
- The appearance of dyspeptic disorders: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting;
- The occurrence of dysbiosis due to disruption of the intestinal microflora;
- Severe headache, dizziness, lack of night sleep, daytime drowsiness;
- Disorders in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- Changes in the urinary organs (rare or frequent urination) and in the musculoskeletal system (myalgia and arthralgia).
If a patient drinks a drink containing alcohol during treatment for a bacterial infection, the likelihood of unpleasant reactions increases. This once again proves that you should not combine the use of the medicine with a drink containing alcohol.
How long after stopping the antibiotic can I drink alcohol?
The half-life is at least 2 days after consuming the drug. Furthermore, 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 a possible reaction - an effect similar to disulfiram. According to the drug groups, 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 prescribed 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 completion of antibiotic therapy.
Ethyl alcohol can be found in mouthwashes, sprays, natural herbal medicines and dietary supplements. Therefore, the question of whether to take them during a course of antibiotic therapy or immediately after its termination should be discussed with the doctor.
With what antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol?
No in-depth studies have been conducted to confirm that the simultaneous use of ethanol and drugs that alleviate bacterial infections poses a threat to health. There was an experiment on rats. It was carried out 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 together with alcohol. However, sometimes azithromycin itself, which is a fairly powerful medicine, can cause serious side effects, especially liver damage.
Bacteriophage. It is allowed to take this drug and alcoholic beverages together, since the effects of their simultaneous use have not been sufficiently studied. To determine their possible interactions, time and accumulated statistics are needed. However, to avoid problems, before combining Bacteriophage with alcohol, you should consult your doctor.
There are numerous other medications for treating bacterial infections that have not been shown to have a negative interaction with alcohol. The notes relating to the 5 most commonly prescribed drugs do not contain contraindications directly related to ethyl alcohol. These include drugs that contain the following substances:
- Cefalexin.
- Amoxicillin.
- Ciprofloxacin.
- Azithromycin.
- Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
You can also take ethanol-containing cough-and-cold medications with these antibacterial agents. However, it is necessary to understand that alcohol present in the body simultaneously with the active component of antibiotics can create an increased load on all systems and cause damage to liver tissues. So is it worth the risk and mixing these 2 substances?
With which drugs is alcohol prohibited?
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. 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 also incompatible 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 convulsive syndrome.
- Lincosamides. Antibiotics from this group, when consumed with alcohol-containing drinks, have a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system.
- Tinidazole 500 mg. An antibacterial drug used to destroy single-celled pathological microorganisms. Included in the group of drugs prescribed to relieve the patient from helicobacteriosis.
- Metronidazole 250 mg. An antimicrobial medicine 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 a course of treatment with these drugs causes sharp "surges" in blood pressure. Adverse reactions also occur when the medicine is applied externally.
What to do in case of simultaneous use?
Conscious reluctance to listen to the doctor's advice or inattention 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 immediately. If such a situation occurs, you need to monitor the condition. If no negative reactions appear, it is not necessary to seek medical help, but help yourself:
- Drink 1. 5-2 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Induce artificial vomiting.
- Take the enterosorbent (you can finely grind the activated carbon and dilute it in water at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight).
- Call your doctor and tell him that the last pill was removed and explain why and what time this happened. Your doctor will decide whether it is necessary to adjust the dose in a particular case.
It's good if you have the opportunity to donate blood for analysis. His results will allow us to understand whether the combination of an antibacterial drug and ethanol had a negative effect on the blood count. But if immediately after a dangerous combination appear pronounced negative signs from the digestive, cardiovascular or nervous system, 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, as this will not cause any dangerous consequences or side effects. But it is better to first do a course of antibiotic therapy and then relax.