Alcohol And Antibiotics

Can You Drink Alcohol When On Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are prescription medications that kill or prevent bacteria, which are among the main culprits in causing infections. Common bacterial infections include strep throat, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, food poisoning, and skin infections.

Not all antibiotics interact with alcohol, but certain antibiotics do interact poorly with alcohol. Therefore, a person should not consume alcohol during the entire length of treatment with these antibiotics.

Interactions between alcohol and antibiotics can cause unwanted side effects or make the antibiotics less effective. These specific antibiotics usually come with a label warning on the prescription pill bottle, and the doctor or pharmacist will often warn the patient not to drink alcohol for the entire length of treatment.

What Are The Side Effects Of Combining Alcohol With Antibiotics?

Consuming alcohol can interrupt sleep, nutrition, and how your body processes glucose. These factors can delay wound healing and slow down recovery time if you are suffering from a bacterial infection.

Even if a specific antibiotic does not directly cause adverse effects with alcohol, it is a good idea not to combine alcohol with antibiotics if you are healing from an infection or an illness.

If a person is taking antibiotics that directly interfere with alcohol, some of the known side effects include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Flushing
• Rapid breathing
• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Increased heart rate

Does Alcohol Reduce Antibiotics’ Effectiveness?

Currently, there is not enough scientific evidence to support the idea that alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. However, alcohol may interfere with how your body absorbs and processes the drug, potentially lowering the antibiotic’s concentration in your blood. Overall, it is still beneficial to avoid alcohol while taking antibiotics to avoid unwanted side effects and delayed healing.

Common Antibiotics And Their Interaction With Alcohol

While some common antibiotics may not have any serious interactions with alcohol, that doesn’t mean that the combination is productive for healing. You should consult your doctor or pharmacist before engaging in drinking behaviors while taking these prescriptions.

Amoxicillin

Alcohol should not interfere with amoxicillin.

Azithromycin

Alcohol will most likely not impede the effectiveness of azithromycin but may exacerbate side effects like nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea.

Cephalexin

Alcohol should not impede the effectiveness of cephalexin but may exacerbate side effects like dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea.

Ciprofloxacin

Alcohol should not interfere with ciprofloxacin. 

Clavulanate

Alcohol should not interfere with clavulanate.

Clindamycin

Alcohol should not interfere with clindamycin.

Doxycycline

Do not drink alcohol while taking doxycycline. Combining alcohol with doxycycline can cause severe gastrointestinal issues. 

Isoniazid (INH)

Do not drink alcohol while taking isoniazid (INH). Alcohol will increase the risk of liver damage (hepatitis). Alcohol can also increase the risk of nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy).

Levofloxacin

Do not drink alcohol while taking levofloxacin (Levaquin). The combination will cause effects such as disorientation, nervousness, attention disturbances, memory loss, and confusion.

Linezolid (Zyvox)

Do not drink alcohol while taking linezolid. Alcohol can cause a drastic increase in blood pressure known as a hypertensive crisis.

Metronidazole

Do not drink alcohol while taking metronidazole (Flagyl). The combination will cause a “disulfuram-like reaction,” with symptoms such as flushed skin, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

Sulfamethoxazole

Do not drink alcohol while taking sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim or Septra). The combination will cause a “disulfuram-like reaction,” with effects including increased heart rate, nausea, and vomiting.

How Much Alcohol Can I Drink While On Antibiotics?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends limiting alcoholic drinks to two or fewer per day for adult men and one or fewer per day for adult women. This recommendation is for people who are not taking antibiotics, and also for those who are taking antibiotics that have no known interactions with alcohol.

How Long After Taking Antibiotics Can You Drink Alcohol?

It is best to wait 72 hours after taking your last dose of antibiotics before drinking an alcoholic beverage. This is to ensure that the final dose of antibiotics is cleared from your body.

What If I Can’t Stop Drinking?

If you are prescribed an antibiotic that negatively interferes with alcohol, but you are unable to stop or cut back on your alcohol use, this may be a sign that you should talk to an addiction treatment professional about your drinking.

People who struggle to stop drinking on their own may be suffering from an addiction to alcohol. An alcohol addiction can have many long-term and serious consequences, so seeking treatment as soon as possible is vital. There are many different methods of treatment, such as medications and psychotherapy approaches, that can help reduce cravings and urges, as well as uncover the negative triggers associated with alcohol use.

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Find A Treatment Center Today

If, in searching for safety information about antibiotics, you’ve found an unhealthy pattern of drinking in your life, help is available. Contact a treatment provider or visit our rehab directory today to explore treatment options for alcohol addiction.