Does alcohol affect an antibiotic tha t you are taking?

 Hi,

I think the rule you should make yourself is to read the cautions and side affects presented in the medicines' pamphlet. It is not healthy to consume some antibiotics with alcohol sine there are some components like alcohol which discompose through the liver , drinking alcohol might affect the medicines active components. There is a certain amount you can drink , I believe that too much is not healthy while taking the drugs. If you are not sure always double check ask your physician if it doesn't say so.

Not only does it affect it but depending on the one given you can be very sick from it.

Since you didnt say what it was exactly or why -I chose a few...

Metronidazole (Flagyl) Alcohol consumed with this antibiotic can cause severe reactions of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,GI bleeding, liver damage, seizures. This antibiotic has a part of the molecule that acts like Antabuse and prevents the alcohol from completely being metabolized and a build up of the toxins can make you violently ill or could possibly be fatal.

2. Sulfonamides (Bactrim,Septra) can cause a similar reaction with alcohol as metronidazole in some people. Nasea and Vomiting.

3. Zithromax, Biaxin, Erythromycins can be fairly hard on the liver to eliminate. Livers damaged by chronic alcohol may intensify this greatly. Competition for elimination may may drinking excessive alcohol fatal. Telithromycin (Ketek) in addition can potentiate the dowsiness caused by alcohol.

4. Tetracyclines/Doxycyclines can cause GI upset. Alcohol also causes excessive stomach acid to be released increasing the GI distress to the point of vomiting.

5. Nitrofurantoins (Macrobid, Macrodantin) cause GI upset worsened by alcohol. Nausea and Vomiting.

6. Augmentin can cacuse GI upset worsened by alcohol. Nausea and Vomiting

7. Quinolone antibiotics (Cipro, Levaquin) GI upset made worse. If the elimination of the antibiotic reduced significantly causing excessive blood levels, changes in the QT interval of the heart beat can cause it to fail. This can be true of the Erythromycins too. Nausea and Vomiting.

Most antibiotics are dosed at 7 to 8 times what is necessary to lethally kill the bacteria that are supceptible to it. Decreased absorbsion with most I am aware of only marginally change their effectiveness with alcohol. The main concern is intensifying side effects or harm caused to the patient rather than decreased effect of the drug.

Alcohol can decrease the effectiveness of an antibiotic and may cause some serious side effects to the medication. Alcohol works through the liver and some medications do also, which may cause a serious reaction to medication. It's always better to stay away from alcohol if taking any kind of medication. If taking over the counter meds that may contain alcohol, make your doctor aware.

Alcohol absolutely affects antibiotics. Most of the time, antibiotics are only taken for a couple of days, so you should wait to drink at least until you're done taking them, if not longer.

It usually does - but there is always a bit of an individual response.

In general its best not to drink if you are taking antibiotics but a glass of wine on occasion (and in small quantity) is not likely to cause any real problems

Hi,

After read question and all answers,I totally agree with "weekinthezone ".

Thanks for sharing your valuable opinion.

--  Lab Coats

Absolutely do not drink while taking antibiotics. As well meaning as most of the people are, side effects that can ocurr are not the problem. Alcohol negates the effect of the drug rendering it useless. If you have an infection you are wasting your time and money taking the drug if you are drinking; and allowing the bacteria to continue on it's original course leaving you sick or sicker because the drug cannot work in an alcohol environment.