Everyone knows that under no circumstances should alcohol and antibiotics be combined, but now the course of treatment has been completed and the last pill has been taken, and it is unclear how long it is possible to drink strong alcohol after taking antibiotics? Should I wait a few days or can I have a few glasses at night? To answer that question, you need to understand in more detail how antibacterial drugs and alcoholic beverages act on the body and how long after treatment it must pass before the drink does not harm your health.
How many days after treatment with antibiotics can you drink alcohol?
The drugs in this group are prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases that the body cannot cope with on its own. Antibiotics attack pathogens, destroying their cellular structure, so that the disease regresses and the patient feels better.
However, there is another side to taking antibacterial agents. Since its excretion from the body falls entirely on the liver, a significant blow is needed. Experts also proved that in people who consumed alcohol during antibiotic therapy, the effectiveness of the treatment was significantly less than in patients who completely abandoned alcohol.
It all depends on the medication used for the treatment. It is best to check this with your doctor. He will tell you in detail after how long you can return to your normal way of life and drink alcohol. If it is not possible to contact a doctor, you can carefully review the medicine's instructions.
Must be marked there:
- Duration of treatment;
- This medicine is compatible with ethanol;
- The period during which alcohol should not be drunk, even after the end of therapy.
The ban usually lasts three to seven days. It all depends on the type of drug and the duration of its elimination from the body.
If the note does not contain information about the compatibility of a drug with alcohol, it does not mean that you can start drinking immediately after the end of treatment.
In any case, it is recommended to wait at least a day to allow the residual components of the medicine to leave the body.
It is important to remember that even though there is no mention of the interaction with ethyl alcohol in the medication instructions, you should still not drink alcohol immediately after antibiotics. This can harm the body that is still immature after the disease and cause unwanted side effects.
Which antibiotics should never be combined with alcoholic beverages?
Despite all the doctors' prohibitions, some patients on antibacterial treatment are still able to drink strong drinks. At the same time, they do not even think about the possible consequences and say that all medical prohibitions are nothing more than unnecessary care. In fact, if the simultaneous use of alcohol and medication did not affect the patient's well-being in any way, it does not mean that everything passed without leaving a trace for the body.
The components of ethyl alcohol and the medication may not interact directly, however, ethanol may significantly reduce the therapeutic properties of the medication and the effectiveness of the treatment. The disease will not recede anywhere and an additional course of therapy will be necessary, which will create a high burden on the liver and other organs of the excretory system.
There is also a group of antibacterial drugs against which drinking any alcohol is strictly prohibited. Information on incompatibility with alcohol is indicated in the note to these medications, in addition, the patient must be advised by the attending physician responsible for prescribing the medication.
Medicines that are completely incompatible with ethyl alcohol include:
- Tetracyclines.They are widely used in medical practice for the treatment of various infectious diseases.
- Levomycetins.The drugs in this group alone can cause serious side effects and their simultaneous intake with strong drinks can aggravate the toxic effect of the drug.
- Lincosamides.Drinking alcohol while taking these antibiotics negatively affects the central nervous system and the liver.
- Aminoglycosides.Some of the most powerful antibacterial agents that do not work well with other drugs. It is categorically contraindicated to drink strong drinks during treatment with these drugs.
- Cephalosporins.Reactions similar to disulfiram may occur due to the simultaneous use of these drugs with strong drinks. The person will experience symptoms of severe intoxication, which will lead to a significant deterioration in their health. Antibiotics
- Anti-tuberculosis.
- Macrolides.The interaction of these substances with ethanol has a strong toxic effect on the brain and liver.
- Antibioticsused in the treatment of leprosy.
There are some groups of antibacterial drugs whose notes do not indicate how they interact with ethyl alcohol.
These drugs include:
- Antifungal agents;
- Drugs penicillin and others.
The fact that the instructions for use do not contain information about the effects of combining these drugs with alcohol does not mean that their combination is allowed. It must be taken into account that each person's body is unique, and someone after a combination of alcohol and antibacterial agents will remain safe and sound, and someone will be at great risk.
So, how long after treatment with antibacterial drugs can you drink alcohol? It all depends on the type of antibiotic and the patient's physical condition. If the note indicates that it is prohibited to drink alcohol while using the medication, therefore, it is best to wait until the residual components of the medication are completely removed from the body. This usually takes about two weeks, so it is best to wait until the end of that period with strong drinks.
If the medication instructions do not indicate the specifics of your interaction with ethanol, it is even better not to consume alcoholic beverages for at least three days after the end of therapy.
If you have more questions, contact your doctor. He will explain in detail whether it is possible to consume alcohol while taking one or another antibacterial medication and will tell you how long after the end of therapy it is better not to drink alcohol.
Possible consequences of the combination
Drinking alcohol after taking antibiotics can trigger unwanted symptoms and negative side reactions in the body. The fact is that there are several antibiotics that can block the breakdown of ethanol in the body. Because of this, acetaldehyde stops being excreted from tissues and organs and starts to accumulate in them.
In this case, the body is poisoned and the person experiences painful symptoms of intoxication:
- Attacks of nausea and vomiting;
- An unbearable headache that not even painkillers can relieve;
- Dizziness;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Strong chest pains;
- Redness of the skin;
- Sweating;
- Increase or decrease in blood pressure.
This is far from being a complete list of the dire consequences of the combination of alcohol and drugs.
It is important to remember that only a few antibiotics have been shown to be incompatible with ethanol so far in clinical trials. The rest has not yet been fully understood or remains in doubt.
In any case, the person must be aware that excessive alcohol consumption has a negative effect on the treatment process. Ethanol interferes with the normal absorption of drugs and significantly reduces their effectiveness. Therefore, during the course of therapy, you must refuse to take any alcohol, even the weakest.
This will help you to avoid unpleasant side effects and keep you healthy. After all, no one can say for sure how the simultaneous intake of alcohol and antibacterial agents will affect the health of a particular person.