When prescribing an antibacterial medication, the doctor informs the patient that it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol with antibiotics. Most people try to follow this recommendation, but if the course of treatment coincides with significant events or holidays, it is tempting to break the ban.
The attitude of evidence-based medicine towards this situation is controversial, as a single complete study was not carried out, the results of which allowed a complete assessment of the negative consequences of the simultaneous use of alcohol and antibacterials. This doesn't mean you can combine them with peace of mind, no sane doctor would recommend that. To understand how dangerous it is to drink alcohol during a course of antibiotic therapy, the article describes the consequences of the combined effects of these substances on the body, examples of a combination of known drugs and alcohol-containing beverages.
The Effect of Alcohol and Antibiotics on the Body
Holidays in our country are traditionally celebrated with the use of spirits. Many people cannot deny themselves this pleasure, even during illness, forgetting that alcohol in small doses has a relaxing and calming effect, and in large doses it leads to serious health problems. Between them:
- Liver dysfunction.
- Excessive stress in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Increased heart rate.
- The death of brain cells.
- Chronic diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
- Disorder of the nervous system.
- Severe hangover syndrome.
- Depressive state, nervous breakdown.
Drinking alcoholic beverages during illness is definitely not worth it. This will also stress the body, which is already working in emergency mode, fighting the disease.
Antibacterial drugs, introduced 90 years ago, quickly became a sought after drug and saved millions of lives. The principle of action of antibiotics is the ability to destroy pathogenic bacteria, destroying their structure; block reproduction, prevents the growth of pathogens, after which the immune system has a chance to deal with the disease on its own.
Antibacterial drugs act as aggressively as possible, impairing the immune system's ability to fight disease independently. Its use is a compelling necessity in the case of a bacterial infection, which the body cannot cope with on its own. Only a medical professional has the right to prescribe these medications. It is categorically impossible to be treated on your own, especially with the viral origin of the disease, when antibacterials are useless.
Antibiotics help prevent the serious consequences of the disease, but taking them leads to a large number of side effects:
- Suppression of the natural microflora of the stomach.
- Suppression of immunity, the body is unable to resist the disease-causing agents.
- The liver cannot fully cleanse toxins from the body.
A person's well-being worsens, lethargy, weakness appear, depression ensues, chronic illnesses are exacerbated.
It is not difficult to imagine what will happen to the unhappy organism when combining the course of antibiotic therapy with violent parties. The immune system, kidneys, liver and organs of the gastrointestinal tract will have a double burden, which is extremely difficult to deal with. This can lead to a worsening of the current condition, and the disease goes from the acute phase to the chronic phase, which is much more difficult to treat.
The effect of alcohol on the effect of antibacterial drugs
Evidence-based medicine does not know specific examples of the weakening of the effect of antibiotics in the context of alcohol consumption. Sometimes, even the opposite situation occurs: the number of enzymes increases and the drug breaks down more quickly. But another scenario is also possible, when the drug is poorly excreted from the body, accumulates in the cells and, as a result, an adverse reaction occurs.
There are two curious theories that explain why the incompatibility between antibiotics and alcohol is considered a scientific fact. The first says that antibacterial drugs were originally used to treat sexually transmitted infections. Doctors considered the presence of such illnesses a sign of intemperance and weakness of character, and the prohibition of alcohol consumption became a kind of punishment.
The second theory emerged during World War II, when wounded soldiers needed penicillin. There were so few medicines that, according to legend, doctors tried to extract them from the urine. The problem was that the soldiers in their spare time liked to drink beer, which has a diuretic effect and reduces the concentration of microorganisms. Therefore, alcoholic beverages were banned and, in medicine, the postulate that alcohol and antibiotics are incompatible gradually took hold.
There are several reasons for this statement. Doctors note that in patients who drank alcohol at the same time as antibacterial drugs, recovery was much slower than in those who led a sober lifestyle. The reason lies in the fact that drinking alcohol with antibiotics is fraught with other negative consequences associated with the deterioration of the immune system. With the regular use of alcoholic beverages, it is impossible to establish the correct daily routine with adequate rest and diet. At the same time, vitamins, minerals and nutrients cannot be fully absorbed and the body is gradually depleted. As a result, the patient's medication will be ineffective.
Compatibility of alcoholic beverages and antibiotics
Modern antibiotics are mild. Its combination with alcohol, in most cases, does not have strong negative consequences for the body. Doctors identify several medications that cannot be combined with strong drinks. The assimilation rate is associated with the work of the same enzymes responsible for the degradation of ethanol - the base of alcoholic beverages. Enzymes cannot handle a great deal of work and, as a result, the drug builds up in the body. This has side effects that the person will soon experience in themselves.
The interaction of antibiotics and alcohol leads to a long list of negative consequences:
- Severe migraine-like headaches.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Dizziness, loss of consciousness.
- Fast heartbeat, arrhythmia.
- Fever, temperature rise.
- Strong sweating.
- Insomnia.
- A state close to depression, irritability.
- Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength.
- Inflammatory processes of the liver, jaundice.
- Stomach pain caused by gastritis and ulcers.
Disulfiram-like reaction
The most common and dangerous negative consequence is a disulfiram-like reaction. This drug, used in the treatment of alcohol dependence, is capable of affecting the work of the enzymes that process ethyl alcohol. Metabolism consists of two phases:
- Ethyl alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde.
- Acetic aldehyde is converted to acetic acid.
Second stage incompleteness leads to stronger hangover syndrome. For alcoholic drink lovers who take the medicine, the timely ethanol breakdown process is interrupted, and if a dose of alcohol is added in the context of drinking, the body will overflow with toxic substances. Drinking alcohol while intoxicated is not possible and the patient gets rid of the addiction.
The signs of a disulfiram-like reaction are similar to those of a severe hangover:
- Chills.
- Increased heart rate.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Seizures.
- Allergic reactions.
- Headache.
- Respiratory failure.
The last manifestation of a disulfiram-like reaction is considered life-threatening due to the likelihood of death. When trying to mix antibiotics and an alcoholic drink, the patient should be careful, closely monitoring changes in his condition. Consequences can show up during a party or 4-5 hours after it. In this situation, you should seek medical help immediately.
The effect of co-administration of antibiotics and alcohol on the functioning of the liver and the gastrointestinal tract
The main reason for banning the joint ingestion of antibiotics and alcohol is the threat of toxic liver damage. Its enzymes are unable to assimilate the drug and ethanol simultaneously. In this fight, alcohol usually wins, and the drug builds up in liver cells, threatening serious intoxication.
During illness, the liver is engaged in cleaning the body of toxins and poisons, and alcohol adds to the load many times over. People used to mixing drugs and spirits are more likely to develop changes in fibrotic tissue and liver failure.
Drinking alcohol during antibiotic treatment can adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract. When ethyl enters the stomach, it causes congestion and vasodilation, facilitating the absorption of alcohol. If, after a short period of time, an antibacterial enters the gastrointestinal tract, the drug will not be fully absorbed and the treatment effect will be reduced to zero.
Antibiotics can negatively affect the intestinal microflora. Patients taking these medications often complain of abdominal pain, stool problems, constipation, or diarrhea. To restore microflora balance after a course of antibiotics, prebiotics and probiotics are often prescribed. If you drink alcohol at this time, you may develop chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example gastritis or stomach ulcers.
Possibility of an allergic reaction
The composition of alcoholic beverages, in addition to ethyl alcohol, contains additives, coloring, flavoring, preservatives. The end result of your interaction with antibiotics is unpredictable. A potential danger is the occurrence of a mild or severe allergic reaction. At best, itching, reddening of the skin, sneezing will show up, and at worst, shortness of breath, Quincke's edema and death. If the person notices these symptoms, an antihistamine needs to be taken urgently, and if there are serious consequences, call an ambulance immediately.
Before taking the medication, patients should carefully read the instructions, checking how safe the combination of active ingredients and ethanol is.
Combination of alcohol with known groups of antibacterial drugs
A reaction similar to disulfiram is fatal. Based on studies carried out, scientists have found which drugs are most likely to cause it and which are considered relatively safe when combined with alcohol.
Alcohol and nitroimidazoles
Nitroimidazoles are considered broad-spectrum antibiotics and are used to treat the following conditions:
- central nervous system infections (meningitis, brain abscess);
- intestinal infections;
- respiratory diseases (pneumonia, lung abscess);
- infections of the oral cavity;
- skin diseases of various etymologies;
- prevention of infections during surgery.
Medicines from this group must not be combined with alcohol! Although not everything is so simple. Studies in 2003 did not reveal the negative effects of drinking distilled beverages while using medication. However, doctors are confident that the consequences of combining them could be as follows:
- sharp pain in the abdomen;
- nausea, vomiting;
- severe headaches;
- chills;
- violation of heart rhythm;
- in rare and severe cases, respiratory failure occurs.
Women should be aware that a disulfiram-like reaction is possible not only with oral injection and the drug, but also with the use of vaginal cream.
Alcohol and cephalosporins
Cephalosporins are a group of broad-spectrum drugs with a strong bactericidal effect. They are considered the main "destroyers" of streptococci and staphylococci and treat the following diseases:
- upper respiratory tract infections;
- diseases of the nose, throat, ears;
- skin infections, soft tissue.
Cephalosporins are often prescribed for purulent sore throat - one of the most common infections in our country.
All cephalosporins, as well as nitroimidazoles, are capable of causing a reaction similar to disulfiram. Its main symptoms: nausea, headaches, abdomen, are caused by intoxication of the body. The possibility of a disulfiram-like reaction should be taken seriously, as the consequences can be serious, even fatal.
There are drugs that do not belong to the two groups listed above, that is, their interaction with alcohol does not lead to a disulfiram-like reaction, but it also has negative consequences.
Antibiotics with which it is relatively safe to drink alcohol
Several antibacterial drugs have been successfully tested for compatibility with alcohol and their combination is safe for the body.
- Penicillin antibiotics.
- Expectorants and mucolytics, which are prescribed for lung diseases, to dilute the sticky phlegm.
- Antifungal drugs.
The above medications can be taken with alcohol, but that doesn't mean they can be safely swallowed with strong drinks! The best option for the development of events during the use of antibiotics is the total refusal to drink alcohol.
How to properly combine alcohol and antibiotics - safety precautions
The best option for the development of events in the treatment of a patient with antibiotics is to refuse alcoholic beverages while using medication. In exceptional cases, when you cannot go without drinking, the following safety rules must be observed:
- Ask your doctor if it is okay to mix alcohol with medicine and consider giving up strong drinks.
- The minimum time interval between taking an antibiotic and drinking alcohol is 4 hours. A shorter period is fraught with major health problems.
- The amount ingested depends on sex, weight, severity of the current illness, content of the drink and should not exceed 300-350 ml.
- Ethanol is present not only in strong drinks (vodka, brandy, whiskey) but also in drinks with low alcohol content (wine, champagne, beer). Even though the alcohol content here is several times lower, drinking will still be harmful to health.
In patients on antibiotic therapy, the question arises: how long after the course is alcohol consumption allowed? The exact answer can be given by the treating physician and depends on several factors: sex, age of the person, nature of the illness, health, medication. Most medications have a cumulative effect, continuing to act in the body after ingestion is complete. Medical professionals recommend starting drinking alcohol no earlier than 5 days after the end of treatment.
Three rules when taking antibacterial medications:
- Antibiotics are produced and prescribed in different pharmaceutical forms: tablets, syrups, intravenous and intramuscular injections, eye drops, ointments, vaginal suppositories, solutions for inhalation. Any form of the drug can cause adverse reactions.
- Ethanol, which is in the composition of alcoholic beverages, is harmful to human health. It is present not only in cognac, wine and beer, but also in cough syrups, tinctures from medicinal plants (licorice, marshmallow, echinacea, eleutherococcus). It is necessary to study the composition of drugs that are taken simultaneously with antibiotics.
- Carefully read the medicine's instructions to find out if it is compatible with alcohol. If the instructions indicate that research has not been carried out on this subject or there is no information, you should stop drinking alcohol during treatment.
Antibacterial drugs carry an unnecessary burden on the body and are prescribed in case of serious illnesses. The doctor can only prescribe a certain medication, everything else depends on the patient, who, first of all, must think about a quick recovery. A sick person needs to take the prescribed medications in a timely manner, sleep at least 7 to 8 hours a day, eat foods high in vitamins and trace elements. It is best to forget about drinking alcohol during this period. This is especially true for people who suffer from chronic heart, liver, and kidney diseases. Otherwise, the negative consequences will not be forced to reap. It might be:
- Central nervous system failure and gradual brain cell death.
- Intoxication of the body, symptoms of which are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
- Kidney damage, problems with the urinary system.
- Violation of heart rhythm.
- Gastritis, stomach ulcers.
- Violation of the intestinal microflora.
- Liver damage, leading to gradual cell death.
- Reduced immunity means the body will not be able to fight infections on its own.
- Cardiopalmus.
- Spikes in blood pressure are dangerous for hypertensive patients.
- Disorder of the stool in the form of constipation or diarrhea.
- Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength.
- Depressive state, nervous breakdown.
- Irritability, insomnia.
- Decrease in intellectual abilities, memory impairment, concentration of attention.
- Fever and chills.
- Severe headaches.
- Seizures.
- Allergic reactions in the form of itching, rash and reddening of the skin.
- Difficulty breathing and Quincke's edema - without timely medical care, it ends in death.
- The treatment effect is minimal or absent.
- The disease can become chronic, reducing the patient's quality of life.
Alcohol in small doses will complement your vacation and help you relax. But its use during illness does not bring any pleasure and can harm the body. This is the main thing a person should remember when deciding for himself whether it is worth mixing alcohol and antibiotics.