Some types were deemed safe to use with alcohol, while others were not. Every prescription comes with a package insert that includes instructions for use and precautions. A 2020 study found the alcohol warnings for antibiotics on these inserts aren’t always the same. You may have read online that alcohol reduces the effectiveness of some antibiotics. If you’re healthy, moderate alcohol use shouldn’t affect how well an antibiotic works, notes Dr. Clayton.
The biggest myth about antibiotics and alcohol, explained by a doctor
- Historical studies have suggested that alcohol use with nitrofurantoin resulted in a disulfiram-like reaction (40–42).
- They may even be used for diseases spread to humans from animals or insects or to treat food poisoning in people who cannot use penicillin.
- Check the inactive ingredient listing on the OTC “Drug Facts” label to determine if alcohol (also called ethanol) is present in the product, or you can always ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of pyrazinamide.
- You may be prescribed a different antibiotic or told to stop taking some medicines or herbal supplements.
Some alcohol and drug interactions can be dangerous and may result in severe symptoms. Even if you are taking another antibiotic, it’s best to avoid all alcohol because drinking may impair your body’s ability to fight the infection. When you take antibiotics, you typically start feeling better within 48 hours. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no more infection present in your body.
Penicillins.
To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of azoles. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of oxazolidinone. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of TMP-SMX. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of nitrofurantoin. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the efficacy of minocycline. Penicillins and cephalosporins are the major beta-lactam antibiotics and have an expansive range of clinical applications.
Though the literature is limited, mild liver disease and alcohol use are not an absolute contraindication, with appropriate monitoring. Concurrent use of alcohol precipitated disulfiram reactions in two patients treated with ketoconazole. Concurrent ketoconazole and alcohol consumption warrants caution. In vitro testing found that tedizolid reversibly inhibited MAO enzymes similarly to linezolid (80). A randomized, double-blind crossover trial of 30 healthy subjects assessed tommy lee alcohol the pressor response to an oral tyramine challenge in patients treated with 200 mg of tedizolid.
Symptoms may include facial flushing, nausea, headache, vomiting, chest pain, vertigo, sweating, thirst, blurred vision, weakness, confusion, and hypotension (8). Many antibiotics carry caution stickers that warn against alcohol consumption. An awareness of data that address this common clinical scenario is important so health care professionals can make informed clinical decisions and address questions in an evidence-based manner. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the evidence behind alcohol warnings issued for many common antimicrobials. Despite this interaction, not everyone will experience these reactions when drinking while taking metronidazole. Still, people should avoid drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole.
And drinking heavily, which is bad for your health at any time, may be even riskier if you are also taking an antibiotic. Even alcohol-free and reduced-alcohol beer can have small amounts of tyramine. Aged cheeses, cured meats such as sausages and salami, fava beans, sauerkraut, and soy sauce can also lead to this interaction with isoniazid. Cefotetan and alcohol may lead to a disulfiram-like reaction which may include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and flushing. Avoid cefotetan combination with alcohol during treatment and for 72 hours after you stop treatment with cefotetan.
Ask about what we know about using alcohol with that antibiotic. You might be able to switch to a different antibiotic with a better safety record. However, we don’t have scientific consensus about the true risks of combining many of the antibiotics on these lists with alcohol. Testing interactions with alcohol isn’t typically part of the approval process for drugs.
Table 1: Antibiotics That Can Interact With Alcohol
Doctors recommend avoiding alcohol while taking a number of drugs. Despite an FDA warning, we were unable to identify published data that demonstrate an increased risk with concomitant ethambutol and alcohol use. Nitroimidazoles are used for parasitic or anaerobic infections (45). The most common example is metronidazole; however, tinidazole and secnidazole are also members of this class. Recent data do not support that nitrofurantoin and alcohol causes a disulfiram-like reaction or other adverse reactions/toxicities.
When alcohol is combined with antibiotics that also have a CNS depressant effect, additive effects may occur. Keep in mind that antibiotics are often prescribed on a short-term basis. Consider waiting until you’re off the medications to have your next drink. It may reduce the chance of complications or side effects brought on by antibiotics. If your doctor tells you that you shouldn’t drink alcohol, ask how long you should wait before drinking again. You may need to wait at least 72 hours after finishing your course of antibiotics before having any alcohol.
In some cases, healthcare providers may prescribe amoxicillin to treat conditions that differ from what the drug was initially approved to treat. Nouhavandi says this is partly because when you’re sick, you need to be properly hydrated. One of the side effects of drinking alcohol can be dehydration, which can make it harder for you to get well.
