Pyrazinamide is an antibiotic used in combination with other medications to treat tuberculosis (TB) in adults and children. Pyrazinamide is also found in Rifater (rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide), a combination drug also used in TB. Ketoconazole is an oral antifungal medication used to treat certain fungal infections when patients have failed other treatments or are intolerant to them and the benefits outweigh the risk. Trimethoprim and alcohol interaction may lead to unpleasant side effects like fast heart beat, flushing, a tingly feeling, nausea, and vomiting. This leaves a long list of other antibiotics that can be mixed with alcohol. Of course getting drunk is not going to help your recovery when you’re ill.
General Health
It’s a good idea to avoid drinking alcohol when taking medicine or feeling unwell. Remember that drug side effects may vary based on your age, any preexisting health conditions you have, and any other medications you take. When in doubt, always discuss potential side effects with your doctor. A person may be able to drink alcohol in moderation and with caution while they are taking some types of antibiotics. However, a person should always consult a doctor before doing this.
The symptoms are unpleasant, so it is important that people abstain from alcohol while they’re taking these particular antibiotics, and for a few days afterwards. Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the outpatient setting (2). Warnings may vary depending on the pharmacy that dispense the prescription. Patients commonly are counseled or their prescription bottles carry a warning sticker to avoid consumption of alcohol while receiving antibiotics (1) (Table 1). It is a common belief that concomitant use of alcohol with antibiotics either will cause toxicity/ADR or will decrease efficacy (6, 7). The evidence behind these beliefs is poor and controversial (Tables 2 to 4).
Liver damage
Similar but less severe symptoms can also occur with Bactrim®, a sulfa antibiotic that contains sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Providers use Bactrim for many types of infections, including urinary tract infections, diarrhea and pneumonia. Just a few days of antibiotics can wipe out uncomfortable or painful illnesses or infections. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. See the Drugs.com Drug Interactions Checker to review drug combinations which may lead to serious interactions. Disulfiram-like reaction which may include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, flushing, sweating, fast heart rate or more severe reactions.
Taking antibiotics such as metronidazole and tinidazole while consuming alcohol can cause several unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects, such as liver damage and seizures. People should avoid drinking alcohol during treatment and up to 3 days after the last dose. People should avoid or limit their alcohol consumption while taking doxycycline. Alcohol can affect this antibiotic, and it may be less effective for people with a history of excessive drinking or those with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The risks of drinking alcohol are lower with some types of antibiotics. However, drinking any amount of alcohol what drug causes foaming at the mouth still poses risks to a person taking antibiotics.
Central nervous system (CNS) side effects
While not all antibiotics will negatively interact with alcohol, it’s vital to practice caution and have clear information regarding alcohol safety with the prescribed medication. Some antibiotics do not interact with alcohol intake, but others do. Antibiotics and alcohol consumption may both cause digestive symptoms for some people. There’s no waiting period to drink alcohol after taking most antibiotics. But for metronidazole or tinidazole, Dr. Clayton recommends waiting at least 72 hours after your last dose before consuming any alcohol. Usually alcohol does not affect how well an antibiotic works to fight an infection, but the combination may lead to unpleasant side effects.
A 2020 review shows a lack of solid evidence behind how common this is, but caution is still warranted. One problem is there’s little scientific evidence regarding alcohol use with antibiotics. The recommendations are open to interpretation (often based on personal experience, observation and general knowledge of how alcohol and antibiotics act in the body). You should also avoid the use of alcohol while being treated with linezolid due to increased risk of CNS side effects.
Consumption Guidelines for Amoxicillin
The basis for this recommendation is unclear, as published findings do not identify an interaction. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the efficacy/toxicity or ADR of penicillins. If you’re prescribed rifampicin or rifabutin, you may need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, while taking antibiotics. However, although it may technically be safe, it’s not a good idea to drink while taking the medication.
- Many of the same considerations apply to antifungals used to treat fungal infections.
- To our knowledge, there are no data available of the efficacy/toxicity or ADR of tetracycline.
- When prescribing antibiotics, a healthcare provider often will discuss whether it’s OK to consume alcohol while taking them.
- Still, it can interfere with your infection’s healing in other ways.
- If you stop taking antibiotics early so that you can drink, you are giving the bacterial or fungal infection a chance to return.
For some side effects, like a disulfiram-like reaction, you might have a problem when drinking only a little bit of alcohol while on your antibiotic. This might even include over-the-counter products like mouthwash or cough syrup. For example, if you already have ongoing liver problems, it may be more important to avoid alcohol while taking certain antibiotics. Also, if you are very unwell, it makes sense to completely avoid alcohol for the time being. For example, different pharmacies often include conflicting information about the safety of using alcohol with specific antibiotics. You may also find conflicting information from internet sources on the use of these drugs.
Understanding the evidence behind this warning is important, given the commonality of prescribing and the diverse classes and various properties of antimicrobials (2). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that approximately 270 million antibiotics were prescribed for outpatients in 2016 (3). The National Consumers League and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have also warned consumers to avoid alcohol with linezolid, metronidazole, griseofulvin, and antimycobacterials (5). Alcohol warnings between pharmacy chains also differ, potentially leading to confusion for both patients and providers (Table 1). In fact, the majority of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics are not affected by alcohol. The antibiotic cephalosporin cefotetan slows alcohol breakdown, leading to a rise in levels of a substance called acetaldehyde.