Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking antibiotics?

When you are taking antibiotics, you might wonder if you can drink some "cups"?

With some antibiotics, the answer is "no" . However, for most drugs, the answer is definitely "yes".

According to NewsAsia, concerns about alcohol and antibiotics are thought to stem from the rubber industry of the 1880s. Around this time, manufacturers began using a chemical called disulfiram. to accelerate the vulcanization of rubber. Soon, rubber workers began to experience a strange reaction: They became sick after drinking alcohol.

In the 1940s, doctors learned about the benefits of disulfiram as a treatment for alcoholism. Patients taking the drug after drinking alcohol exhibited nausea, vomiting, sweating, flushing, tachycardia, headache and a host of other unpleasant symptoms. As a result, many people then quit drinking. This drug is currently marketed under the brand name Antabuse.

No studies have shown that drinking alcohol when using antibiotics is safe.

In the 1960s, metronidazole antibiotics (brand name Flagyl) were introduced in the United States. Not long after, the doctors began to notice the same symptoms as in patients who drank alcohol. Symptoms so uncomfortable that metronidazole was later studied to treat alcoholism.

Although metronidazole is not used to stop alcohol use, it is still an important drug in the treatment of other gastrointestinal infections, including diverticulitis and in the treatment of gynecological diseases and communicable diseases. sex sugar. This drug is safe and effective, with the note that users must avoid drinking alcohol.

Several other antibiotics have been reported to cause reactions to alcohol. Most of these are cephalosporin types, a common antibiotic group that is widely used in the treatment of many types of infections. However, in many cephalosporins, only a few are reported to cause reactions to alcohol.

Most antibiotics do not respond to alcohol? Product information of the US Food and Drug Administration for the five most frequently prescribed antibiotics in the United States include: amoxicillin (Amoxil), azithromycin (Zithromax), amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin), cephalexin (Keflex ) and ciprofloxacin (Cipro) does not include warning information about alcohol use. Similarly, cough and cold products containing alcohol also do not warn of avoiding use with antibiotics. While no studies have shown that drinking alcohol when using antibiotics is safe, the likelihood of serious reactions seems low.

However, it is better not to use alcohol while fighting infection , because alcohol can react with many other drugs than antibiotics and stimulate inflammation of the stomach lining. The US Food and Drug Administration often advises patients to consult their doctor about any alcoholic beverages they are using or going to use.