Antibiotics and alcohol

When prescribing an antibacterial drug, the doctor informs the patient that it is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol with antibiotics. Most people try to stick to this recommendation, but when the course of treatment coincides with important events or holidays, it is tempting to break the ban.

The attitude of evidence-based medicine to this situation is controversial, as not a single full-fledged study has been conducted, the results of which would allow the negative consequences of the simultaneous consumption of alcohol and antibacterial drugs to be fully assessed. This does not mean that you can safely combine them, no reasonable doctor will recommend it. To understand how dangerous it is to drink alcohol during antibiotic therapy, the article describes the consequences of the combined effects of these substances on the body, giving examples of a combination of known drugs and alcoholic beverages.

The effect of alcohol and antibiotics on the body

Holidays in our country are traditionally celebrated with spirits. Many people cannot deny themselves this pleasure even during an illness and forget that alcohol in small doses has a relaxing and calming effect, and in large doses it leads to serious health problems. Among them:

• Liver dysfunction.
• Excessive strain on the gastrointestinal tract.
• Increased pulse.
• The death of brain cells.
• Chronic kidney and bladder diseases.
• Nervous system disorder.
• Severe hangover syndrome.
• Depressed state, nervous breakdown.

Drinking alcoholic beverages during illness is definitely not worth it. This will put additional strain on the body, which is already working in emergency mode to fight the disease.

Antibacterial drugs, introduced 90 years ago, quickly became a sought-after drug, saving millions of lives. The principle of action of antibiotics is the ability to destroy pathogenic bacteria and destroy their structure; block reproduction, prevent the growth of pathogens, after which the immune system has the opportunity to cope with the disease on its own.

Antibacterial drugs act as aggressively on a person as possible, undermining the ability of the immune system to fight the disease independently. Their use is imperative in the event of a bacterial infection that the body cannot cope with on its own. Only a specialist doctor has the right to prescribe such drugs. It is fundamentally impossible to be treated alone, especially if the disease has a viral origin, when antibacterial drugs are useless.

Antibiotics help avoid the serious consequences of the disease, but their ingestion leads to a wide variety of side effects:

• Suppression of the natural microflora of the stomach.
• Suppression of immunity, the body is unable to withstand the causative agents of the disease.
• The liver cannot completely cleanse the body of toxins.

A person's well-being deteriorates, lethargy, weakness appear, depression occurs, chronic diseases are exacerbated.

It is not difficult to imagine what will happen to the unfortunate organism when antibiotic therapy is combined with violent feasts. The immune system, the kidneys, the liver and the organs of the gastrointestinal tract are burdened twice, which is very difficult to cope with. This can lead to a worsening of the current condition and the disease changes from the acute phase to a chronic phase, which is much more difficult to treat.

The effect of alcohol on the effects of antibacterial drugs

Evidence-based medicine is not aware of specific examples of the weakening of the effect of antibiotics against the background of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Sometimes the opposite happens: the number of enzymes increases and the drug breaks down faster. But another scenario is also possible if the drug is poorly excreted from the body, accumulates in the cells and a side effect occurs as a result.

There are two curious theories that explain why the intolerance between antibiotics and alcohol is considered a scientific fact. The first says that antibacterial drugs were originally used to treat sexually transmitted infections. Doctors viewed the presence of such diseases as a sign of intemperance and weakness of character, and the ban on alcohol became a kind of punishment.

The second theory arose during World War II when wounded soldiers needed penicillin. There was so little medicine available that legend has it that doctors tried to extract it from urine. The problem was that the soldiers liked to drink beer in their spare time, which has a diuretic effect and reduces the concentration of microorganisms. Therefore, alcoholic beverages were banned and the postulate that alcohol and antibiotics were incompatible was gradually anchored in medicine.

There are several reasons for this statement. Doctors note that recovery was much slower in patients who drank alcohol concurrently with antibacterial drugs than in those who led a more sober lifestyle. The reason is that ingesting alcohol with antibiotics is associated with other negative consequences, which are associated with a deterioration in the immune system. With regular consumption of alcoholic beverages, it is impossible to establish the correct daily regime with proper rest and nutrition. At the same time, vitamins, minerals and nutrients can not be fully absorbed, and the body gradually becomes exhausted. As a result, the patient's medication will be ineffective.

Tolerance of alcoholic beverages and antibiotics

Modern antibiotics are gentle. In most cases, their combination with alcohol does not have severe negative consequences for the body. Doctors identify a number of drugs that cannot be combined with strong drinks. The speed of their assimilation is linked to the work of the same enzymes responsible for breaking down ethanol - the basis of alcoholic beverages. Enzymes cannot do a large amount of work, and as a result, the drug builds up in the body. This has side effects that a person will soon feel on themselves.

The interaction of antibiotics and alcohol leads to a large list of negative consequences:

• Severe migraine-like headache.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Dizziness, loss of consciousness.
• Fast heartbeat, arrhythmia.
• Fever, high temperature.
• Heavy sweating.
• Insomnia.
• A condition close to depression, irritability.
• Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength.
• Inflammatory processes of the liver, jaundice.
• Stomach pain from gastritis and ulcers.

Disulfiram-like reaction

The most common and dangerous negative consequence is a disulfiram-like reaction. This drug, used to treat alcohol addiction, can affect the work of enzymes that process ethyl alcohol. The metabolism consists of two phases:

1. Ethyl alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde.
2. Acetic aldehyde is converted into acetic acid.

The incompleteness of the second stage leads to the most severe hangover syndrome. For lovers of alcoholic beverages who take the drug, the process of timely splitting of ethanol is disrupted, and if a dose of alcohol is added against the background of ingestion, the body will be flooded 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 pulse.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Cramps.
• Allergic reaction.
• A headache.
• Apnea.

The latter 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 and closely monitor changes in his condition. The consequences can occur during a feast or 4-5 hours afterwards. In this situation, you must seek medical help immediately.

The effect of simultaneous administration of antibiotics and alcohol on liver and gastrointestinal tract function

The main reason for the ban on taking antibiotics and alcohol together is the risk of toxic liver damage. Your enzymes are unable to assimilate the drug and ethanol at the same time. In this fight, alcohol usually wins, and the drug builds up in the liver cells, threatening severe poisoning.

During an illness, the liver is busy clearing the body of toxins and poisons, and alcohol increases the burden many times. People who are used to mixing drugs and spirits are more likely to develop fibrotic tissue changes and liver failure.

Alcohol consumption during antibiotic therapy can affect the gastrointestinal tract. When ethyl gets into the stomach, it causes constipation and vasodilation, which makes it easier for the alcohol to be absorbed. If, after a short period of time, an antibacterial drug gets into the gastrointestinal tract, the drug will not be completely absorbed and the effect of the treatment will be reduced to zero.

Antibiotics can negatively affect the intestinal flora. Patients taking these drugs often complain of abdominal pain, bowel problems, constipation, or diarrhea. To restore the balance of the microflora after an antibiotic regimen, prebiotics and probiotics are often prescribed. If you drink alcoholic beverages at this moment, you can get chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example gastritis or stomach ulcers.

Possibility of an allergic reaction

In addition to ethyl alcohol, the composition of alcoholic beverages contains additives, colorings, flavors and preservatives. The end result of their interaction with antibiotics is unpredictable. A potential hazard is the occurrence of a mild or severe allergic reaction. In the best case, itching, reddening of the skin, sneezing and in the worst case shortness of breath, Quincke's edema and death occur. If a person notices such symptoms, it is necessary to urgently take an antihistamine, and if the consequences are serious, call an ambulance immediately.

Before taking any medication, patients should read the instructions carefully and check how safe the combination of active ingredients and ethanol is.

Combination of alcohol with known groups of antibacterial drugs

A disulfiram-like reaction is life threatening. Based on the studies carried out, scientists have found out which drugs are more likely to cause this and which are relatively safe in combination 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 of this group should not be combined with alcohol! However, not everything is that simple. Studies from 2003 did not show the negative effects of drinking hard liquor while taking medication. However, doctors are confident that the consequences of a combination can be as follows:

• sharp pain in the abdomen;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• strong headache;
• Chills;
• violation of the rhythm of the heart;
• in rare severe cases, respiratory failure develops.

Women should take care that a disulfiram-like reaction is possible not only when taking the drug orally and injecting it, but also when using vaginal cream.

Alcohol and cephalosporins

Cephalosporins are a group of broad spectrum drugs with potent bactericidal effects. They are considered to be the most important "destroyers" of streptococci and staphylococci and treat the following diseases:

• Upper respiratory tract infections;
• Diseases of the nose, throat, ears;
• Infections of the skin, soft tissues.

Cephalosporins are often prescribed for a purulent sore throat - one of the most common infections in our country.

All cephalosporins, like nitroimidazoles, are able to trigger a disulfiram-like reaction. Its main symptoms: nausea, headache, abdominal pain, are caused by intoxication of the body. The possibility of a disulfiram-like reaction must be taken seriously as the consequences can be serious to 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 also has negative consequences.

Antibiotics that make alcohol relatively safe to drink

A number of antibacterial drugs have been successfully tested for their tolerance to alcohol and their combination is safe for the body.

• Penicillin antibiotics.
• Expectorants and mucolytics, which are prescribed for lung diseases to thin the viscous mucus.
• Antifungal drugs.

The above drugs can be taken with alcohol, but that doesn't mean they can be safely washed down with strong drinks! The best option for the development of events while taking antibiotics is a complete 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 abstain from alcoholic beverages while taking medication. In exceptional cases, when you cannot do without drinking, the following safety rules must be observed:

• Ask your doctor if it is allowed to mix alcohol with medication and consider avoiding strong drinks.
• The minimum period between taking an antibiotic and drinking alcohol is 4 hours. A shorter period is fraught with major health problems.
• The amount consumed depends on gender, weight, severity of the current illness, strength of the drink and should not exceed 300-350 ml.
• Ethanol is not only contained in strong drinks (vodka, cognac, whiskey), but also in low-alcohol drinks (wine, champagne, beer). Even if the alcohol content is many times lower here, drinking will not go without damage to health.

For patients undergoing antibiotic therapy, the question arises: how long after the course is it allowed to drink alcoholic beverages? The attending physician can give the exact answer and depends on several factors: gender, age of the person, nature of their illness, health, medication. Most drugs have a cumulative effect and continue to act on the body after you stop taking them. Doctors recommend starting alcohol consumption at the earliest 5 days after the end of treatment.

Three rules when taking antibacterial drugs:

1. Antibacterial drugs are produced and prescribed in various dosage forms: tablets, syrups, intravenous and intramuscular injections, eye drops, ointments, vaginal suppositories, solutions for inhalation. Any form of the drug can cause side effects.
2. Ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages is harmful to health. It is found not only in cognac, wine and beer, but also in cough syrups, tinctures of medicinal plants (licorice, marshmallow, echinacea, eleutherococcus). It is necessary to study the composition of drugs that are taken at the same time as antibiotics.
3. Read the directions for the medication carefully to find out how well it tolerates alcohol. If the instructions indicate that no research has been carried out on the subject or there is no information, then you must refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages during treatment.

Antibacterial drugs unnecessarily burden the body and are prescribed for severe diseases. The doctor can only prescribe a certain drug, everything else depends on the patient, who first has to think about a speedy recovery. A sick person needs to take prescribed drugs in a timely manner, sleep at least 7-8 hours a day, eat foods high in vitamins and trace elements. It is better to forget about alcohol consumption during this period. This is especially true for people with chronic diseases of the heart, liver, and kidneys. Otherwise, the negative consequences will not force themselves to reap. It may be:

• Failure of the central nervous system and the gradual death of brain cells.
• Poisoning of the body, the symptoms of which are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
• Kidney damage, problems with the urinary system.
• Violation of the heart rhythm.
• Gastritis, stomach ulcers.
• Violation of the intestinal flora.
• Damage to the liver, which leads to the gradual death of cells.
• Decreased immunity, the body cannot fight infection on its own.
• Cardiopalmus.
• Increases in blood pressure are dangerous for high blood pressure patients.
• Stool disorders in the form of constipation or diarrhea.
• Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength.
• Depressed state, nervous breakdowns.
• Irritability, insomnia.
• Decrease in intellectual abilities, impaired memory, concentration of attention.
• Fever and chills.
• Strong headache.
• Cramps.
• Allergic reactions in the form of itching, rash and reddening of the skin.
• Difficulty breathing and Quincke's edema - without timely medical attention it is fatal.
• The effect of the treatment is minimal or absent.
• The disease can become chronic and affect the patient's quality of life.

Alcohol in small doses will complement the vacation and contribute to relaxation. But its use during illness will not bring joy and can harm the body. This is the main thing that a person should remember when deciding for themselves whether it is worth mixing alcohol and antibiotics.