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 adhere to 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 to this situation is controversial, because not a single full-fledged study has been conducted, the results of which would allow to fully evaluate the negative consequences of the simultaneous use of alcohol and antibacterial drugs. This does not mean that you can combine them with peace of mind, no doctor in their right mind will recommend it. 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 drinks are given.

The effect of alcohol and antibiotics on the body

Holidays in our country are traditionally celebrated with the use of liqueurs. 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 on the gastrointestinal tract.
• Increased heart rate.
• The death of brain cells.
• Chronic diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
• Disruption of the nervous system.
• Severe hangover syndrome.
• Depressive state, nervous breakdown.

It is absolutely not worth drinking alcoholic beverages during illness. This will further stress the body, which is already working in emergency mode, fighting the disease.

Antibacterial drugs, introduced 90 years ago, have quickly become a demanded drug and have saved millions of lives. The principle of action of antibiotics is the ability to destroy pathogenic bacteria, destroying their structure; block reproduction, prevent the growth of pathogens, after which the immune system is given a chance to cope with the disease on its own.

Antibacterial drugs act on a person as aggressively as possible, undermining the ability of the immune system to independently fight the disease. Their use is a forced necessity in the case of a bacterial infection, which the body cannot cope with on its own. Only a professional doctor has the right to prescribe such drugs. It is categorically impossible to be treated on your own, especially with a viral origin of the disease, when antibacterial drugs are useless.

Antibiotics help to avoid 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 causative agents of the disease.
• The liver cannot completely cleanse the body of toxins.

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

It is not difficult to imagine what will happen to the unhappy organism by combining the course of antibiotic therapy with violent parties. The immune system, kidneys, liver and organs of the gastrointestinal tract will have a double load, which is extremely difficult to cope with. This can lead to a worsening of the current condition, and the disease will progress from the acute stage to the chronic one, 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 weakening the effect of antibiotics against the background of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Sometimes the opposite situation also occurs - the number of enzymes increases, and the breakdown of the drug occurs faster. 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 diseases a sign of intemperance and weakness of character, and the ban on drinking alcohol became a kind of punishment.

The second theory emerged during World War II, when wounded soldiers needed penicillin. There was so little medicine that, according to legend, doctors tried to extract it from 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 the postulate gradually became established in medicine that alcohol and antibiotics were incompatible.

There are a number of reasons for this claim. 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 taking alcohol with antibiotics is fraught with other negative consequences associated with the deterioration of the immune system. With regular use of alcoholic beverages, it is impossible to establish the correct daily regimen with adequate rest and diet. At the same time, vitamins, minerals and nutrients cannot be fully absorbed, and the body gradually becomes depleted. As a result, the patient's medications will be ineffective.

Compatibility of alcoholic beverages and antibiotics

Modern antibiotics are delicate. Their combination with alcohol, in most cases, does not have strong negative consequences for the body. Doctors identify a number of drugs that cannot be combined with strong drinks. The speed of their assimilation is associated with the work of the same enzymes responsible for the breakdown of ethanol, the basis of alcoholic beverages. Enzymes cannot cope with a huge amount of work, and as a result, the drug accumulates in the body. This comes with side effects that a person will soon feel about themselves.

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

• Severe migraine-like headache.
• Nausea.
• Vertigo, loss of consciousness.
• Rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia.
• Fever, rise in temperature.
• Heavy sweating.
• Insomnia.
• A state close to depression, irritability.
• Weakness, sleepiness, loss of strength.
• Inflammatory processes of the liver, jaundice.
• Stomach pains 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 addiction, is able to 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 strongest hangover syndrome. For lovers of alcoholic beverages who take the medicine, the process of timely splitting of ethanol is stopped, and if a dose of alcohol is added to the background of intake, the body will overflow with toxic substances. It is not possible to drink alcohol in a state of intoxication, and the patient gets rid of addiction.

The signs of a disulfiram-like reaction are similar to those of a severe hangover:

• Chills.
• Increased heart rate.
• Nausea.
• Convulsions.
• Allergic reactions.
• Headache.
• Respiratory failure.

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, closely monitor the changes in her condition. The consequences can appear during a party or 4-5 hours later. In this situation, it is necessary to seek medical help immediately.

The effect of co-administration of antibiotics and alcohol on the functioning of the liver and gastrointestinal tract

The main reason for the ban on the joint intake of antibiotics and alcohol is the threat of toxic liver damage. Its 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 intoxication.

During the disease, the liver is engaged in cleansing the body of toxins and poisons, and alcohol increases the load many times. People who are used to mixing drugs and alcohol are more likely to develop fibrotic tissue changes and liver failure.

Drinking alcohol while taking antibiotic therapy can have negative effects on 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 drug enters the gastrointestinal tract, the drug will not be completely absorbed and the treatment effect will be reduced to zero.

Antibiotics can adversely affect the intestinal microflora. Patients taking these drugs often complain of abdominal pain, stool problems, constipation or diarrhea. To restore the balance of microflora after a course of antibiotics, prebiotics and probiotics are often prescribed. If you drink alcoholic beverages at this time, you can earn chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis or stomach ulcers.

Possibility of allergic reaction

The composition of alcoholic beverages, in addition to ethyl alcohol, contains additives, dyes, flavors, preservatives. The end result of their interaction with antibiotics is unpredictable. A potential danger is the occurrence of a mild or severe allergic reaction. At best, itching, redness of the skin, sneezing and, at worst, shortness of breath, Quincke's edema and death will appear. If a person has noticed such symptoms, it is necessary to urgently take an antihistamine, and in case of serious consequences, immediately call an ambulance.

Before taking medications, patients should carefully read the instructions, checking how safe the combination of the active ingredients and ethanol is.

Association of alcohol with known groups of antibacterial drugs

A disulfiram-like reaction is life-threatening. Based on the studies conducted, scientists have found out 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 in the treatment of 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;
• infection prevention during surgery.

Medicines of this group should not be combined with alcohol! Although, not everything is that simple. Studies in 2003 did not reveal the negative effects of hard alcohol consumption while using medications. However, doctors are confident that the consequences of their combination can be as follows:

• sharp pain in the abdomen;
• nausea;
• severe headaches;
• chills;
• violation of the rhythm of the heart;
• in rare severe cases respiratory failure develops.

Women should pay attention to the fact that a disulfiram-like reaction is possible not only with oral intake and injection of the drug, but also with the use of vaginal cream.

Alcohol and cephalosporins

Cephalosporins are a broad-spectrum group of 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;
• infections of the skin, soft tissues.

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

All cephalosporins, just like nitroimidazoles, are capable of causing a disulfiram-like reaction. Its main symptoms - nausea, pain in the head, abdomen, are caused by intoxication of the body. The possibility of a disulfiram-like reaction must 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 reaction similar to disulfiram, but also carries negative consequences.

Antibiotics with which it is relatively safe to drink alcohol

A number of antibacterial drugs have been successfully tested for compatibility with alcohol, and their combination is safe for the body.

• Penicillin antibiotics.
• Expectorants and mucolytics, prescribed for lung diseases, to thin viscous phlegm.
• Antifungal drugs.

The above medicines 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 when taking antibiotics is the complete refusal of drinking alcohol.

How to properly combine alcohol and antibiotics - safety precautions

The best option for the development of events when treating a patient with antibiotics is to refuse alcoholic beverages while taking medications. In exceptional cases, when one cannot help but drink, the following safety rules must be observed:

• Ask your doctor if it is okay to mix alcohol with medicine and think about the possibility of giving up strong drinks.
• The minimum time interval between taking an antibiotic and consuming alcohol is 4 hours. A shorter period is fraught with major health problems.
• The amount drunk depends on the sex, weight, severity of the current disease, the strength of the drink and should not exceed 300-350 ml.
• Ethanol is present not only in strong drinks (vodka, cognac, whiskey), but also in low alcoholic drinks (wine, champagne, beer). Even if the alcohol content here is several times lower, drinking will not go without harm to health.

In patients undergoing antibiotic therapy, the question arises: how long after the course is it allowed to drink alcoholic beverages? The exact answer can be given by the attending physician and depends on several factors: sex, age of the person, nature of his illness, health, medication. Most drugs have a cumulative effect, continuing to act on the body after the end of the intake. Medical professionals recommend starting drinking alcohol no earlier than 5 days after the end of treatment.

Three rules when taking antibacterial drugs:

1. Antibacterial drugs are produced and prescribed in different dosage forms: tablets, syrups, intravenous and intramuscular injections, eye drops, ointments, vaginal suppositories, solutions for inhalation. Any form of the drug can cause adverse reactions.
2. 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 of medicinal plants (licorice, marshmallow, echinacea, eleutherococcus). It is necessary to study the composition of drugs taken simultaneously with antibiotics.
3. Read the drug's instructions carefully to find out how compatible it is with alcohol. If the instructions say that research on this problem has not been carried out or there is no information, you will need to stop drinking alcoholic beverages during the course of treatment.

Antibacterial drugs place an unnecessary burden on the body and are prescribed in case of serious diseases. The doctor can prescribe only a certain drug, everything else depends on the patient, who, first of all, must think about a speedy recovery. A sick person must take the prescribed drugs in a timely manner, sleep at least 7-8 hours a day, eat foods with a high content of vitamins and microelements. It is best to forget about taking alcohol during this time. This is especially true for people suffering from chronic diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys. Otherwise, the negative consequences will not force themselves to reap. Could be:

• Failure of the central nervous system and gradual death of brain cells.
• Intoxication of the body, the symptoms of which are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
• Kidney damage, urinary system problems.
• Violation of the rhythm of the heart.
• Gastritis, stomach ulcers.
• Violation of the intestinal microflora.
• Liver damage, which leads to the gradual death of cells.
• With decreased immunity, the body will not be able to fight infections on its own.
• Heartbeat.
• Blood pressure spikes are dangerous for hypertensive patients.
• Stool disorder in the form of constipation or diarrhea.
• Weakness, sleepiness, loss of strength.
• Depressive state, nervous breakdowns.
• Irritability, insomnia.
• Decreased intellectual abilities, memory impairment, concentration of attention.
• Fever and chills.
• Severe headaches.
• Convulsions.
• Allergic reactions in the form of itching, rash and redness of the skin.
• Difficulty breathing and Quincke's edema - without timely medical attention, 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 the holiday and help relax. But its use during the illness will not bring any pleasure and can harm the body. This is the main thing that a person should remember when deciding for himself whether it is worth mixing alcohol and antibiotics.