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 follow this recommendation, but if 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, since no full-fledged studies have been carried out, the results of which would allow the negative consequences of the simultaneous consumption of alcohol and antibacterial drugs to be fully assessed. That doesn't mean you can combine them with peace of mind, no sane doctor will recommend it. To understand how dangerous it is to drink alcohol during antibiotic treatment, the article describes the consequences of the combined effects of these substances on the body, examples of the combination of known drugs and drinks containingalcohol are given.

The effect of alcohol and antibiotics on the body

Holidays in our country are traditionally celebrated with the use of spirits. Many people are unable to deprive themselves of 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. Among them:

• Liver dysfunction.
• Excessive stress on the gastrointestinal tract.
• Heart rate increased.
• Death of brain cells.
• Chronic diseases of the kidneys and bladder.
• Disturbance of the nervous system.
• Severe hangover syndrome.
• Depressive state, nervous breakdown.

Drinking alcoholic beverages during illness is certainly not worth it. This will additionally stress the body, which is already working in emergency mode, to fight the disease.

Antibacterial drugs, introduced 90 years ago, quickly became a drug in demand and 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 has the opportunity to cope with the disease on its own.

Antibacterial drugs work on a person as aggressively as possible, compromising the ability of the immune system to independently fight disease. Their use is a forced necessity in case of 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 self-medicate, especially with a viral origin of the disease, when antibacterial drugs are unnecessary.

Antibiotics help to avoid the serious consequences of the disease, but taking them leads to a large number of side effects:

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

The well-being of a person worsens, lethargy, weakness appears, 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 feasting. The immune system, kidneys, liver and organs of the gastrointestinal tract will have a double burden, which is extremely difficult to cope with. This can cause the current condition to worsen, and the disease in the acute phase will become chronic, which is much more difficult to treat.

The effect of alcohol on the effect of antibacterial drugs

Evidence-based medicine does not know of specific examples of the weakening of the effect of antibiotics in the context of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Sometimes the opposite situation even occurs: the number of enzymes increases, and the degradation of the drug occurs more quickly. 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 as to 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 regarded the presence of such diseases as 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 were so few drugs that, according to legend, doctors tried to extract them from the urine. The problem was that the soldiers in their free time liked to drink beer, which has a diuretic effect and reduces the concentration of microorganisms. From then on, alcoholic beverages were banned, and in medicine, the postulate of the incompatibility between alcohol and antibiotics gradually emerged.

There are several reasons for this assertion. Doctors note that in patients who drank alcohol along with antibacterial drugs, recovery was much slower than in those who led sober lives. The reason lies in the fact that the consumption of alcohol with antibiotics is fraught with other negative consequences associated with the deterioration of the immune system. With the regular use of alcoholic beverages, it is impossible to establish the correct daily regimen with proper rest and diet. At the same time, vitamins, minerals and nutrients cannot be completely absorbed, and the body gradually becomes exhausted. As a result, the patient's medications will be ineffective.

Compatibility of alcoholic beverages and antibiotics

Modern antibiotics are mild. 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 rate of their assimilation is associated with the work of the same enzymes that are 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 leads to side effects that a person will soon experience on themselves.

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

• Severe headache resembling migraines.
• Nausea Vomiting.
• Dizziness, loss of consciousness.
• Rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia.
• Fever, increased temperature.
• Profuse sweating.
• Insomnia.
• A state close to depression, irritability.
• Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength.
• Inflammatory processes of the liver, jaundice.
• Stomach pain caused by gastritis and ulcers.

Disulfiram-like reaction

The most common and dangerous negative consequence is a disulfiram-type reaction. This drug, used in the treatment of alcohol dependence, is able to affect the work of enzymes that process ethyl alcohol. The metabolism consists of two stages:

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

The incompleteness of the second stage leads to the strongest hangover syndrome. For lovers of alcoholic beverages who take the drug, the process of rapid separation of ethanol is disturbed, and if a dose of alcohol is added against the background of the intake, the body will overflow with toxic substances. Drinking alcohol while intoxicated is not possible, and the patient gets rid of addiction.

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

• Chills.
• Heart rate increased.
• Nausea Vomiting.
• Convulsions.
• Allergic reactions.
• Headache.
• Respiratory arrest.

This latter manifestation of a disulfiram-like reaction is considered to be 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 the progress of his condition. The consequences can appear during a feast or 4 to 5 hours after it. In this situation, you need to promptly consult a doctor.

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 taking antibiotics and alcohol together is the threat of toxic liver damage. Its enzymes are unable to simultaneously assimilate the drug and ethanol. In this fight, alcohol usually wins, and the drug builds up in the liver cells, threatening severe poisoning.

During illness, the liver is engaged in cleansing the body of toxins and poisons, and alcohol increases the load several times. People used to mixing drugs and spirits are more likely to develop fibrous tissue changes and liver failure.

Drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics can negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. When ethyl enters the stomach, it causes congestion and vasodilation, which aids in the absorption of alcohol. If after a short period of time an antibacterial drug enters the gastrointestinal tract, the drug will not be fully absorbed, and the effect of treatment will be reduced to zero.

Antibiotics can negatively affect the intestinal microflora. Patients taking these medicines often complain of abdominal pain, bowel problems, constipation, or diarrhea. To restore the balance of the microflora after a course of antibiotics, prebiotics and probiotics are often prescribed. If you drink alcoholic beverages at this time, you can get 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, colorants, flavors, preservatives. The end result of their interaction with antibiotics is unpredictable. A potential danger is the occurrence of an allergic reaction in a mild or severe form. At best, itching, redness of the skin, sneezing will appear, and at worst, shortness of breath, angioedema and death. If a person noticed such symptoms, then it is necessary to urgently take an antihistamine, and with severe consequences, immediately call an ambulance.

Before taking any medication, patients should carefully read the instructions, checking the safety of the combination of active ingredients and ethanol.

Combination 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 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 in this group should not be combined with alcohol! Even if everything is not so simple. Studies in 2003 did not reveal the negative effects of consuming hard alcohol while using medication. However, doctors are convinced that the consequences of their combination may be as follows:

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

Women should be careful that a disulfiram-like reaction is possible not only with oral administration and injection of the drug, but also with the use of vaginal cream.

Alcohol and cephalosporins

Cephalosporins are a group of broad-spectrum 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, in the abdomen, are caused by intoxication of the body. The possibility of a disulfiram-type reaction should be taken seriously, as the consequences can be serious and 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 disulfiram-like reaction, but also has 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-based antibiotics.
• Expectorants and mucolytics, which are prescribed for diseases of the lungs, to thin viscous phlegm.
• Antifungal drugs.

The above drugs can be taken with alcohol, but this does not mean that they can be safely swallowed with strong drinks! The best option for the development of events while taking antibiotics is a complete refusal to drink alcohol.

How to correctly 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 medication. In exceptional cases, when you can not do without drinking, the following safety rules must be observed:

• Ask your doctor if it is allowed to mix alcohol with medication, and consider stopping strong drinks.
• The minimum time interval between taking an antibiotic and consuming alcohol is 4 hours. A shorter period is fraught with great health problems.
• The amount drunk depends on sex, weight, severity of current illness, strength of 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 less, drinking will not be without harm to health.

In patients on antibiotic therapy, the question arises: how long after the course is allowed to drink alcoholic beverages? The exact answer can be given by the attending physician, and it depends on several factors: sex, age of the person, nature of his illness, state of health, medication. Most medicines have a cumulative effect, continuing to work on the body after you stop taking them. Healthcare professionals recommend starting to drink alcohol no earlier than 5 days after stopping 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 medicine can cause unwanted effects.
2. Ethanol, which is used in 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 instructions for the medicine carefully to find out how compatible it is with alcohol. If the instructions indicate that this question has not been researched or there is no information, you should stop drinking alcoholic beverages during treatment.

Antibacterial drugs carry an unnecessary load on the body and are prescribed for serious illnesses. The doctor can only prescribe a certain drug, everything else depends on the patient, who first of all needs to think about a speedy recovery. A sick person should take the prescribed drugs in a timely manner, sleep at least 7-8 hours a day, eat foods rich in vitamins and microelements. It is better to forget to drink alcohol during this time. This is especially true for people with chronic diseases of the heart, liver, kidneys. Otherwise, the negative consequences will not force themselves to harvest. It can be:

• Failure of the central nervous system and progressive death of brain cells.
• Intoxication 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 intestinal microflora.
• Damage to the liver, resulting in progressive cell death.
• Decreased immunity, the body will not be able to fight infections on its own.
• Heart disease.
• Spikes in blood pressure are dangerous for hypertensive patients.
• Stool disorder in the form of constipation or diarrhea.
• Weakness, drowsiness, loss of strength.
• Depressive state, nervous breakdowns.
• Irritability, insomnia.
• Decreased intellectual capacity, memory impairment, concentration of attention.
• Fever and chills.
• Severe headache.
• Convulsions.
• Allergic reactions in the form of itching, rash and redness of the skin.
• Difficulty breathing and angioedema - without timely medical care, it ends in death.
• The effect of treatment is minimal or absent.
• The disease can become chronic, reducing the patient's quality of life.

Alcohol in small doses will complement the holidays and help to relax. But its use during illness will not bring any pleasure and may harm the body. This is the main thing a person should remember when deciding for himself whether it is worth mixing alcohol and antibiotics.