Emilija Trbovikj, a pharmacist at the Serbian Pharmaceutical Chamber, explains how alcohol can change the effect of antibiotics.
A question that is often asked in pharmacies is: “Can I have a drink while taking antibiotics?” The answer is not always simple, but experts warn us that the combination of alcohol and antibiotics can cause more problem than it seems at first glance.
Some antibiotics do not have a direct chemical interaction with alcohol, but we must warn that this does not mean that the combination is safe. With certain medications, the reaction is fast and very unpleasant. One of the most famous examples is the interaction of alcohol with metronidazole that causes facial flushing, nausea, vomiting, palpitations and a drop in blood pressure.
Mixing alcohol with medications can be extremely dangerous because alcohol can increase the side effects of medications, reduce their effectiveness, or cause serious toxic reactions. Sedatives combined with alcohol can dramatically increase drowsiness and dizziness, and in severe cases can lead to respiratory arrest and coma. Because of this, when dispensing these medications on prescription, pharmacies must warn that they should not be combined with alcohol,” explains Emilija Trbovikj, a pharmacist at the Serbian Pharmaceutical Chamber.
She also adds that paracetamol combined with alcohol can significantly increase the risk of severe liver damage. Brufen, aspirin, and diclofenac combined with alcohol can lead to irritation of the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of internal bleeding and ulcers.
“Medications for diabetes combined with alcohol can cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, and larger amounts of alcohol combined with metformin can increase the risk of a rare but serious side effect of lactic acidosis, which disrupts the functioning of the heart and brain and can lead to organ failure. If medications for blood pressure are combined with alcohol, a sudden drop in blood pressure occurs, as well as dizziness and arrhythmias.
When combined with some commonly used antibiotics like amoxicillin, azithromycin and doxycycline, alcohol can worsen the general condition of the body, slowing down recovery and increasing side effects from the therapy, but it does not affect significantly the effectiveness of the most of these antibiotics. When these medications are combined with alcohol, they can slow down the body’s recovery and increase side effects like nausea and dizziness, while putting additional strain on the liver,” Trbovikj points out.
Even when there are no dramatic symptoms, alcohol makes the body weaker, increases fatigue and dehydration, and disrupts sleep which is very important for recovery. In other words, you may not feel the effect immediately, but the treatment may take longer. Pharmacists recommend waiting at least 48 to 72 hours after finishing the alcohol therapy, and longer than three days with metronidazole.
“Although not every antibiotic is strictly prohibited to be taken with alcohol, still, the rule is simple: If you are sick and you are taking therapy, your body needs recovery, not additional stress. One glass may seem harmless, but combined with wrong medication can cause a serious problem,” Trbovikj concludes.
