How Long Can You Drink Alcohol After Taking Antibiotics?

Scientists say that the active ingredients of antibiotics remain in the body for at least 3 days. There are drugs with a prolonged (long) effect, they are removed only after 2-3 weeks. Consultation with a doctor can help to avoid side effects. It is important to pay attention to the following parameters before starting to drink alcohol after taking antibiotics:

• the duration of treatment with the drug;
• its compatibility with ethyl alcohol;
• the time after which alcohol is allowed after the last dose.

Combination of drugs with alcohol

From the point of view of some doctors, taking antibiotics at the same time as alcohol can lead to impaired liver function and reduce the effectiveness of drugs to almost nothing.

Other experts only speak of a four-hour abstinence and assure that by the end of this time the drugs have already completed the active phase and the consumption of alcohol in no way affects the state of health.

What happens if you mix it with alcohol?

Antibiotics are prescribed to treat many diseases. Many events take place in the course of treatment: birthdays, company parties, weddings and other events. Therefore, many are concerned with the question of how much alcohol should not be drunk after antibiotic administration. Let's consider this issue in more detail.

interaction

To understand whether it is possible to drink alcohol after antibiotics, you need to have information about the interaction of drugs and alcohol-containing beverages.

Any substance that enters the body begins to be digested. First, the splitting into its components takes place, then the complete decomposition of the substance. Only the original elements remain. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats.

If you drink alcohol after antibiotics, the decomposition products of the alcohol product are also broken down. If the drug is not completely removed from the blood at this point, its residues can attach to the breakdown products of alcohol. A mixture is formed, which leads to functional disorders of the internal organs.

Alcohol consumption after antibiotics can cause the following problems:

• the load on the liver will increase several times, due to which the natural filter will not be able to cope with the overload.
• allergic reactions of a different nature;
• mental health problems will begin;
• dizziness and vomiting.

The reaction to alcohol consumption after taking antibiotics depends on the type of drug in question, the amount of alcohol you drink, the person's age and sex, and individual characteristics of the body.

It's safe to say you can't drink alcohol after taking antibiotics. The rule also applies to those medicines in the annotation to which there is no direct indication of intolerance to alcohol-containing products. The mildest side effects of drinking alcohol after a course of antibiotics are the lack of the expected therapeutic effect.

Despite various important activities that cannot do without products containing alcohol, drinking alcohol after antibiotics is unacceptable.

Alcohol while taking antibiotics can lead to serious irreversible consequences. The main negative reactions of this combination are:

• Increasing the resistance of pathogenic microflora. Antibacterial drugs are prescribed to destroy pathogenic microorganisms in the human body. At the same time, alcohol weakens the effect of these drugs, and at this time the bacteria adapt to the active substance and increase their resistance to this group of antibiotics.
• The transition from the acute form of the disease to the chronic. Alcohol is able to accelerate the metabolism of the active substance, while the drug is broken down faster and does not have time to act on the focus of inflammation. To do this, the doctor prescribes a double dose of antibiotics, the load on the body increases, and the disease is treated longer and more difficult.
• Increasing blood viscosity with a combination of alcohol and antibiotics can lead to the development of a stroke or myocardial infarction, as well as dysfunction of the heart and blood vessels.
• Decrease in the concentration of the drug due to the use of alcoholic beverages. At the same time, the dosage of antibacterial drugs is increased by the doctor, and with such a load, the liver and kidneys work for wear and tear. Perhaps the development of acute insufficiency of these organs.
• Impaired liver function. Ethyl alcohol and antibiotics are broken down by the same liver enzymes. Under such influence, the production of these substances can stop altogether, which will lead to severe intoxication and inhibition of the organ.
• Risk of severe allergic reactions. The human body can react inadequately to such a complex of influences. Anaphylactic shock or angioedema with a fatal outcome is an irreversible consequence of the interaction of alcohol with antibiotics.
• Especially dangerous is a disulfiram-like reaction that occurs due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde (an intermediate metabolite of ethyl alcohol) in tissues and organs, acting as a powerful nootropic on the central nervous system. Its elimination is disturbed and against this background there is severe intoxication, accompanied by: nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, fever, drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, dizziness and convulsions.

Compatible Drugs

Among antibacterial agents there are several categories of drugs that allow combined use with alcoholic beverages:

• cephalosporins;
• penicillin series preparations;
• macrolides.

If you are taking medicines containing penicillin, you may not drink alcohol for at least 4 hours after completing a course of antibiotics. This time is quite enough for the drug to be fully absorbed into the blood and broken down in the liver, which signals the performance of the therapeutic function and the beginning of the process of removing the remains of the drug by the kidneys.

If you start drinking alcohol before this period or drink too much of it, the treatment will not be effective. The fact is that in large quantities, ethanol promotes the production of liver enzymes, which actively break down not only alcohol, but also the drugs themselves.

This, in turn, contributes to the rapid removal of drugs from the body, which does not give the drug time to perform its functions. In addition, alcohol has a diuretic effect, which also helps reduce the concentration of drugs, reducing their effectiveness to zero.

But there is a group of antibacterial drugs that should never be taken with alcohol or taken immediately before drinking. This is explained by the ability of such antibiotics to block the production of enzymes that break down ethanol.

The effect on the body of drugs of this group is similar to the effect of the drug used to code patients with alcohol addiction.

Antibacterial therapy, carried out using drugs with similar properties, requires a complete rejection of alcohol. Violation of this rule is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.

There are a large number of groups of antibacterial agents that must not be combined with alcohol. These drugs include:

• nitroimidazoles. High risk of developing a disulfiram-like reaction (alcohol consumption is only possible after 2 days).
• Fluoroquinolones in combination with alcohol stress the nervous system up to the development of a coma, alcohol is only allowed after 36 hours.
• When interacting with ethyl alcohol, cephalosporins give a disulfiram-like reaction, alcohol can be taken after 24 hours (with kidney disease, the interval is increased).
• Tetracyclines damage the liver cells for a very long time, they are eliminated from the body and drink alcohol no earlier than 3 days.
• Aminoglycosides are oto- and nephrotoxic, increase the side effects of medication, alcohol may be taken no earlier than 2 weeks later.
• Lincosamides affect the central nervous system and liver, cause a disulfiram reaction, alcohol is allowed only after 4 days.
• Macrolides cause liver cirrhosis. It is eliminated from the body very slowly, let's say taking alcoholic beverages only after 4 days.
• Anti-tuberculosis drugs cause the development of drug-induced hepatitis with a fulminant course, any alcohol is strictly prohibited.

When can you drink alcohol after antibiotics: general rules

Compliance with the correct intake of antibiotics will help to cure the disease faster, without the risk of side effects. Basic Rules:

• Take medication only as directed by a doctor (self-medication is dangerous to health);
• It is essential to observe the exact dosage and the time at which the antibiotic is taken.
• the duration of treatment with the drug is determined by the doctor. On average, this is 5-15 days, and taking long-acting drugs is 1-4 days.
• You need to drink tablets with clean non-carbonated water, decoctions of chamomile, and not with hot tea without sugar.
• During antibiotic treatment it is better to refrain from eating fatty foods that slow down the absorption of the active substance from the intestine into the blood. Be sure to consume animal protein in the form of chicken, rabbit, or turkey. Limit the amount of fast carbohydrates;
• Absolute contraindication: alcohol after antibiotics if less than 3 days have passed.

Antibiotics are now an integral part of the treatment of viral infections. This raises the question of when you can drink alcohol after antibiotics. Antibiotics are used in the fight against most viruses and bacteria known to modern medicine. What to do with alcohol after antibiotics

The duration of antibiotic treatment is usually several days to months, depending on the complexity of the disease. Alcohol is not allowed during this time. Regulate your intake of other heavy foods. When using alcohol after antibiotics, the doctor will not guarantee you the maximum effectiveness of the course, in addition, complications often arise.

You can start drinking alcohol after antibiotics after a while. Do not drink during treatment. The number of days you have to wait before drinking alcohol depends on the drug.

Why are alcohol and antibiotics incompatible things? The fact is that the antibiotic taken automatically reduces the activity of your internal organs, which not only fight infection, but also cleanse the body after drinking alcohol.

Drinking alcohol while on antibiotics means ruining your liver, kidneys and heart. After antibiotics, there is a severe failure of the natural intestinal flora. If you drink in this state, you'll find yourself in a hospital bed.

If you drink alcohol right after the pill without waiting, you will experience side effects such as:

• liver failure;
• nausea and vomiting;
• Headache;
• Dizziness;
• foggy mind.

These are the main reasons why alcohol after taking antibiotics is allowed only a few days after the end of the course.

duration of abstinence

Of course, the question of how long it takes to start drinking alcohol after taking antibiotics should be asked by your doctor. If you forgot to ask the doctor about it and you can't reach him now, read the note that accompanies the remedy. Read it carefully for information about the duration of administration, the compatibility of the drug with alcohol and the period after which you can drink alcohol.

When asked how many days you can return to "alcoholic" living, the most common answer is a few days. The length of abstinence varies from three days to a full week, regardless of the specific remedy used and for how longcomplete withdrawal from the body.

Even if the instructions do not indicate whether alcohol consumption is possible after antibiotics, it is better to postpone the celebration for a few days. It is not only about the tolerance of drugs and alcohol, but also about a fragile body. Even the smallest dose can be a serious poison for him.

Strict ban

A strict ban on alcohol during a course of antibiotics is not a whim on the part of the doctors. Even if you do not notice any side effects when combining these two components, this does not mean that the body has not been harmed.

The combination of ethanol and drugs does not necessarily result in a direct effect. However, the therapeutic properties of the drug are reduced. Accordingly, the disease will not be defeated and an additional course will be required, which will seriously affect the liver and a number of other organs associated with the excretory system.

There is a whole group of antibiotics, the combination of which with alcohol is strictly forbidden. The annotation of such drugs always indicates the lack of compatibility with ethanol. In addition, the patient is warned accordingly by the doctor.

In particular, the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited if you have been prescribed a drug from the group of tetracyclines. They are widely used in medicine to treat various infections. Preparations from the group of levomecithins are not combined with ethanol, as they cause strong side effects. In combination with drinking, the toxic effect of the drug is enhanced.

Cephalosporins are also powerful medicines, when taken at the same time as alcohol, you can bring your body into a severe state of intoxication, which does not contribute to the quick healing of the disease. In the group of drugs prohibited by alcohol, there are antibiotics for tuberculosis and leprosy, as well as macrolides, which, when combined with alcohol, increase their toxic properties. In such cases, the brain and liver suffer first.

Time window

There are antibiotics, in the instructions for which you will not find information about their compatibility with ethyl alcohol. These are antifungal drugs, drugs with penicillin.

As mentioned above, this gap in the guidance does not give the green light to drinking alcohol. Consider the individuality of your body. For some, the combination of alcohol and an antibiotic results in only mild poisoning, and some even have the possibility of death.

In this case, the minimum abstinence period is three days. Of course, if you have any questions, it is better to consult your doctor, who will explain the answers to your questions.

Admission Rules

You need to take antibiotics correctly to increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the likelihood of side effects. Prescribing antibiotics is carried out only by a doctor; preliminary tests are done to help the doctor determine which antibiotics are most appropriate.

Home-bought antibiotics can lead to side effects or simply zero effectiveness.

The use of antibiotics is subject to strict rules. For example, if you use antibiotics twice a day, it is best to bring the interval between doses to 12 hours. Usually during this period, one tablet maintains the required concentration of the substance in the blood.

Meat is best consumed cooked, while you choose chicken or turkey and prepare steamed vegetables. It is important to follow the drinking regimen. Normally, a person needs 30 ml per kilogram of body weight.

In case of illness, however, the intoxication syndrome increases, which is why it is advisable to increase the amount of fluid per liter.

Remember that high temperatures increase the body's need for fluids and are actively used to flush bacterial breakdown products out of the body.

Be sure to get sick leave if you have an infectious disease. Exclude sports, in some cases bed rest is recommended. If you can't lie down all day, take a walk outside. You can combine antibiotics with other medicines only as directed by your doctor.

When can you drink alcohol?

The timing of the complete elimination of antibiotics from the body is strictly individual. For example, aminoglycosides are cleared from the circulation after 2. 5 hours.

The same substances in the intra-ear fluid leave the body only 14-15 days after taking the last pill. Alcohol consumption before this time is fraught with serious problems, up to complete deafness.

The duration of the "abstinence" period is determined by the type of drug, the age of the patient, his state of health and metabolic characteristics. In some cases, alcohol consumption is allowed already 1-1. 5 days after the end of treatment, in others it can take about 3-10 days to absolutely refuse alcohol.

Only a doctor can accurately determine how many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol. According to many experts, you can enjoy delicious wine (or something stronger) just 10 days after completing the therapy course.

In patients with diseases of the liver, kidneys and other organs, these periods can be extended according to the doctor's individual recommendations.

In addition, a number of factors speak in favor of the absolute refusal of alcohol during treatment, as well as immediately after its completion:

1. During this period, the human body, weakened by infections, is more susceptible to the action of antibiotics, which have a negative effect on the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs damage the gastrointestinal tract by suppressing its microflora. When alcohol is added, the body simply cannot withstand the load, which threatens the development of acute kidney and liver failure.
2. The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy is reduced by almost 100% if you drink alcohol at the same time. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms designed to humiliate antibiotics lose their sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its effects. Repeated violations of the ban on drinking lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which can lead to the death of the patient.

These are the main reasons why you should stop drinking during and immediately after a cycle. In fact, some pathogenic bacteria remain active for some time, and the weakening of the effects of drugs will contribute to the further development of pathogenic microflora.

Summarize

• During this period, the human body, weakened by infections, is more susceptible to the action of antibiotics, which have a negative effect on the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs damage the gastrointestinal tract by suppressing its microflora. When alcohol is added, the body simply cannot withstand the load, which threatens the development of acute kidney and liver failure.
• The effectiveness of antibiotic therapy is reduced by almost 100% if you drink alcohol at the same time. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms designed to humiliate antibiotics lose their sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its effects. Repeated violations of the ban on drinking lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which can lead to the death of the patient.
• How many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol, the doctor determines, taking into account the nature and nature of the course of the disease, the age of the patient and the characteristics of his body.
• Light alcoholic beverages (e. g. wine) can be drunk 3-5 days after the end of treatment, strong drinks - no earlier than 10 days later.
• Violation of the recommended periods of abstinence is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.