Scientists say that the active ingredients of antibiotics are in the body for at least 3 days. There are long-acting (long) drugs, they are removed only after 2-3 weeks. Consulting with a doctor can help prevent side effects. It is important to pay attention to the following parameters before starting to drink alcohol after antibiotics:
- the duration of the course of treatment with the drug;
- its compatibility with ethyl alcohol;
- the time after which alcohol is allowed after the last dose.
Combining drugs with alcohol
From the point of view of some doctors, taking antibiotics at the same time as alcohol can lead to liver dysfunction, as well as reducing the effectiveness of medications to almost nothing.
Other experts speak only of a four-hour abstinence, assuring that at the end of this period, the drugs are already completing the active phase and the consumption of alcohol will not affect the state of health in any way.
What happens if you mix it with alcohol
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat many diseases. During the treatment, many events take place: birthdays, corporate parties, weddings and other events. Therefore, many are concerned about the question of how much alcohol should not be ingested after antibiotics. Let's consider this problem 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 drinks.
Any substance that enters the body begins to be digested. First, there is a division into its constituent parts, then the complete disintegration of the substance. Only the original elements remain. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats.
If you drink alcohol after antibiotics, the breakdown products of the alcohol product will also be broken down. If the drug is not completely removed from the blood at this time, its residues can attach to the breakdown products of alcohol. A mixture is formed that causes malfunction in the work of internal organs.
Drinking alcohol after antibiotics can cause the following problems:
- the load on the liver will increase several times, due to which the natural filter will not cope with the overload;
- allergic reactions of a different nature;
- mental health problems will begin;
- dizziness and vomiting.
How the reaction will manifest if you drink alcohol after taking antibiotics depends on the specific type of medication, the amount of alcohol you drink, the person's age and sex, and individual body characteristics.
It is safe to say that you cannot drink alcohol after antibiotics. The rule also applies to those drugs in the note for which there is no direct indication of incompatibility with products containing alcohol. The mildest side effects if you drink alcohol after a course of antibiotics will be the absence of the expected therapeutic effect.
Despite several important activities that cannot do without alcohol-containing products, drinking alcohol after antibiotics is unacceptable.
Alcohol while taking antibiotics can lead to serious irreversible consequences. The main negative reactions of this combination include:
- 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 and adapt to the active substance, increasing their resistance to this group of antibiotics.
- The transition from the acute to the chronic form of the disease. Alcohol can accelerate the metabolism of the active substance, while the drug breaks down more quickly 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.
- An increase in blood viscosity with a combination of alcohol and antibiotics can lead to the development of a stroke or myocardial infarction, as well as problems with the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
- Decreased drug concentration due to the use of alcoholic beverages. At the same time, the dosage of antibacterial drugs is increased by the doctor, and with this load, the liver and kidneys work through wear and tear. Perhaps the development of acute failure 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 completely stop, which will lead to severe intoxication and organ inhibition.
- Risk of developing serious allergic reactions. The human body can react inappropriately to such a complex of influences. Anaphylactic shock or angioedema with fatal outcome is an irreversible result of the interaction of alcohol with antibiotics.
- Of particular danger is a disulfiram-like reaction, which occurs due to the accumulation of acetaldehyde (an intermediate metabolite of ethyl alcohol) in tissues and organs, which acts as a strong nootropic in the central nervous system. Its excretion is disturbed and in this context severe intoxication occurs, accompanied by: nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, fever, drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, dizziness and convulsions.
Compatible drugs
Among antibacterial agents, there are separate categories of drugs that allow their use in combination with alcoholic beverages:
- cephalosporins;
- penicillin series preparations;
- macrolides.
If you are taking medications that contain penicillin, you must not drink alcohol for more than 4 hours after completing a course of antibiotics. This time is sufficient for the complete absorption of the drug in the blood and its decomposition in the liver, which signals the fulfillment of the therapeutic function and the beginning of the process of removal of the remains of the drug by the kidneys.
If you start drinking alcohol before this period, or drink a lot, the treatment effect will not follow. The fact is that ethanol in large quantities increases the production of liver enzymes, which begin to actively break down not only alcohol, but also the drugs themselves.
This, in turn, contributes to the rapid removal of drugs from the body, causing the drug to not have time to perform its functions. In addition, alcohol has a diuretic effect, which also helps to reduce the concentration of drugs and reduce their effectiveness to zero.
But there is a group of antibacterial drugs that should never be taken with alcohol or immediately before drinking. This is explained by the ability of these antibiotics to block the production of enzymes that degrade ethanol.
The effect of drugs from this group on the body is similar to the effect of the drug, which is used to code patients suffering from alcohol dependence.
Antibacterial therapy, carried out with 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 cannot be combined with any alcohol. These medications include:
- Nitroimidazoles. High risk of developing a disulfiram-like reaction (drinking alcohol is only possible after 2 days).
- Fluoroquinolones, when combined with alcohol, depress the nervous system until coma develops, alcohol is allowed only after 36 hours.
- When interacting with ethyl alcohol, cephalosporins give a reaction similar to disulfiram, alcohol can be taken after 24 hours (with kidney disease, the interval is prolonged).
- Tetracyclines damage liver cells for a long time, they are excreted from the body, drinking alcohol no earlier than 3 days.
- Aminoglycosides are oto - and nephrotoxic, they increase drug side effects, alcohol cannot be taken 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 very slowly excreted from the body, let's say drinking alcohol only after 4 days.
- Antituberculosis 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 cure the disease faster without the risk of adverse reactions. Basic rules:
- take medication only as directed by a doctor (self-medication is dangerous to health);
- be sure to note the exact dosage and timing of taking the antibiotic;
- the duration of treatment with the drug will be determined by the doctor. On average, this is 5 to 15 days and the use of long-acting drugs is 1 to 4 days;
- you need to drink tablets with clean water without gas, decoctions of chamomile, not hot tea without sugar;
- during treatment with antibiotics, it is better to refuse to eat fatty foods, which slow down the absorption of the active substance from the intestines into the blood. Be sure to consume animal protein in the form of chicken, rabbit or turkey meat. Limit the amount of fast carbs;
- absolute contraindication: alcohol after antibiotics if less than 3 days have passed.
Today, antibiotics are an integral part of treatment when it comes to viral infections. This raises the question of when you can drink alcohol after antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to fight most viruses and bacteria known to modern medicine. What to do with alcohol consumption 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 period. Regulate the intake of other heavy foods. When using alcohol after antibiotics, the doctor does not guarantee the maximum effectiveness of the course, in addition, complications often occur.
You may start drinking alcohol after antibiotics after a while. Do not drink during treatment. The number of days you need to wait before taking alcohol varies depending on the drug.
Why are alcohol and antibiotics incompatible? The fact is that the antibiotic taken automatically reduces the activity of your internal organs, which not only fight the infection, but also cleanse the body after drinking alcohol.
Drinking alcohol during antibiotic treatment means ruining your liver, kidneys and heart. After antibiotics, there is a serious failure in the natural intestinal microflora. If you drink in this state, you will find yourself in a hospital bed.
If you drink alcohol immediately after taking the pill, without waiting, you will experience side effects such as:
- liver failure;
- nausea and vomiting;
- headache;
- dizziness;
- clouded mind.
These are the main reasons why alcohol after taking antibiotics is only allowed after a few days after the end of the course.
abstinence term
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 this and are now unable to talk to him, see the note attached to the medicine. Read it carefully for information about the duration of administration, the compatibility of the drug with alcohol, the period after which you can drink alcohol.
Most of the time, when asked how many days you can return to the "alcoholic" life, the answer is a few days. The period of abstinence varies from three days to a full week. Regardless of which specific remedy was used and what is the duration of its complete withdrawal from the body.
Even if the instructions don't say whether it's possible to drink alcohol after antibiotics, it's best to postpone the festivities for a few days. The issue is not just drug and alcohol compatibility, but also a fragile body. Even the smallest dose can be serious poison for him.
strict ban
The strict ban on drinking alcohol during a course of antibiotics is not a whim of doctors. Even if you don't notice any side effects when combining these two components, that doesn't mean the body hasn't been damaged.
With the combination of ethanol and drugs, there is not necessarily a direct effect. However, the therapeutic properties of the drug will be reduced. Thus, the disease will not be defeated, and an additional course will be required, which will seriously affect the liver and various other organs related to the excretory system.
There is a whole group of antibiotic drugs, the combination of which with alcohol is strictly prohibited. The annotation of such drugs always points to a lack of compatibility with ethanol. In addition, appropriate notice to the patient will be given by the physician.
In particular, the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited if you have been prescribed a drug from the tetracycline group. They are widely used in medicine to treat various infections. Preparations from the levomecithin group are not combined with ethanol, as they cause serious side effects. When combined with the drink, the toxic effect of the drug is potentiated.
Cephalosporins are also strong medications, if taken simultaneously with alcohol, you can lead your body to severe intoxication, which does not contribute to a quick cure for the disease. In the group of drugs prohibited from ingesting alcohol, there are antibiotics against tuberculosis and leprosy, in addition to macrolides, which increase their toxic properties when combined with alcohol. First of all, in these cases, the brain and liver suffer.
Deadline
There are antibiotics, in the instructions for which you will not find information about compatibility with ethyl alcohol. These are drugs against fungi, drugs with penicillin.
It has already been mentioned above that this gap in the instructions does not give the green light to alcohol consumption. Consider your body's individuality. For some, the combination of alcohol and antibiotics will only cause mild intoxication, and for some, there is even the possibility of death.
In this case, the minimum period of abstinence is three days. Of course, if you have questions, it's best to contact 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. Antibiotics are prescribed only by a doctor; tests are administered preliminarily to help the doctor determine which antibiotics are most suitable.
Own purchase antibiotics can lead to side effects or simply zero effectiveness.
The use of antibiotics is subject to strict rules. For example, when using antibiotics twice a day, it's best to take the time between doses up to 12 hours. Normally, during this period, a tablet maintains the required concentration of the substance in the blood.
Meat is best eaten cooked, when choosing chicken or turkey, make vegetable stew. It is important to observe the intake regimen. Typically, a person needs 30 ml per kilogram of body weight.
However, during illness, the intoxication syndrome increases, so it is advisable to increase the rate of intake per liter.
Keep in mind that high temperature increases the body's need for fluids, in addition, it is actively used to eliminate bacterial breakdown products from the body.
In case of infectious diseases, make sure you are on sick leave. 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 medications only as directed by your doctor.
When can you drink alcohol
The timing of complete elimination of antibiotics from the body is strictly individual. For example, aminoglycosides are removed from the circulatory system after 2. 5 hours.
The same substances in the in-ear fluid leave the body only 14 to 15 days after taking the last pill. Drinking alcohol before this period is fraught with serious problems, even complete deafness.
The length of the "withdrawal" period is determined by the type of drug, the patient's age, health status, and metabolic characteristics. In some cases, the use of alcohol is already allowed 1 to 1. 5 days after the end of treatment, in others it can take about 3 to 10 days of absolute refusal of alcohol.
Only a doctor can determine exactly how many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol. Many experts are of the opinion that you can enjoy delicious wine (or something stronger) just 10 days after completing the therapeutic course.
For patients suffering from diseases of the liver, kidneys and other organs, these periods can be extended, according to the individual doctor's recommendations.
In addition, there are several factors that speak in favor of absolutely refusing alcohol during the course of treatment, as well as immediately after its completion:
- During this period, the human body, weakened by the infection, is more susceptible to the effects of antibiotics, which negatively affect the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs harm the gastrointestinal tract by suppressing its microflora. If alcohol is added to this, the body may simply not support 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 in parallel. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms, which antibiotics aim to humiliate, will lose their sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its action. Repeated violation of the drinking abstinence regimen will lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which can result in the death of the patient.
These are the main reasons why you should stop drinking during the therapeutic course and immediately after its completion. In fact, part of the pathogenic bacteria remains active for some time, and the weakening of the action of drugs will contribute to the development of pathogenic microflora.
In short
- During this period, the human body, weakened by the infection, is more susceptible to the effects of antibiotics, which negatively affect the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs harm the gastrointestinal tract by suppressing its microflora. If alcohol is added to this, the body may simply not support 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 in parallel. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms, which antibiotics aim to humiliate, will lose their sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its action. Repeated violation of the drinking abstinence regimen will lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which can result in the death of the patient.
- How many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol, the doctor determines, taking into account the type and nature of the course of the disease, the age of the patient and the characteristics of his body.
- Light alcoholic drinks (eg wine) can be consumed 3-5 days after the end of treatment, strong drinks - not earlier than 10 days later.
- Violation of the recommended periods of abstinence is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.