Effects of Alcohol on Antibiotics: An Overview
There is a widespread myth that alcohol makes all antibiotics less effective. However, this is simply not the case. While there may be other reasons to avoid alcohol while you are sick, alcohol does not interact with most antibiotics. There are only a few antibiotics that are known to interact with alcohol.
Which Antibiotics Interact With Alcohol?
The following antibiotics may potentially cause negative effects when taken with alcohol:
It is "common knowledge" that
alcohol and metronidazole interact in a severe or even dangerous way. Even the prescribing information for metronidazole warns of the possible interaction, stating that consuming alcohol while taking this medication (or even within three days of taking it) may cause the following side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Flushing
- Headaches
- Digestive upset.
However, recent clinical studies have failed to demonstrate a significant drug interaction between
metronidazole and alcohol. Despite the lack of a demonstrated interaction, your healthcare provider and pharmacist will probably still warn you to avoid alcohol while taking this drug. This is probably a good idea, although for other reasons than the presumed interaction (that is, it is not wise to drink alcohol while recovering from an infection). Most of the supposed effects of the metronidazole/alcohol interaction can be attributed to just the metronidazole.
Ceftriaxone and griseofulvin have also been reported to cause similar reactions.
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