Scientists say that the active active ingredients of antibiotics stay in the body for at least 3 days. There are long-acting (long-acting) drugs, which are removed only after 2-3 weeks. Consulting a doctor can help prevent side effects. Before starting to drink alcohol after antibiotics, it is important to pay attention to the following parameters:
- the duration of the drug treatment course;
- compatibility with ethyl alcohol;
- the time after the last dose of alcohol is allowed.
Combining 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, as well as reduce the effectiveness of the drugs to almost nothing.
Other experts speak of only four hours of abstinence, ensuring that at the end of this period the drugs have already completed their active phase and alcohol consumption will not affect the health status in any way.
What happens if you mix it with alcohol?
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat many diseases. Many events take place during treatment: birthdays, corporate parties, weddings and other events. Therefore, many are concerned about the question of how much alcohol should not be drunk after antibiotics. Let's consider this problem in more detail.
Communication
To understand whether it is possible to drink alcohol after antibiotics, you need to know about the interaction of drugs and alcoholic beverages.
Any substance that enters the body begins to be digested. First, it is broken down into its constituent parts, and then the substance is completely broken down. Only the original elements remain. These are carbohydrates, proteins, fats.
If you drink alcohol after antibiotics, then the decomposition products of the alcohol product are also broken down. At this time, if the drug is not completely removed from the blood, its residues can combine with the decomposition products of alcohol. A mixture is formed that causes malfunctions in the work of internal organs.
Drinking alcohol after antibiotics can cause the following problems:
- the load on the liver will increase several times, so the natural filter will not cope with the overload;
- allergic reactions of a different nature;
- mental health problems will begin;
- dizziness and vomiting.
If you drink alcohol after taking antibiotics, how you react depends on the specific type of drug, the amount of alcohol you drank, the person's age and gender, and the individual characteristics of the body.
It's safe to say you can't drink alcohol after antibiotics. The rule also applies to drugs that do not have a direct indication of incompatibility with alcohol-containing products in the annotation. If you drink alcohol after a course of antibiotics, the mildest side effects will be the lack of the expected therapeutic effect.
Despite various important activities that cannot be done without alcohol-containing products, it is unacceptable to drink alcohol after antibiotics.
Alcohol can cause serious irreversible consequences when taking antibiotics. The main adverse reactions of this compound include:
- Increase 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, bacteria adapt and adapt to the active substance, increasing their resistance to this group of antibiotics.
- The transition of the acute form of the disease to the chronic form. Alcohol can accelerate the metabolism of the active substance, the drug breaks down faster and does not have time to act in the focus of inflammation. For this, the doctor prescribes a double dose of antibiotics, the burden on the body increases, and the disease is treated longer and more difficult.
- An increase in blood viscosity with the combination of alcohol and antibiotics can lead to the development of a stroke or myocardial infarction, as well as problems in the work of the heart and blood vessels.
- A decrease in the concentration of the drug due to the use of alcoholic beverages. At the same time, the dose of antibacterial drugs is increased by the doctor, and with such a load, the liver and kidneys work for wear. Perhaps the development of acute failure of these organs.
- Liver dysfunction. Ethyl alcohol and antibiotics are broken down by the same liver enzymes. Under such an influence, the production of these substances can be completely stopped, which will lead to severe intoxication and inhibition of the body.
- Risk of developing severe allergic reactions. The human body can react inadequately to such a complex of effects. Anaphylactic shock or angioedema with a fatal outcome is an irreversible consequence of the interaction of alcohol with antibiotics.
- A special danger is the disulfiram-like reaction caused by the accumulation of acetaldehyde (an intermediate metabolite of ethyl alcohol) in tissues and organs, which has a strong nootropic effect on the central nervous system. Its secretion is disturbed, and against this background, severe intoxication occurs, accompanied by the following: nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating, fever, drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain, dizziness and convulsions.
Appropriate medications
Among the antibacterial agents, there are separate categories of drugs that allow for their use with alcoholic beverages:
- cephalosporins;
- drugs from the penicillin series;
- macrolides.
If you are taking medicines containing penicillin, you can drink alcohol no later than 4 hours after finishing the course of antibiotics. This period is sufficient for the complete absorption of the drug into the blood and its breakdown in the liver, which indicates the fulfillment of the therapeutic function and the beginning of the process of removing the drug residues by the kidneys.
If you start drinking alcohol before this period or if you drink too much, the effect of the treatment will not be observed. The fact is that a large amount of ethanol increases the production of liver enzymes, which begin to actively break down not only alcohol, but also drugs.
This, in turn, contributes to the rapid removal of drugs from the body, as a result of which the drug does not have time to perform its functions. In addition, alcohol has a diuretic effect, which helps to reduce the concentration of drugs and reduce their effectiveness to zero.
However, 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 such antibiotics to inhibit the production of ethanol-degrading enzymes.
The effect of drugs in this group on the body is similar to the effect of the drug used to code patients suffering from alcohol addiction.
Antibacterial therapy using drugs with similar properties requires complete abstinence from alcohol. Violation of this rule is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.
There are many groups of antibacterial agents that cannot be combined with any alcohol. These drugs include:
- Nitroimidazoles. The risk of developing a disulfiram-like reaction is high (alcohol intake is possible only after 2 days).
- Fluoroquinolones, when combined with alcohol, depress the nervous system until the development of coma, alcohol is allowed only after 36 hours.
- When interacting with ethyl alcohol, cephalosporins cause a reaction similar to disulfiram, alcohol can be taken after 24 hours (with kidney disease, the interval is extended).
- Tetracyclines damage liver cells for a very long time, they are excreted from the body after drinking alcohol no later than 3 days.
- Aminoglycosides are oto- and nephrotoxic, increase the side effects of drugs, alcohol is allowed to be taken no later than 2 weeks.
- 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 removed from the body very slowly, let's say that the intake of alcoholic beverages occurs only after 4 days.
- Anti-tuberculosis drugs cause the development of drug-induced hepatitis with a fulminant course, any alcohol is strictly prohibited.
When to drink alcohol after antibiotics: general rules
Compliance with the correct intake of antibiotics will help to cure the disease faster without the risk of negative reactions. Basic rules:
- take medicines only as prescribed by the doctor (self-medication is dangerous to health);
- make sure to observe the exact dose and time of taking the antibiotic;
- The duration of drug treatment will be determined by the doctor. On average, it is from 5 to 15 days, and taking long-acting drugs from 1 to 4 days;
- it is necessary to drink not hot tea without sugar, but clean still water, tablets with chamomile decoctions;
- during antibiotic treatment, it is better to refuse to take 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 carbohydrates;
- 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 in the fight against most viruses and bacteria known to modern medicine. What to do with drinking alcohol after antibiotics?
The duration of antibiotic treatment is usually from several days to months, depending on the complexity of the disease. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed during this period. Adjust your intake of other heavy foods. When using alcohol after antibiotics, the doctor does not guarantee you the maximum effectiveness of the course, in addition, complications often occur.
After some time, you can start drinking alcohol after antibiotics. Do not drink during treatment. The number of days you should wait before drinking alcohol varies depending on the drug.
Why are alcohol and antibiotics incompatible? The problem is that the antibiotic taken automatically reduces the activity of your internal organs, which not only fight against infection, but also cleanse the body after drinking alcohol.
Drinking alcohol during antibiotic treatment can destroy 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 without waiting immediately after taking the pill, you will experience side effects such as:
- liver failure;
- nausea and vomiting;
- Headache;
- dizziness;
- clouded mind.
These are the main reasons why after taking antibiotics, alcohol is allowed only a few days after the end of the course.
Abstinence period
Of course, the question of how long to drink alcohol after taking antibiotics should be asked by your doctor. If you forgot to ask the doctor about this and now you cannot contact him, see the comment attached to the tool. Read carefully to look for information about the duration of administration, the compatibility of the drug with alcohol, the period of time you can drink alcohol.
Often when asked how many days you can return to the "alcoholic" life, the answer is a few days. The duration of abstinence varies from three days to a full week. Regardless of which special tool is used and how long it takes to completely remove it from the body.
Even if the instructions do not indicate whether it is possible to drink alcohol after antibiotics, it is better to postpone the party for a few days. The issue is not only in the compatibility of drugs and alcohol, but also in a fragile body. Even the smallest dose can be a serious poison for him.
Strict prohibition
A strict ban on drinking alcohol during the course of antibiotics is not a whim of doctors. Even if you do not feel any side effects when combining these two components, this does not mean that the body is not harmed.
There is absolutely no direct effect with the combination of ethanol and drugs. However, the medicinal properties of the drug will decrease. Accordingly, the disease will not be defeated and will require an additional course that will seriously affect the liver and a number of other organs related to the excretory system.
There is a whole group of antibiotic drugs that are strictly forbidden to combine with alcohol. The annotation of such drugs always mentions incompatibility with ethanol. In addition, the doctor will give appropriate warning to the patient.
In particular, if you have prescribed a drug from the tetracycline group, drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited. They are widely used in medicine to treat various infections. Preparations from the Levomecitin group are not combined with ethanol, as they cause serious side effects. When combined with alcohol, the toxic effect of the drug increases.
Cephalosporins are also strong drugs, if taken simultaneously with alcohol, you can bring your body to severe intoxication, which does not help to quickly recover from the disease. Antibiotics against tuberculosis and leprosy, as well as macrolides, which increase their toxic properties when combined with alcohol, are included in the group of drugs against which alcohol is prohibited. First of all, the brain and liver suffer in such cases.
Time frame
There are antibiotics for which you will not find information on compatibility with ethyl alcohol in the instructions. These are antifungal drugs, penicillin drugs.
It was already mentioned above that this loophole in the instructions does not give a green light to drinking alcohol. Consider the individuality of your body. For some, the combination of alcohol and antibiotics will cause only a small intoxication, and for others there is even a possibility of death.
In this case, the minimum period of abstinence is three days. Of course, if you have questions, it is better to contact your doctor, who will explain the answers to your questions.
Admission rules
To increase the effectiveness of treatment and reduce the possibility of side effects, you need to take antibiotics correctly. Antibiotics are prescribed only by a doctor, tests are initially given to the doctor to determine which antibiotics are most suitable.
Self-purchased antibiotics can cause side effects or simply zero effectiveness.
The use of antibiotics is subject to strict regulations. For example, when using antibiotics twice a day, it is better to increase the interval between doses to 12 hours. Usually, during this period, one tablet maintains the necessary concentration of the substance in the blood.
It is better to consume meat boiled, when choosing chicken or turkey, prepare cooked vegetables. It is important to follow the drinking regime. Normally, a person needs 30 ml per kilogram of body weight.
However, the intoxication syndrome increases during the illness, so it is advisable to increase the drinking rate per liter.
Keep in mind that high temperatures increase the body's need for fluids. In addition, it is actively used to remove the products of bacterial decay from the body.
In case of infectious diseases, do not forget to go on sick leave. Exclude sports, bed rest is recommended in some cases. If you can't lie down all day, take a walk outside. You can combine antibiotics with other drugs only on the instructions of your doctor.
When can you drink alcohol?
The time for complete removal 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 intraocular fluid leave the body only 14-15 days after taking the last pill. Drinking alcohol before this period is fraught with serious problems, up to complete deafness.
The duration of the "abstinence" 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 allowed 1-1, 5 days after the end of the course of treatment, in others, it may take about 3-10 days for complete abstinence from alcohol.
Only a doctor can determine exactly how many days after taking antibiotics you can drink alcohol. Many experts believe that you can enjoy delicious wine (or something stronger) only 10 days after the end of the therapeutic course.
For patients suffering from diseases of the liver, kidneys and other organs, these periods can be extended based on the individual recommendations of the doctor.
In addition, there are a number of factors that speak in favor of complete abstinence from alcohol during treatment, as well as immediately after its completion:
- During this period, the human body, weakened by infection, becomes more sensitive to the effects of antibiotics that have a negative effect on the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs suppress the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract and damage it. If alcohol is added to this, the body simply cannot withstand the load, which threatens the development of acute kidney and liver failure.
- If you drink alcohol at the same time, the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy decreases by almost 100%. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms that are aimed at degrading antibiotics will lose their sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its action. Repeated violation of the regime of abstinence from drinking will lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which may result in the death of the patient.
These are the main reasons to stop drinking during the therapeutic course and immediately after its completion. Indeed, some of the pathogenic bacteria remain active for some time, and the weakening of the effect of the drugs will contribute to the further development of the pathogenic microflora.
Summary
- During this period, the human body, weakened by infection, becomes more sensitive to the effects of antibiotics that have a negative effect on the kidneys, liver and heart. In addition, drugs suppress the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract and damage it. If alcohol is added to this, the body simply cannot withstand the load, which threatens the development of acute kidney and liver failure.
- If you drink alcohol at the same time, the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy decreases by almost 100%. The fact is that pathogenic microorganisms that are aimed at degrading antibiotics will lose their sensitivity to the drug and remain immune to its action. Repeated violation of the regime of abstinence from drinking will lead to the ineffectiveness of the entire treatment, which may 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 (for example, wine) can be drunk 3-5 days after the end of the treatment course, strong drinks - no later than 10 days.
- Violation of the recommended periods of abstinence is fraught with serious consequences, up to the death of the patient.