Can you drink on antibiotics?
Mixing moderate amounts of alcohol with an antibiotic will not usually lower your antibiotic’s effectiveness, but it may cause side effects and hinder your body’s natural ability to heal itself. Drinking alcohol while you’re fighting an infection can lead to dehydration, upset stomach, interrupt normal sleep, and lower your immune response. Some antibiotics and can…
Mixing moderate amounts of alcohol with an antibiotic will not usually lower your antibiotic’s effectiveness, but it may cause side effects and hinder your body’s natural ability to heal itself. Drinking alcohol while you’re fighting an infection can lead to dehydration, upset stomach, interrupt normal sleep, and lower your immune response. Some antibiotics and can also be dangerous for your liver, so it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before you mix alcohol with an antibiotic.
But do you always need to avoid alcohol with antibiotics? It is common to see “Avoid Alcohol” stickers on prescription bottles. So, it’s understandable why many patients are concerned about mixing antibiotics with alcohol contained in beverages like beer, wine, mixed drinks with liquor, as well as other medications or products that may contain alcohol.
Why can’t you drink alcohol while taking antibiotics?
Some antibiotics when mixed with alcohol can lead to side effects like nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, flushing, and liver damage. Alcohol can also affect how some antibiotics are metabolized (broken down) in the body for elimination. This could lower the effectiveness of the antibiotic or increase its toxicity.
