Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viral infections.
Some antibiotics do not interact with alcohol intake, but others do.
Antibiotics and alcohol consumption may both cause digestive symptoms for some people.
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Combining them can worsen these side effects.
Does alcohol make antibiotics less effective?
Not necessarily, but it’s possible that it could lower your body’s ability to fight an infection.
What happens when you drink while on antibiotics?
Some types were deemed safe to use with alcohol, while others were not.
The findings are discussed below.
According to a 2020 review, consuming penicillin and alcohol likely won’t produce side effects for most people.
Sulfonamides
Sulfonamidesare a broad-spectrum class of manufactured antibiotics, includingsulfisoxazole,sulfamethizole, andsulfamethoxazole.
These are often used to treat infections alongside other drugs for bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections.
Oxazolidinones
This class of antibiotics includes linezolidandtedizolid.
High-tyramine alcohols include home-brewed beer, beer on tap, Korean beer, and vermouth.
Healthcare providers recommend avoiding alcohol with metronidazole and tinidazole within 48 hours of starting or stopping them.
It’s their job to answer these kinds of questions.
Summary
Various classes of antibiotics are prescribed to treat bacterial infections.
One of the most common concerns when taking antibiotics is whether alcohol can still be consumed during treatment.
Speak with the prescribing healthcare provider or a pharmacist about alcohol use while taking antibiotics.
Read the warning label and instructions on the packaging.
Centers for Disease Control.Antibiotic Dos & Donts.
2020;64(3):e02167-19.
2021;26(14):4280.
Published 2021 Jul 14. doi:10.3390/molecules26144280
National Library of Medicine.Tetracycline.
Published 2009 Jul 16. doi:10.4076/1757-1626-2-7787
