Antibiotics, despite the large list of contraindications and a wide range of side effects, are a very necessary drug that has saved more than one life. Because only antibiotics can destroy bacteria in the body that cause dangerous diseases.
In the days before these drugs were invented, many people died from bacterial infections. Many diseases were considered incurable due to the lack of such drugs.
Antibiotics cannot be taken without a doctor's prescription and it is very important to follow the rules for taking them. In addition, you need to know that antibiotics are incompatible with alcohol. Answers to all questions related to taking antibiotics are contained in this article.
Antibiotic rules
The most important rule for taking antibiotics is to only use them in cases where it is impossible to do without them. Indications for use are the symptoms of an acute bacterial infection, which the body cannot cope with on its own. To obtain the desired therapeutic effect, taking antibiotics cannot be indiscriminate.
It is imperative that you follow the instructions below:
- You cannot prescribe an antibiotic on your own if there is no medical education. Only a doctor will be able to determine the cause of the disease - a virus or a bacterium. With a viral infection, antibiotics do not help; on the contrary, they can aggravate the course of the disease;
- You can not stop the prescribed course of treatment if you feel better. A relapse of the disease may occur;
- Do not change the dosage of the antibiotic during treatment. A decrease in dosage threatens that the bacterium will develop resistance to the drug, and an increase is fraught with side effects or overdose;
- You can not drink the antibiotic with tea, juice, and especially milk, otherwise taking the drug will be useless. Milk, dairy and fermented milk products are incompatible with antibiotics, they reduce the effect of the drug. You can drink the drug only with water, about 0. 5-1 glass;
- You cannot take antibiotics at any convenient time. It is important to follow the instructions for the drug and use the drug as described, namely before, during or after a meal. In addition, it is important to observe the frequency of administration (1 time in 24 hours, 2 times in 12 hours, 3 times in 8 hours, and so on), to create the desired concentration of antibiotic in the body;
- Do not combine taking antibiotics with physical activity;
- You can not drink alcohol during the entire course of taking antibiotics.
Before prescribing an antibiotic, it is imperative to inform the doctor about the following:
- drugs that are being taken at the moment;
- pregnancy or lactation;
- kidney or liver disease;
- diabetes.
And also if observed earlier:
- the occurrence of side effects;
- the development of allergic reactions;
- recent use of antimicrobial agents.
When can I drink alcohol after completing the course of antibiotics?
Different antibiotics have different active ingredients. And, accordingly, each drug has its own terms of elimination from the body. In one case, this is a short period, and alcohol can be taken the next day, and in the other, abstinence from alcohol is required for 7 days.
The necessary information, as a rule, is indicated by the manufacturer in the annotation to the preparation. If it is absent, it is preferable to wait 10 days. In addition, if the patient has kidney or liver problems, this period should be at least doubled.
How long after alcohol can you drink antibiotics?
Alcohol is completely eliminated from the body 21 hours after the last intake. After this period, you can take the prescribed antibiotics. However, in any case, it is better to reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible if you are taking a course.
Reasons for the incompatibility of alcohol and antibiotics
Apart from the fact that taking antibiotics significantly burdens the kidneys and liver, and taking it together with alcohol only aggravates the situation, because ethanol slows down the work of the excretory systems, there is another important reason for incompatibility.
All substances that enter the human body begin to disintegrate until only the original parts remain. This also happens with alcohol and antibiotics. The danger of co-administration is that antibiotic molecules are similar to alcohol molecules. The body cannot recognize correctly, which leads to the failure.
Alcohol is perceived by the body as a drug, which leads to the fact that the alcohol molecules are processed incorrectly by the body.
Consequences of not adhering to the rules of taking antibiotics
In case of violation of the rules for taking antibiotics, as well as with the wrong choice of a drug or an incorrectly prescribed treatment regimen, unwanted side effects often occur.
These include:
- Dysbacteriosis. It is caused by an imbalance between the healthy and pathogenic microflora of the body, which occurs at the moment when the pathogenic bacteria begin to quantitatively exceed the bacteria that perform the protective functions of the body. Dysbacteriosis manifests itself in the form of candidiasis or repeated diarrhea.
- Allergic reactions. The individual intolerance to the components of the drug plays an important role here. Allergic reactions are different, including irreversible ones.
- Antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Pathogenic microorganisms are able to adapt to the active substance of the antibiotic, it is only necessary to loosen the "grip". They continue their reproduction, and the disease continues accordingly.
Only a serious attitude to taking antibiotics will give the required therapeutic effect.
What antibiotics are strictly forbidden to take with alcoholic beverages?
There are antibiotics that are strictly forbidden to be consumed at the same time as drinks containing alcohol. This information, without fail, is indicated in the annotation to the medicinal product, in addition, the doctor who is responsible for prescribing the antibiotic must warn the patient about this.
These medicines include the following antibiotics:
- Group of tetracyclines. Preparations based on them are often used in medicine, have a wide spectrum of action;
- Chloramphenicol group. This group of drugs often causes side effects, and in combination with alcohol can increase the toxic effect of the drug;
- Group of lincosamides. When taken simultaneously with alcohol-containing drinks, it has a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system;
- Group of aminoglycosides. This group of drugs is one of the strongest among antibiotics. Poor compatibility with other medications, not to mention alcohol
- The group of cephalosporins. Joint intake with alcohol causes symptoms of severe intoxication of the body, which leads to a strong deterioration in well-being;
- Macrolide group. The combination of alcohol and an antibiotic results in a strong toxic effect on the liver and brain;
- Antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis;
- Antibiotics used to treat leprosy.
Also on the pharmacological market there are drugs for which the annotation does not contain information about interaction with alcohol.
The lack of information about the combination with alcohol does not mean at all that the combination is permissible. There is no need to expose the body to unnecessary risks.
Possible consequences of combining an antibiotic and alcohol
There is no way to know in advance how a particular organism will react to the simultaneous intake of alcohol-containing liquids and antibiotics. The damage can be done to any area of the body.
However, there are consequences that are most common:
- Severe allergic reactions;
- Severe unbearable headache;
- Dizziness;
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain, pressing character;
- A sharp rise or fall in blood pressure;
- Clouding of the mind;
- Excessive sweating;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Liver damage;
- Aggravated states of intoxication and hangover;
- The need to repeat the course of antibiotics. Alcohol will reduce or destroy the effect of the drug.
The consequences can be even sadder, it all depends on the individual and his health. Negative consequences are always the suffering of the organism, in whole or in part. The negative effects can be easily avoided by simply eliminating alcohol along with antibiotics.
It is important to know that at present, through clinical studies, only part of all antibiotics have been proven incompatible with alcohol. The rest of the drugs remain in doubt or not fully understood.
A person himself must understand the onset of possible consequences, focusing on drugs with already studied incompatibility with ethanol. Responsibility for your health should be a priority over any life circumstances associated with drinking.
And to obtain the best result of treatment, it is necessary to give up alcohol, any, even the weakest.