Antibiotics, despite a 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 the invention of these drugs, many people died from bacterial infections. Many diseases were considered incurable due to the lack of such drugs.
Antibiotics cannot be taken without a 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. The answers to all the questions regarding taking antibiotics are contained in this article.
Antibiotic rules
The most important rule for taking antibiotics is to use them only in cases when it is impossible without them. Indications for use are symptoms of acute bacterial infection, which the body cannot cope with on its own. In order to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, taking antibiotics cannot be without distinction.
It is necessary to 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, but on the contrary, they can worsen the course of the disease;
- You cannot stop the prescribed course of treatment if you feel better. Relapse of the disease may occur;
- Do not change the dosage of antibiotics during treatment. Decreasing the dosage threatens that the bacterium will develop drug resistance, and the increase is fraught with side effects or overdose;
- You cannot drink an antibiotic with tea, juice, and especially with milk, otherwise taking the medicine will be useless. Milk, dairy products and fermented dairy products are not compatible with antibiotics, they reduce the effect of the drug. You can drink the drug only with water, about 0, 5-1 cup;
- You cannot take antibiotics at any convenient time. It is important to follow the instructions for the medicine and use the medicine as described, namely: before, during or after a meal. In addition, it is important to observe the frequency of application (once in 24 hours, 2 times in 12 hours, 3 times in 8 hours, and so on), in order to create the desired concentration of antibiotics in the body;
- Do not combine taking antibiotics with physical activity;
- You cannot drink alcohol while taking antibiotics.
Before prescribing antibiotics, it is necessary to inform the doctor about the following:
- drugs currently being taken;
- pregnancy or breastfeeding;
- kidney or liver disease;
- diabetes.
And also if it is noticed earlier:
- occurrence of side effects;
- development of allergic reactions;
- recent use of antimicrobials.
When can I drink alcohol after completing a course of antibiotics?
Different antibiotics have different active ingredients. And, accordingly, each drug has its own conditions of elimination from the body. In one case, this is a short period, and alcohol can be taken the next day, and in another, abstinence from alcohol is required for 7 days.
The necessary information is usually stated by the manufacturer in the note with the preparation. If he is absent, it is advisable to wait 10 days. In addition, if the patient has kidney or liver problems, that period should be at least doubled.
How long after alcohol can you take 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 attending a course.
Reasons for 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 worsens the situation, because ethanol slows down the work of the excretory system, there is another important reason for incompatibility.
All substances that enter the human body begin to decompose 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 it properly, which leads to failure.
The body perceives alcohol as a medicine, which leads to the fact that the body is improperly processed by alcohol molecules.
Consequences of non-compliance with the rules of taking antibiotics
In case of violation of the rules for taking antibiotics, as well as the wrong choice of medication or incorrectly prescribed treatment regimen, 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 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 recurrent diarrhea.
- Allergic reactions. Individual intolerance to the components of the drug plays an important role here. Allergic reactions are different, including irreversible.
- Bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Pathogenic microorganisms can adapt to the active substance of antibiotics, you just need to loosen the "grip". They continue to reproduce, and the disease continues accordingly.
Only a serious attitude towards taking antibiotics will give the necessary therapeutic effect.
Which antibiotics are strictly forbidden to take with alcoholic beverages?
There are antibiotics that are strictly forbidden to consume at the same time as beverages containing alcohol. This information must be indicated in the note with the medicine, in addition, the doctor responsible for prescribing antibiotics must warn the patient.
These medications include the following antibiotics:
- Tetracycline group. Preparations based on them are often used in medicine, they have a wide range of effects;
- Chloramphenicol group. This group of drugs often causes side effects, and in combination with alcohol can increase the toxic effect of the drug;
- Lincosamide group. When taken at the same time as drinks containing alcohol, it has a negative effect on the liver and central nervous system;
- Aminoglycoside group. This group of drugs is one of the strongest among antibiotics. Poor compatibility with other drugs, not to mention alcohol
- Cephalosporin group. Co-administration of alcohol causes symptoms of severe intoxication of the body, leading to a severe deterioration in well-being;
- Macrolide group. The combination of alcohol and antibiotics results in a strong toxic effect on the liver and brain;
- Antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis;
- Antibiotics used to treat leprosy.
There are also drugs on the pharmacological market for which the note does not contain information on the interaction with alcohol.
The lack of information about the combination with alcohol does not mean that the combination is allowed at all. There is no need to expose your body to unnecessary risks.
Possible consequences of combining antibiotics and alcohol
It is not possible to know in advance how a particular organism will react to the simultaneous intake of fluids and antibiotics containing alcohol. Damage can be inflicted on any part of the body.
However, there are the most common consequences:
- Severe allergic reactions;
- Severe unbearable headache;
- Dizziness;
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain, pressing character;
- A sudden rise or fall in blood pressure;
- Blurring of the mind;
- Excessive sweating;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Liver damage;
- Worsened 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. Negative effects can be easily avoided by simply removing alcohol along with antibiotics.
It is important to know that currently, through clinical studies, it has been proven that only a fraction of all antibiotics are incompatible with alcohol. The rest of the medication remains in doubt or is not fully understood.
The person himself must understand the beginning of the possible consequences, focusing on drugs with already studied incompatibility with ethanol. Responsibility for your health should be a priority over all life circumstances related to drinking.
And in order to achieve the best treatment result, it is necessary to give up alcohol, any, even the weakest.