Can you drink alcohol whilst taking amoxicillin for 7 days?

Question

Additional Details

There is no reason whatsoever that alcohol cannot be drunk while on amoxycillin or for most antibiotics. I do not know where this urban myth came from but it is very widespread even amongst some of the medical profession. There is only one group of commonly used drugs which are antibiotics in the wider sense of this term that may cause unpleasant adverse effects when taken with alcohol. These are the imidazoles, of which metronidazole (Flagyl) is the commonest in use.

Regards

Dr Alan Galbraith

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It's fine to drink alcohol with that particular antibiotic. Just be careful with the amount you consume, nothing to do with the drug and everything to do with avoiding hangovers and not looking like a complete asss!

Karma.
x

Answer 2

I'm taking antibiotics at the moment and my doctor said no drinking any alcohol for the seven
days.

Answer 3

u can drink with this kind of antibiotic but do not drink with anything ending in diazole - it makes you extremely and violently sick! past ecperiences taught me this.

Answer 4

I was always told you shouldn't. Not because of any effect on you, rather that it kills the antibiotic.

Answer 5

yep totally safe, I've taken my girl fiends antibiotics, zantac and her sons Ritalin mixed with vodka. no side effects at all. but when doctors tell us not to mix per scribed drugs with alcohol they are doing it as a favour and health benefit to us. alcohol has only detrimental effects on our bodies, its not a healthy thing to ingest. is a doctor going to tell a consumer(patient) "you know you really shouldn't smoke on these drugs that i have per scribed". no all doctors will tell you regardless of your health "you should not smoke at all".

Source(s):

common sense and 35 years of abusing my own body.

Answer 6

no it's not recomended

Answer 7

I thought that is was recommended that alcohol was avoided whilst on most medication, after all it is not good for you anyway.

Answer 8

You shouldn't be drinking at all when you're on anti-biotics

Answer 9

No it will make you sick at the very least

Answer 10

First of all, you are making a statement rather than asking the question (Dr). I would say that although the myth of alcohol and antibiotics have been around for quite a long time, they were based on true factors. Secondly, many people could take your advice(being a doctor), change it a little an accident could happen! What you don't seem to understand is that most people see antibiotics as the most powerful medicine we can have, whereas paracetamol, aspirin and many of the others (even when given in hospitals) are seen as less harmful, less powerful; but these tablets taken with alcohol, DO harm, (the immune system, liver etc...).

I'm not disagreeing with you completely, I'm just pointing out that in here sometimes advice (in your case a statement) could do more damage than good.

Source(s):

Nurse, life experience, work experience!

Answer 11

Well i don`t agree,taking anti-biotics with alcohol stops then from working and has horrible side affects,i know this from past experiences!!

Answer 12

for the tablets to work u must refrain from drinking alcohol - u should also be aware of the effects of taking the tablets and drinking like erratic behaviour - good luck

Answer 13

yes it did it did not effect me mind you i only had two glasses of wine

Answer 14

not if you want the tablets to cure whats wrong with you you dont...

Answer 15

generally it is not a problem except for a few reasons that dont apply most of the time.

First an antibiotic named flagyl can have side effects like antabuse if taken with alcohol

second, some antibiotics are mainly excreted thru the liver as is alcohol

third, alcohol may lower your immune system functioning and if your sick, you want it as strong as possible

That being said, a normally healthy person can drink on amoxicillin and have no adverse effects

Source(s):

pharmacist

Answer 16

The myth came from when moxicillin was uced to reduce acne, the alcohol prevented the anti-biotic from doing its job

Answer 17

I've looked at a couple of websites and neither of them mention alcohol in relation to this drug.

Check them out for yourself to be sure:

http://www.drugs.com/amoxicillin.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/drugi…

Answer 18

I do, but I also take echinacea to boost teh immune system. I haven't had a cold in 3 or 4 years. CHEERS!!

Answer 19

i mite be ok, but watch out for reactions, you could puff up like a balloon, get a rash, etc....i wouldnt advise taking the risk

Answer 20

no.its not recommended

Answer 21

You won't have any serious side effects but the tablets will not do their job

Answer 22

..i really would not drink..the antibiotics will not work properly and you may well get a bad belly to top it all off...happy hols...xxx

Answer 23

Yes a bottle or two of vodka a day helps it a lot

Answer 24

I wouldnt recommend it. Alcohol can affect the metabolic functions of the body. Your body metabolizes amoxicicillin & alcohol at the same time. It can also affect your bowel function as well because antibiotics "flush" your system of toxins & alcohol is a toxin and it would not be preatty. You will be on the Toliet for days.

Answer 25

Sure, but it could KILL you. You might want to rephrase your question to "Should I drink alcohol while taking medication for 7 days?"