Antibiotics and Alcohol.

[PaulB]

Hey. I am currently on a course of Antibiotics (the problem seems to have cleared up tho) called CO-AMOXICLAV 625mg. My question is, if I had a couple of beers tomorrow evening, what would the implications be?

[treaclefight]

apparently the idea that any antibiotics combined with half a pint of shandy will lead to a nasty death comes from the war. my doctor told me that 3 of the 4 groups of antibiotic are harmless if you're drinking. it's all down to the questionable sexual morals of squaddies when overseas. if your squaddie has an STD and you dont want him to spread it, then you need to keep him sober and preferably confined to barracks until a course of antibiotics has cleared it up, its a nice coincidence if any infringement on this can have dire consequences, because apparently squaddies werent very good with the finer points of epidemics and personal responsibility when drunk. now i have to apologise to you coz i'm not going to be able to answer your question as i dont know what sort of antibiotic it is your taking, sorry :-(

[scout77]

Hi, you shouldn't drink alcohol with the antibiotic Metronidazole (Flagyl), it can make you feel very ill. Otherwise you should be ok

[PaulB]

Thank you both for your answers :o)
To play it safe, I have stopped taking them today so I can have a couple of beers tonight ;o)

[incitatus]

paul- that is the wrong way round. take the pills not the drink. stopping a course of antibiotics halfway through is what leads to those resistant superbugs you hear about. metronidazole is pretty much the only one that interacts with alcohol.

[PaulB]

Thanks incitatus
Do you mean carry on with the Antibiotics but also I can have a couple of beers too?

[incitatus]

in moderation. Amoxycillin and clavullanic acid are nromally ok with the odd pint. not a bevvy though

[PaulB]

YAY - well, if I don't post back, you know I didn't survive ;oP
Thanks again for all your answers People

[PaulB]

Well, I survived (just)
*collapses in a heap on the floor* :oP

[treaclefight]

lol paul b, now go to the 'hangover cures' question (i'll meet you there, love friday nights...) :-D

[anthomson]

Its worth remember that antibotics take a long time to build up to full strength and conversely also take a long time to clear out of the body. Don't do what my bother did - a drinking binge to celebrate finishing his course. He was very ill indeed.

[Zwanzig]

PaulB! Do not drink whilst on Co-Amoxiclav. I was on them whilst on a trip to NY die to a urinary infection. After taking them on a night out, I fell very ill the next day, and a couple of days later the infection had spread to my kidneys causing enormous amounts of pain. I'm not sure if this was due to the amount of liquid flushing through causing the infection to 'wash' through, or if the alcohol lowered my immunity further. Anyway, don't do it!! :-D