alcohol stop antibiotics from working?

[richardf]

The questions in the title really; does alcohol stop antibiotics from working? I'm on antibiotics for a stomoch upset and i wouls like a glass of wine or two with my meal when i'm out and i wondered if this will be ok? I'm not talking about getting drunk honestly jsut a couple.

Thanks in advance.

[lafrancaise]

Alcohol doesn't stop anti-biotics from working however, it can cause serious drousiness. It's usually written down if you can't take alcohol.

[JamesEverton]

http://www.menshealth.co.uk/answers/answer.pht ml?id=14


Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.

[mike42]

my ex was a nurse and says that large amounts of alcohol lessen the affect of tablets.

[Aggy26]

Richard - if you've got a stomach upset, you really shouldn't be drinking anyway!

Drink tonic water with your meal - it containes Quinine which helps settle the stomach.

[wilsarnie]

But don't have too much Quinine or it'll cause a stomach upset - back to sqaure one!!

[Pippa24]

there is one antibiotic in particular that you really don't want to drink with or it will make you pretty ill - it's called metronidazole or flagyl. so you really need to tell us which antiobiotic you are on

[moppettshow]

You are warned not to mix alcohol with antibiotics not because it lessens the benefits of the drug, but because some antibiotics inhibit the metabolisation of alcohol. This can lead to nausea and vomiting. Not all antibiotics do this, but a good example is metronidazole.
The antabuse drug disulfiram, used to discourage alcoholics from drinking, works in the same way, but to a greater extreme. Even the alcohol content in some deodorants, mouthwashes and aftershaves etc can cause a violent reaction.

[DC_FC]

or just dont drink and when your much better have a few drinks then

[sponsmith]

I always drink when taking antibiotics.
I'm sick of being told what do do when it represents absolutely zero risk. Its like being told you can't use your mobile phone in a petrol garage in case it causes an explosion... utter poppycock!
So it can make you drowsy? So what! So can several large whiskys! Cheers.

[Hans_Olo]

Short answer is no alcohol/antibiotics it makes no difference - the 1 exception is metronidazole it makes you sick as moppetshow says. Having said that is it sensible to have alcohol if you have an upset stomach!

[manofsteel]

I suspect not. I'm 61 and fortunately don't need to take them too often. However I've been taking them with a mouthful of lager for years. I always seem to be cured and remain cheerful for the most part whilst I'm recovering.

[wilsarnie]

sorry to go off topic but sponsmith - using a mobile in a petrol station IS dangerous. When you connect a call it creates a tiny spark inside the phone and if you're in the vicinity of petrol vapours then BOOM up you go.

[CT]

Sorry wilsarnie, but the mobile phone thing in petrol staions is urban legend. see here http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.a sp I won't deny that there probably are tiny electrical spraks but if this sort of thing did happen, I suspect there would be more cases in the media.
(Sorry to be off topic)

[wilsarnie]

Ah good article - apologies again richardf! Although CT the article does admit that there is still a tiny chance that it might happen, it just hasn't yet ;) !!!!

[CT]

That's true wilsarnie, but these days mobiles are more efficient and safer than they used to be. I think a person is more likely to be knocked over on the forecourt, not paying attention by using the phone, than creating an explosion using one.

[Otrere]

My ex was on antibiotics and was drinking lager (I think) and ended up losing the contents of his stomach all over the hotel bar carpet - owner was NOT amused.

As for mobile phones - did anyone watch the Brainiac thing where they chucked about 100 mobile phones in a caravan, doused the whole of the inside with petrol and then rang all the mobile phones? Did it go "boom"?!? No, it did not.

[chea]

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Pharmacy-1407/Alcoh ol-amoxicillin.htm
have a look at this, its a good answer.
freind in the trade have told me that antibiotics use to contain live anti bodies (true or false?) and the alcohol affected this.........another possible for the urban myth is that sailors were told it was dangerous to drink with antibiotics, this was becasue they were given them when they had cotracted various sexual transmitted diseases and if they got drunk they slep around more and so spread it amungst the tight knit communities around naval bases so they were not told the truth.
mobile phones....the old analogue ones could cause an earth spark from arieal to metal like cars if close enough at the time of peak transmision (sending at start of new call or answering a call) but it was very very rare. digitals have never been able to duplicate this but we are still told they might. the brainiacs program was well done. in hospitals we are told they can cause all kinds of probs, this was also true of old analogues but not digital to the extent that doctors and surgeons want the ban lfted, hope this helps