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Alcohol with antibiotics

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StephenM

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I have been off work for two days and prescribed amoxicillin for a mild chest infection (had a heavy cold for a week). Tomorrow I am off to a friend?s son?s wedding. What I was wondering is can I drink alcohol with them. My pharmacist said there is no reason why not but advised against daily drinking as it can affect the effectiveness of the antibiotic. The idea is just to join in the champagne toast and have maybe a pint of beer/lager during the evening disco. Although I drink diet coke (my Diastix will be with me) I cannot stomach more than a pint and can?t stand any other diet drinks. Has anybody any knowledge/experience. Google seems to bring up contradictory advice.
 
I've been through a few antibiotics and mixed alcohol at the same time. Some are stronger than others so you have to be careful about that. I can't say about amoxicillin, I haven't had that i'm allergic to penicillin "]

But definately have noticed they do not work when you drink (more than you ought to anyway). Maybe it would be wiser to save that days worth of antibiotics and take it on a non-alcohol day? I can't really say, i'm not a doctor... but imo it makes more sense rather than having to take more later cause it hasn't cleared up?
 
StephenM said:
I have been off work for two days and prescribed amoxicillin for a mild chest infection (had a heavy cold for a week). Tomorrow I am off to a friend?s son?s wedding. What I was wondering is can I drink alcohol with them. My pharmacist said there is no reason why not but advised against daily drinking as it can affect the effectiveness of the antibiotic. The idea is just to join in the champagne toast and have maybe a pint of beer/lager during the evening disco. Although I drink diet coke (my Diastix will be with me) I cannot stomach more than a pint and can?t stand any other diet drinks. Has anybody any knowledge/experience. Google seems to bring up contradictory advice.
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I have just looked on the patient leaflet which comes with all medication 🙂 Amoxicillinsays nothing about avoiding alcohol, but does warn about side effects as in an upset tum for some.
 
The only time I can remember being on antibiotics and having a drink I just remember that after a few mouthfuls I thought the beer tasted so awful that I stopped. I wouldn't imagine a glass of champagne and a pint would be too much of a problem if the leaflet doesn't prohibit it. Hope you enjoy the wedding! 🙂
 
There's one specific antibiotic - I think it might be Metranidazole - which is a huge uncoated tablet that leaves an utterly vile taste wherever it touches on the way down, and which makes most things you eat and drink taste metallic - that everybody from the prescriber to the pharmacist warn you not to drink alcohol with 'otherwsie you'll be very ill indeed' - it's specific for a couple of things - one is gum infections/abscesses and another is an infection quite common in ladies which men could only catch if their bodies were made the same way as ours. Nuff said!

But I've also had amoxycillin with a dental abscess and I'm pretty sure at that time I would have drunk with it, and the abscess cleared up anyway.

I think you'll be fine.
 
Yes, metronidazole is a strong one-no alcohol allowed! Some others are ok. Also penicillin allergic here tho so not had this particular one. I think you'd be ok. 🙂
 
lauraw1983 said:
Yes, metronidazole is a strong one-no alcohol allowed! Some others are ok. Also penicillin allergic here tho so not had this particular one. I think you'd be ok. 🙂
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I wonder if that's the one I had that time? Can't remember what was wrong with me at the time, it was over 30 years ago! I'm also allergic to penicillin.
 
With metronidazole I was even advised by my gp not to use a mouth wash with alcohol in it 😱
It's nothing to do with the strength of antibiotic, it's whats in it.
 
I think I had amoxycillin for a chest infection. I asked the Dr at the time If I could drink with it and he said it was OK.

Although the amoxycillin gave me thrush in return - itchy!
 
Pumper_Sue said:
With metronidazole I was even advised by my gp not to use a mouth wash with alcohol in it 😱
It's nothing to do with the strength of antibiotic, it's whats in it.
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Alocohol is definitely not to be taken at same time (or soon after last dose) as metronidazole (trade name Flagyl) - gives such a hangover, that it could be used as a drug to disuade drinkers from drinking! It is used mainly for specific reasons eg mouth / gum infections (or preventative before / after mouth surgery), amoebic dysentery etc, rather than more common uses such as treating chest or skin infections.

With any medication, best tip is alwasy to read patient information leaflet, which should be supplied with the medication, but if you lose it / never had it, you can usually find a sample leaflet online.
 
I'll start by saying I've scrolled all the way down instantly rather than to comment, purely because I thought I'd share my story with you!

After a particularly successful PTA Summer Fair some of us went out for a meal to celebrate. Whilst handing round the wine I offered it to one new friend who said "Not for me thanks, I'm taking antibiotics", to which I immediately replied "Oh it's OK, I've seen Dr Rosemary on breakfast telly saying it's fine to have a drink if you're on antibiotics" ... she declined anyway.

A little later in the evening I said to the group "So, I know what everybody around the table does for a living except you" to the antibiotic taking lady ... this was met with giggles ... "I'm a GP" she said!

If ever there was a moment when I wanted the ground to swallow me that was it!
 
justlikethehotels said:
I'll start by saying I've scrolled all the way down instantly rather than to comment, purely because I thought I'd share my story with you!

After a particularly successful PTA Summer Fair some of us went out for a meal to celebrate. Whilst handing round the wine I offered it to one new friend who said "Not for me thanks, I'm taking antibiotics", to which I immediately replied "Oh it's OK, I've seen Dr Rosemary on breakfast telly saying it's fine to have a drink if you're on antibiotics" ... she declined anyway.

A little later in the evening I said to the group "So, I know what everybody around the table does for a living except you" to the antibiotic taking lady ... this was met with giggles ... "I'm a GP" she said!

If ever there was a moment when I wanted the ground to swallow me that was it!
Click to expand...

ha,ha.....excellent! 🙂
 
justlikethehotels said:
I'll start by saying I've scrolled all the way down instantly rather than to comment, purely because I thought I'd share my story with you!

After a particularly successful PTA Summer Fair some of us went out for a meal to celebrate. Whilst handing round the wine I offered it to one new friend who said "Not for me thanks, I'm taking antibiotics", to which I immediately replied "Oh it's OK, I've seen Dr Rosemary on breakfast telly saying it's fine to have a drink if you're on antibiotics" ... she declined anyway.

A little later in the evening I said to the group "So, I know what everybody around the table does for a living except you" to the antibiotic taking lady ... this was met with giggles ... "I'm a GP" she said!

If ever there was a moment when I wanted the ground to swallow me that was it!
Click to expand...

hahaha that's brilliant!!! useful person to know though!
 
StephenM said:
I have been off work for two days and prescribed amoxicillin for a mild chest infection (had a heavy cold for a week). Tomorrow I am off to a friend?s son?s wedding. What I was wondering is can I drink alcohol with them. My pharmacist said there is no reason why not but advised against daily drinking as it can affect the effectiveness of the antibiotic. The idea is just to join in the champagne toast and have maybe a pint of beer/lager during the evening disco. Although I drink diet coke (my Diastix will be with me) I cannot stomach more than a pint and can?t stand any other diet drinks. Has anybody any knowledge/experience. Google seems to bring up contradictory advice.
Click to expand...

Hi Stephen,

I'd say so long as they don't warn against drinking, you'd be ok to have a few drinks. My understanding has always been that the alcohol just stops the antibiotics working (unless stated in the information that you shouldn't drink alcohol at all...in which case affects may be slightly different!! 😱)

Enjoy your wedding whatever you decide to do!
 
Hi! Just to let you know I had an enjoyable time. I had the couple of drinks mentioned and there was no problem. Day to day though I just would not bother to drink with antibiotics as you want the maximum effect from them. The GP doubled my dose as an ingrowing toenail has become infected - it is as if you are run down and everything else (well these nasty viruses and bacteria) attacks you.
 
Glad to hear you had a good time Stephen, I hope the toe infection clears up soon 🙂
 
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