Antibiotics, despite the large list of contraindications and a wide range of side effects, are a much-needed drug that has saved more than one life. Because only antibiotics can destroy the bacteria in the body that cause dangerous diseases.
In the days before these medicines were invented, many people died from bacterial infections. Many diseases were considered incurable due to the lack of such drugs.
Antibiotics can not be taken without a doctor's prescription and it is very important to follow the rules for taking them. In addition, you should know that antibiotics are incompatible with alcohol. The answers to all the questions about taking antibiotics can be found in this article.
Antibiotic rules
The most important rule for taking antibiotics is to use them only in cases when it is impossible to do without them. Indications for use are the symptoms of an acute bacterial infection, which the body can not cope on its own. To get the desired therapeutic effect, taking antibiotics can not be without criteria.
Necessary weight to follow the instructions below:
- You can not prescribe an antibiotic yourself 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; on the contrary, they can worsen the course of the disease;
- You can not stop the prescribed course of treatment if you feel better. A relapse of the disease may occur;
- Do not change the dose of antibiotic during treatment. A decrease in dose threatens that the bacterium will develop resistance to the drug and an increase is fraught with side effects or overdose;
- You can not take antibiotics with tea, juice and especially milk, otherwise taking the medicine will be useless. Milk, milk and fermented milk products are incompatible with antibiotics, they reduce the effect of the drug. You can drink the drug only with water, about 0, 5-1 glass;
- You can not take antibiotics at any convenient time. It is important to follow the instructions for the medicine and use the medicine as prescribed, respectively: before, during or after the meal. In addition, it is important to observe the frequency of administration (1 time in 24 hours, 2 times in 12 hours, 3 times in 8 hours, and so on), to establish the desired concentration of antibiotic in the body;
- Do not combine taking antibiotics with physical activity;
- You can not drink alcohol throughout the course of taking antibiotics.
Before prescribing an antibiotic, it is important to inform your doctor about the following:
- drugs currently being taken;
- pregnancy or lactation;
- kidney or liver disease;
- dIABETES
And also if noticed earlier:
- the appearance of side effects;
- development of allergic reactions;
- recent use of antimicrobial agents.
When can I drink alcohol after completing the 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 the next, abstinence from alcohol is required for 7 days.
The necessary information, as a rule, is indicated by the manufacturer in the note on the preparation. If absent, it is preferable to wait 10 days. In addition, if the patient has kidney or liver problems, this period should at least be 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 prescribed antibiotics. However, in any case, it is better to reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible if you are following a course.
Reasons for incompatibility of alcohol and antibiotics
Aside from the fact that taking antibiotics significantly burdens the kidneys and liver, and taking it along with alcohol only worsens the situation because ethanol slows down the work of the secretory systems, there is another important reason for the 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 risk of co-administration is that antibiotic molecules are similar to alcohol molecules. The body cannot recognize it correctly, which leads to failure.
Alcohol is perceived by the body as a medicine, which leads to the fact that alcohol molecules are incorrectly processed by the body.
Consequences of not following the rules of taking antibiotics
In case of violation of the rules for taking antibiotics, as well as with the wrong choice of a drug or a wrongly prescribed treatment regimen, unwanted side effects often occur.
This includes:
- Dysbacteriosis. It is caused by an imbalance between 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 varied, including irreversible ones.
- Bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Pathogenic microorganisms are able to adapt to the active substance of the antibiotic, they just need to release the "capture". They continue their reproduction and the disease continues accordingly.
Only a serious attitude towards taking antibiotics will give the required therapeutic effect.
Which antibiotics are strictly forbidden to deal with alcoholic beverages?
There are antibiotics that are strictly forbidden to be consumed at the same time as beverages containing alcohol. This information, without fail, is indicated on the label of the medicinal product, in addition, the doctor who is responsible for prescribing the antibiotic should warn the patient about this.
These medicines include the following antibiotics:
- Tetracycline group. Preparations based on them are often used in medicine, have a wide spectrum of action;
- Chloramphenicol group. This group of drugs often causes side effects, and in combination with alcohol may increase the toxic effect of the drug;
- Lincosamide group. When taken simultaneously with beverages 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 medicines, not to mention alcohol
- Cephalosporin group. Co-administration with alcohol causes symptoms of severe intoxication of the body, which leads to a strong deterioration of well-being;
- Macrolide group. The combination of alcohol and an antibiotic results in a strong toxic effect on the liver and brain;
- Antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis;
- Antibiotics used to treat leprosy.
Also in the pharmacological market there are medicines for which the note does not contain information about the interaction with alcohol.
Lack of information about the combination with alcohol does not mean at all that the combination is permissible. There is no need to expose the body to unnecessary risks.
Possible consequences of combining an antibiotic and alcohol
There is no way to know in advance how a particular organism will react to the simultaneous intake of fluids and antibiotics containing alcohol. Damage can be done to any area of the body.
However, there are the most common consequences:
- Severe allergic reactions;
- Severe unbearable headache;
- Dizziness;
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain, oppressive character;
- A sharp rise or fall in blood pressure;
- Blurring of the mind;
- Excessive sweating;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Liver damage;
- Worsened intoxication and hangover;
- The need to repeat the course of antibiotics. Alcohol will reduce or destroy the effect of the medicine.
The consequences can be even sadder, it all depends on the individual and his health. Negative consequences are always the sufferings of the organism, in whole or in part. Adverse effects can be easily avoided by simply eliminating alcohol along with antibiotics.
Importers It is important to know that currently, through clinical studies, only a fraction of all antibiotics have been proven incompatible with alcohol. The rest of the drugs remain in doubt or not fully understood.
A person himself must understand the onset of possible consequences by focusing on incompatible medicines already studied with ethanol. Taking responsibility for your health should be a priority over any life-related circumstance related to smoking.
And to get the best treatment result, it is necessary to give up alcohol, any, even the weakest.