Doxycycline and Alcohol: What You Need to Know
Treatment is prolonged, with agents known to be hepatotoxic (98). Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis has necessitated the use of second-line agents, which can result in adverse neurological reactions, making concomitant use with alcohol undesirable (99). In vitro testing found that tedizolid reversibly inhibited MAO enzymes similarly to linezolid (80). A randomized, double-blind crossover trial of 30 healthy subjects assessed the pressor response to an oral tyramine challenge in patients treated with 200 mg of tedizolid. Seven subjects had a positive response of a 30 mm Hg increase in SBP during both placebo and treatment phases, suggesting that the result may have been related to other factors. The median tyramine dose required to produce a 30 mm Hg increase in SBP was 325 mg in the tedizolid group.
- Azithromycin is listed in an NIH report on harmful interactions with alcohol (4).
- Some medicines may interact with doxycycline, increasing the chance of adverse effects or decreasing the antibiotic’s effectiveness.
- For those who experience an upset stomach because of doxycycline, it can be taken with food.
- Having one or two alcoholic drinks while taking doxycycline shouldn’t cause any of these effects.
Disulfiram-like reactions have been reported in the literature (94,–96). Reactions can range in severity; one patient required admission to the intensive care unit (97). This patient reportedly experienced symptoms following consumption of 500 mg of griseofulvin and a single can of beer. Alcohol influences the rate but not the extent of amoxicillin absorption.
If you’re taking doxycycline, it’s generally recommended to avoid drinking alcohol until you’ve completed your course of medication. If you do choose to drink alcohol, it’s important to do so in moderation and to be aware of the potential risks and side effects. While alcohol is a primary concern, those prescribed doxycycline should also be cautious with how to cure a hangover fast other medications. Drugs like antacids, anticoagulants, and birth control pills can all interact with doxycycline. Some of these can diminish its effectiveness, while others can exacerbate side effects. It’s always crucial to inform your healthcare provider of any other medications or supplements you’re taking to ensure there are no harmful interactions.
How Long After Taking Doxycycline Can You Drink Alcohol?
Scientists have linked heavy and binge drinking with an impaired immune system. People with an impaired immune system have a higher risk of infection. Since alcohol lowers the seizure threshold, doctors advise people with a history of seizures to avoid mixing alcohol and fluoroquinolones. In rare cases, people may experience seizures with fluoroquinolone treatment. Doxycycline, like many other antibiotics, may have some common side effects.
Doxycycline is an antibiotic that can be taken orally or via injection to treat bacterial infections. It is only available via prescription from a healthcare provider. Doxycycline is an antibiotic commonly used for the treatment of various infections.
ORAL ACNE MEDICATIONS
Concurrent ketoconazole and alcohol consumption warrants caution. The oxazolidinone class of antibiotics, including linezolid and tedizolid, are typically used in the treatment of resistant Gram-positive infections (80). Alcohol did not impact the PK of ceftriaxone in a rat pneumonia model (13). Acute alcohol exposure increased the biliary excretion of cefadroxil and decreased the urinary excretion and absorption of cephalexin.
More about doxycycline
However, if you do choose to consume alcohol while taking doxycycline you must be aware of certain things. Consuming alcohol while also using doxycycline will flush the antibiotic out of your system too quickly. Doxycycline can also interact with alcohol in people with liver problems. Alcohol can interact with several antibiotics, including doxycycline in some cases.
Multiple authors reported no disulfiram-like reactions (48, 52,–54, 56, 57, 59, 61). Two authors observed higher rates of side effects in patients treated with metronidazole than with placebo (64, 65). Other authors described different degrees of reactions attributed to a disulfiram-like effect within the study is it narcissism or alcoholism populations (50, 58, 60, 62, 66). Furthermore, alcohol can cause hepatic stress or injury with or without the use of potentially hepatotoxic medications. These concerns may be responsible for alcohol warnings that accompany many antimicrobials, but what are the data and strength of support for these warnings?
To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of metronidazole. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the toxicity/ADR of doxycycline. The efficacy of azithromycin was unaffected by alcohol, as survival rates were similar in both alcohol-fed rats and control groups in the pneumococcal pneumonia rat model (13). Alcohol did not affect the alcohol-related crimes: facts and statistics on alcohol and violence efficacy of ceftriaxone in a pneumonia model; survival rates were similar in alcohol-fed and control rats (13). A total of 87 studies are included in this review, after many were excluded due to duplications or not being relevant to the review (Fig. 1). In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published updated safety warnings on all fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
Other Medications to Watch Out For
Taking doxycycline inhibits the growth of bacteria within your body. This allows your body to naturally fight off infections at a faster rate than it can grow. Drinking too much alcohol and doxycycline will also increase the stress put on your liver. When doxycycline and alcohol are combined these symptoms will become worse. It’s also important to note that alcohol may increase fall risks, which could lead to bleeding, especially in people who are on blood thinners or who are older. The manufacturer suggests drug substitution in people who are likely to consume alcohol.
What to avoid
To our knowledge, there are no data available on the efficacy of cycloserine. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of ethionamide. Ethionamide is used in the treatment of TB that is resistant to first-line agents (113). To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of ethambutol. To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of rifamycins.
What if I’ve already had several drinks?
Doctors recommend avoiding alcohol while taking a number of drugs. Data are limited regarding the adverse effects of concomitant use of FQs and alcohol. One case report documents a 46-year-old male who developed erythema multiforme while receiving ciprofloxacin after consuming alcohol (25). The reaction resolved with continued ciprofloxacin use and abstention from alcohol. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are a class of antibiotics that are approved for a variety of infections (23).
For those on doxycycline, reach out to your doctor if you develop any severe side effects. If you think that you have an infection, it is recommended to see a doctor so that you can start antibiotics before the infection spreads further. When doxycycline interacts with alcohol in these individuals, the antibiotic can become less effective. Part of this is because alcohol significantly shortens the half-live of doxycycline, meaning it does not last in the body as long. The safest thing to do with alcohol and doxycycline is to not combine them. You will recover faster and require less medication because of it.
