While technically possible, it’s not advised to consume alcohol while taking Levofloxacin. Alcohol can amplify Levofloxacin’s side effects, stress your liver, weaken your immune system, and potentially hamper the antibiotic’s effectiveness. That being said, it is not uncommon for patients who consume alcohol demi lovato first album on a regular basis to suffer from different kinds of infections that may warrant the use of Levaquin. The concern of course in such situations is the interaction that may occur between Levaquin and alcohol.
Health Challenges
However, some people may be able to safely drink alcohol in limited quantities while still on an antibiotic. Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider and weigh your overall health background in the context of your specific antibiotic treatment. Overwhelming the liver with constant alcohol use can interrupt important bodily processes involved in metabolizing and distributing medication around the body. Some interactions between alcohol and antibiotics may even harm the liver, if there’s enough alcohol consumed during the prescription. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before committing to hazardous drinking behavior. Research since the early 1800s established the detrimental effects alcohol has on the body.
What Should I Avoid Eating and Drinking With Levaquin?
Patients commonly are counseled or their prescription bottles carry a warning sticker to avoid consumption of alcohol while receiving antibiotics (1) (Table 1). It is a common belief that concomitant use of alcohol with antibiotics either will cause toxicity/ADR or will decrease efficacy (6, 7). The evidence behind these beliefs is poor and controversial (Tables 2 to 4). The package labeling recommends against the use of metronidazole and alcohol within 48 h due to the risk of a disulfiram-like reaction (46). Although it is commonly believed that metronidazole mediates disulfiram reactions, data are contradictory.
- In rare cases, people may experience seizures with fluoroquinolone treatment.
- Acute intake of alcoholic beverages does not interfere with the PK of doxycycline to an extent that would affect its therapeutic levels.
- Physicians prescribe sulfonamide antibiotics to treat urinary, respiratory, and abdominal infections.
Mixing Levofloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic, with alcohol can have serious consequences. Doctors generally advise against this combination due to safety concerns and the potential for prolonged resolution of bacterial infections. Alcohol weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to combat infections effectively.
Liver damage
Providers use Bactrim for many types of infections, including urinary tract infections, diarrhea and pneumonia. Historically, ethionamide was believed to cause hepatotoxicity with alcohol consumption. Though the literature is limited, mild liver disease and alcohol use are not an absolute contraindication, with appropriate monitoring. First-line treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) involves an initial phase of four agents (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and rifampin) (98). Treatment is prolonged, with agents known to be hepatotoxic (98).
Can You Drink Alcohol on Antibiotics? Potential Risks
The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Overall, it’s not advised to combine alcohol with antibiotics.
Of the 55 patients in that study, 30 received ethionamide and three patients developed parenchymal liver damage. Two of these cases may have been related to the concurrent use of pyrazinamide (114). If you’re unsure of the specific protocols of your prescribed antibiotics, seek advice from a healthcare professional. At Everlywell, our virtual telehealth appointments are discreet and convenient. Simply make an appointment with a licensed healthcare provider and log on for a one-on-one consultation. From there, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to address any symptoms you may be experiencing, such as headache, fatigue, stomach pain, and trouble sleeping.