Share

Do you really need to stop drinking on antibiotics?

accreditation
Credit: iStock
Credit: iStock

You’ve snagged yourself a sinus infection or are battling a bout of strep throat... complete with that daggers-puncturing-your-tonsils feeling.

Of course, it comes at the worst time ever (because, when doesn’t it?) and you’re also prepping for your best friend’s wedding/a holiday party/some fancy festive get-together where alcohol will be present.

You’ve heard it before: Consuming alcohol while taking antibiotics is bad. But one little sip (or 12) really won’t be a life-ruiner, right?

Not so fast with the champagne there, friend. First, it’s important to remember why you’re on the meds to begin with: You feel awful and, with some help from your prescription, your body is working to fight off a nasty bacterial infection. (Antibiotics cannot treat anything viral, like a flu.)

Basically, antibiotics kill the bacteria that can give you a sore throat, make your ear ache, and spike your temperatures.

...alcohol can also slow your body’s ability to “bounce back” and restore its energy levels once that infection is no more.

READ MORE: Some Antibiotics May Be Linked To An Increased Risk Of Miscarriage

And, while drinking alcohol won’t reduce how effectively antibiotics make that happen, it can worsen many of the side effects—such as mild stomach discomfort, diarrhoea, nausea, and drowsiness—that are associated with antibiotics, says Dr. Louise M. Dembry, professor of medicine, infectious diseases, and epidemiology at the Yale University School of Medicine and School of Public Health.

And it’s not exactly ideal if you’re out at a function and a slap of exhaustion (or diarrhoea!) hits you in the face. Meanwhile, alcohol can also slow your body’s ability to “bounce back” and restore its energy levels once that infection is no more.

But there’s more: Consuming antibiotics and alcohol simultaneously can be dangerous for your liver, which typically detoxifies waste products so that your body can get rid of them safely.

“Some antibiotics can ‘stress’ the liver,” Dembry says. “That means toxicity to liver cells, which can lead to liver cell death or even impact the liver’s overall function so it does not work the way it is supposed to.”

READ MORE: Is It Food Poisoning Or A Stomach Bug? Here’s How You Can Tell

We know what you’re wondering: Is it possible that you’re on some magic strain of antibiotics where all of this doesn’t actually apply?

While Dembry says that, yes, some antibiotics may be less problematic for drinking than others, you should still lay off the Sauvignon.

“If you’re taking antibiotics, it’s because you have an infection,” she says. “It’s best to avoid anything that might impact the body’s natural ability to heal and overcome the infection, including alcohol.”

This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE