Amoxicillin and Alcohol
Amoxicillin and Alcohol – Discover the Truth about the Relationship and Its Side Effects
Is there a relationship between amoxicillin and alcohol? Why are some people avoiding drinking alcoholic beverages when taking amoxicillin? What is the truth behind the side effects? These are the questions whose answer you shall find out here.
Uses of Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia for respiratory infections as well as stomach infection like one type of gastritis. Doctors prescribe this medication for ten (10) day or longer depending on the severity of the infection.
Amoxicillin and Alcohol
There exists a prevalent misconception about the use of amoxicillin and alcohol. Many believe that mixing them together has harmful side effects. However, scientific evidence has to back this belief.
Up to this date, there is no clinical studies that will show establish the relationship between amoxicillin and alcohol, or specifically to prove that when taken together, amoxicillin and alcohol have dangerous side effects.
Although there is no concrete proof yet, it does not mean that you can be completely safe taking amoxicillin and alcohol at the same time. It is always prudent to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages during medication not just with amoxicillin.
Side Effects of Amoxicillin and Alcohol
Independent of each other, amoxicillin and alcohol have their own side effects. With alcohol, the short-term side effects include hangovers, sleep interruptions and disturbance of sleep patterns, nausea and vomiting among others. The extent of side effects depends upon the amount of alcohol consumption and the circumstances of drinking the alcoholic substance.
Amoxicillin on the other hand carries with it the side effects typical to drugs and antibiotics. Some of these are the following: nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, severe allergies, blood in the stool, sore throat, stomach pain, bruising and/or bleeding among other.
As you can see, nausea and vomiting are symptoms of both amoxicillin and alcohol individually. Perhaps this similarity of some side effects is the reason people readily attribute them to the mixing of amoxicillin and alcohol. They would readily attribute the side effects to both of them without realizing that these are also side effects of amoxicillin and alcohol when taken separately.
Precautionary Measures and Prevention of amoxicillin Side Effects :
As a preventive measure, although the relationship between amoxicillin and alcohol is yet to be proven, avoid drinking alcoholic beverages when taking not just amoxicillin but other drug medication as well.
If you cannot help but drink alcohol, take your medication first and wait for an hour at the very least before you drink alcohol. This will allow the body to absorb the medicine as alcohol has the tendency to delay absorption.
Drink plenty of water while on medication. Water hydrates the body and improves blood flow to carry the potency of the medication to the right places in the body.
With or without conclusive proof offside effects, it is always best to consult your physician should you have to take amoxicillin and alcohol together. Take the time to read the literature that comes with your medicine and ensure that you follow the right dosage and duration prescribed by your doctor.
Leave a Reply