Amoxicillin and Alcohol

Amoxicillin is a commonly used a penicillin antibiotic that has clinical applications in treatment of different kinds of infections. Certain precautions may need to be observed when taking amoxicillin and awareness about the side-effects and possible allergic reactions is essential. There appears to be concerned about an interaction between alcohol and amoxicillin and in this article, we explore this in a little more detail.

Alcohol is a commonly ingested product that can have a number of negative side-effects in the body if taken large quantities. Furthermore, alcohol that is taken with certain drugs can either reduce its effectiveness or increase its toxicity through different mechanisms. This is obviously of concern when alcohol is taken with amoxicillin.

As such, it does not appear that there is any significant interaction between amoxicillin and alcohol. The breakdown of amoxicillin in the body after it is ingested may be influenced by alcohol but it seems that it does not alter the final amount of amoxicillin that enters the bloodstream. This has been demonstrated in certain clinical studies as well.

But it is not just important to be aware of the possible interactions between alcohol and amoxicillin. Alcohol in itself is a rather harmful product that when consumed over long periods of time in more than moderate quantities can cause numerous effects on vital systems. For example, it can affect the liver, heart, brain and blood vessels. In patients who have underlying infections that require amoxicillin use, constantly consuming large amounts of alcohol may delay recovery from the infections despite taking the required antibiotic for the required duration of time. In addition, alcohol may potentiate interactions between amoxicillin and other medication that the patient is taking.

But this does not mean that patients who are taking amoxicillin must not consume alcohol at all. Alcohol in moderation does not cause any significant health problems and as such would not interact with the amoxicillin that is consumed. So if an individual is used to having a small amount of alcohol in the evening that does not amount to the levels that define the individual to be an alcoholic, it should bear no effect on how amoxicillin affects the system.

Seeking advice

All patients who are due to take antibiotics of any sort including amoxicillin must obtain advice from their doctor regarding their alcohol intake. In the event of any interaction occurring, advice from the health care practitioner must be obtained as quickly as possible.

The interaction between alcohol and amoxicillin seems insignificant. In other words, there does not appear to be any issues consuming alcohol in moderation when being on amoxicillin. However, it is always recommended that when taking any antibiotic including amoxicillin, avoiding alcohol would be the best way to prevent any unknown interactions.