Cipro and Alcohol (Ciprofloxacin)

Сiprofloxacin is a common broad spectrum antibiotic that is used to prevent and treat bacterial infections of all kinds. Because of the pathways that it disrupts and the possible side effects, combining ciprofloxacin and alcohol is strongly discouraged. Common side effects that can be experienced when taking Cipro include headache, dizziness, and body fatigue. When combined, Cipro alcohol combo, can increase the side effects of each of these drugs and can cause excessive dizziness and loss of consciousness, while also lowering the effectiveness of the medication.

Most antibiotics have one or more serious complications when combined with other drugs and the ciprofloxacin alcohol combination is no exception. While there is limited evidence of fatalities as a result of mixing ciprofloxacin and alcohol, the similar side effects can have a negative synergistic effect that causes stress on the kidneys, and severe dizziness or fatigue. Both drugs are absorbed into the bloodstream and filtered by the liver and kidneys, therefore it is necessary to increase water intake if you are considering or have mixed ciprofloxacin and alcohol. Discussing the Cipro alcohol combination with your physician can be very helpful, and it is always prudent to listen to their advice. The courses of antibiotics such as Cipro are usually less than a week and refraining from alcohol for this short period of time is the preferred and encouraged course of action.

While the physical side effects of mixing ciprofloxacin and alcohol may be relatively minor, it is important to consider the negative impact that alcohol has one your immune system as you are taking the antibiotics to assist your immune system in fighting the infection. At best the ciprofloxacin alcohol combination won’t cause any side effects, but it will definitely increase the length of time that you body needs to fight off the infection.

As with any medication, the effectiveness of this antibiotic is dependent on taking it exactly as prescribed, and no physician is going to encourage the combination of Cipro and alcohol. Beyond delaying the treatment time, by combining ciprofloxacin and alcohol you are increasing the chances of taking the incorrect dose, or taking it at a different time than your regular schedule, all of which decrease the effectiveness of the medication and increase the length of time required for the antibiotics. When taking antibiotics it is always preferable to take them for as short of a timeframe as possible to decrease the chance of the bacteria developing an immunity or your body becoming reliant on the support.