Antibiotics are used for the control of bacterial growth. When you leave such growth unchecked, you may soon encounter infections. Timely treatment is needed to arrest further progression of microbes. But, antibiotics are used only for treating bacterial infections. If you use such drugs for infections caused by virus and / or fungi, these drugs may have no effects on such conditions. Also, your system may develop resistance to antibiotic meds. Among the various types of antibiotic meds, metronidazole is a popularly used med.
Metronidazole is a widely prescribed antibiotic. It is used for treating bacterial infections of skin, vaginal region, gastric tract as well as organs such as heart, liver, lungs, brain and the spinal cord. In some select cases, this med is also used in the treatment of sexually transmitted infections / diseases. This is not an over the counter med; hence, it is essential to take it under the guidance of a qualified clinical practitioner.
This antibacterial med is not safe for teens and children. Also, for younger girls – who have not attained puberty or have menstrual periods – this med is not used for treating bacterial infections of their vagina. Your treating doctor needs to know of your prior ailments such as, hepatic dysfunction (cirrhosis and / or inflammation of your liver), arrhythmia or erratic heartbeats, onset of infections caused by fungi (in any part or organ), blood-based disorders (such as anemia – drop in red cells or a marked reduction in white cells of blood), etc.
Can you take alcohol along with metronidazole?
Consumption of alcohol with metronidazole is not a safe practice. Your caregiver will seek added details about your lifestyle and check for the presence of drinking habits. This antibiotic is never given to people who have recently taken an alcoholic drink. This is because of a possible outcome resembling a disulfiram-type condition. You need to know disulfiram works by blocking the effects of alcohol on the system.
When you take alcohol, it gets converted into acetaldehyde. Soon, your body makes acetates out of this. Acetates are easily processed and are made into carbon dioxide which can exhale. Disulfiram kind of reaction stops the effects of an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase; this is responsible for acetaldehyde to get converted into acetate. Once the enzyme is under control, there is an accumulation of acetaldehyde in your body. This can cause excessive sweating, faster heartbeat as well as a marked decrease in blood pressure level. Hypotension may cause dizziness, staying drowsy for long and dehydration.
As a result, a combination of alcohol and metronidazole is more likely to cause cramping of abdominal muscles, other stomach conditions like nausea, migraines / headache, vomiting and indigestion. In a stray case, a fatal outcome has been reported. Caregiving professionals and pharmacists advise to stop alcohol for at least 3 days after the completion of the treatment plan.
There are however a few controversies about the likely reactions this combination (alcohol with metronidazole) is likely to cause. A few people who took this combination reported no major side effects or adverse reactions. But, trials are done on a large-scale basis to evidence the possible incidence of serious side effects and near-fatal outcomes.
In essence, it is safe not to mix this antibiotic med and alcohol. In order to get more details about such use, it is a good practice to talk to your treating doctor of it prior to starting your medication plan.
Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism with a minor in Nutrition from Northwestern University. Experience: 15 years as a health journalist, writing for major publications like The New York Times and TIME, with a focus on diet, exercise, and chronic disease management.
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