Amoxicillin and Alcohol: Adverse Effects

Key Takeaways

• Yes, you can take amoxicillin and consume alcoholic drinks. No relevant or recent studies support the fact that it is not safe to do so.

• There are no concrete studies that support that the consumption of alcoholic beverages has negative effects on the efficacy of amoxicillin or other commonly prescribed antibiotics.

• The only negative effects that might be felt from consuming alcohol is the adverse effects alcohol itself may have on the underlying condition you are attempting to treat.

Can You Take Amoxicillin and Drink Alcohol?

Yes, you can. Amoxicillin and other antibiotics do not have any directly negative or adverse effects with the consumption of alcohol. However, the consumption of alcohol may cause an increase in some of the negative side effects of taking amoxicillin or other antibiotics.

According to Mayo Clinic, “Although modest alcohol use doesn't reduce the effectiveness of most antibiotics, it can reduce your energy and delay how quickly you recover from illness. So, it's a good idea to avoid alcohol until you finish your antibiotics and are feeling better.”

Studies Supporting the “Myth” of Alcohol and Antibiotics

A recent study was performed by Kari A. Mergenhagen, Bethany A. Wattengel, Megan K. Skelly, Collin M. Clark, and Thomas A. Russo titled “Fact versus Fiction: a Review of the Evidence behind Alcohol and Antibiotic Interactions” aimed at rooting up some of the common misconceptions about the consumption of alcoholic beverages and idea that the combination of antibiotics was somehow a “common fallacy” amongst the population.

The study aimed to assess the evidence behind alcohol warnings accompanying many common antimicrobials. And the lack of some of these warnings being present. As part of the study, the doctors searched databases up to 2018 for studies analyzing interactions, efficacy effects, and adverse reactions due to concurrent alcohol consumption and antimicrobials. 

What they discovered was that there was a safe use of certain antimicrobials, including oral penicillins, cefdinir, cefpodoxime, fluoroquinolones, azithromycin, tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, secnidazole, tinidazole, and fluconazole with the consumption of alcohol. However, data ended up being equivocal for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. 

Erythromycin might have reduced efficacy with alcohol, while doxycycline might be less effective in chronic alcoholism. Disulfiram-like reactions, although typically associated with metronidazole, had uncertain frequency and severity. Cephalosporins with specific side chains, ketoconazole, and griseofulvin had an increased risk of disulfiram-like reactions. 

The results of the study highlighted the lack of evidence for many alcohol-antimicrobial interactions and emphasized the importance of questioning common beliefs due to conflicting or poor-quality data, identifying significant knowledge gaps in the area and suggesting that there’s no strong correlation between the dangers of alcohol and antibiotic drugs like amoxicillin.