A question about antibiotics and drinking?

Question

I'm on metronidazole for a wisdom tooth infection and I've got a dry socket from my other wisdom tooth. Not been out in AGES so am going clubbing tomorrow and it should be a big one... but I'm not allowed to drink on these pills. Would it be ok if I stop my pills for a bit then start them again? I know I shouldn't, but I know I'll end up drinking, and don't want to get ill, shall I skip a whole day then start again the next morning, or would it be ok if I just skip the evening one? Thank you!

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Answer 1

Honestly, if you stop taking the antibiotics, you might as well not start them back up. Antibiotics aren't a pill to cure all... they kill bacteria that cause infection. You have to keep a stable level of antibiotics in your system to kill off the bacteria. If you stop taking them, there's a high chance that the bacteria will develop a resistance against the antibiotics, and you'll get an infection. Your doctor will have to put you on different antibiotics, and you'll have to go through all of this again.

I'd hold out until you're done with the antibiotics, then party. Besides, alcohol really isn't very good for the dry socket from your wisdom tooth. Trust me... even if you can take the sting of the alcohol, it'll be extremely painful if you get sick (stomach acid in a dry socket is AGONY).

Answer 2

Most drugs like that take like 48 hours to get out of your system. If you did wait that long till they are out of your system before you drink you could risk re-infection. If they are still in your system when you drink you risk stuff like stomach bleeding, blood poisoning, brain bleeding, heart attack, or even alcohol poisoning, because some drugs ruin your body's method of processing alcohol. Without the ability to process alcohol, any alcohol at all sends you straight into alcohol poisoning. If you really need to go clubbing you could google the drugs you're taking and try to find specific time limits on how long to wait and stuff, or call your doctor.

Answer 3

No, your plan won't work - please just stay on the drug and don't drink.

Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a wonder drug for treating serious anaerobic bacterial infections like the one in your tooth.  These are nasty infections you do not want to have get worse by virtue of stopping your antibiotics.

And, trust me, you have NEVER been as sick as you can get mixing metronidazole with alcohol.   Contrary to the second post, the reason you don't mix these two substances is that it leads to EXTREME nausea.  It will make you never want to drink again - just don't do it.  This is due to the similar structure of metronidazole and disulfiram, a drug given to alcoholics to make it impossible for them to drink alcohol without becoming violently ill.  Think projectile vomiting and the ER in the worst cases.  Contrary to the post below, metronidazole is one of the few antibiotics to which there is virtually no documented resistance - but it's still going to make your infection a lot harder to treat if you stop the drug and then start it back up.

Answer 4

only if you want to start them all over again. the reason you can't drink with them is because the alcohol negates the antibiotic in your system.  they only work properly with a STEADY stream going into your system.  if you drink or stopo taking them it gives the bacteria a sort of "grace" period to regain strength and develop immunity to the antibiotic, thus making them stronger than before. you run a high risk drinking on them or stopping them.  in my opinion ,  1 to 2 ounces of alcohol (1 or 2 beers)  is the max you can have while on antibiotic without risking having to do it all over.