Can I drink alcohol while taking Amoxicillin?
AMOXICILLIN is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
If you've been prescribed the drug, you may be wondering if it is safe to drink alcohol while you take it.
Rumours that booze can prevent antibiotics from working properly have long circulated, particularly online.
Others have told how knocking back anything alcoholic while taking the tablets could cause some unwanted side effects.
But while the NHS recommends not drinking while taking antibiotics, doing so in moderation is "unlikely to interact significantly with your medicine".
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And when taking amoxicillin specifically, the health service says: "You can drink alcohol while taking amoxicillin."
Health experts recommend that in general, it is "sensible" to avoid a tipple if feeling unwell as booze can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infections.
It also leaves you dehydrated, which can make you feel worse.
Some antibiotics also come with the risk of side effects, such as sickness and dizziness, which could be worsened by drinking.
NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol
According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:
- men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
- spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
- if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
If you're pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
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There are some circumstances where people should avoid alcohol altogether when taking antibiotics.
The exception to the rule is metronidazole or tinidazole. You must not drink when taking either drug.
Alcohol can cause a serious reaction when combined with these medications.
Symptoms include chest pain, increased or irregular heartbeat, and nausea and vomiting.
Because of the risks, the NHS recommends avoiding alcohol for 48 hours after a course of metronidazole and 72 hours for tinidazole.