Fact versus Fiction: a Review of the Evidence behind Alcohol and Antibiotic Interactions

Per package labeling, alcohol did not affect alcohol dehydrogenase in in vitro studies and may be concurrently consumed with secnidazole (73). Minocycline may attenuate alcohol-mediated toxicity in pregnant mice. Minocycline treatment in the third trimester protected against alcohol-induced neurotoxicity in the developing brain (38). One study found that minocycline led to a modest reduction of alcohol intake in mice (37). Alcohol intake has been reported to diminish the antimicrobial effect of doxycycline. To our knowledge, there are no data available of the efficacy/toxicity or ADR of tetracycline.

Mixing Alcohol With Medicines

Herbal medications currently are widely used, and many people assume that because these products are “natural,” they also are safe to use. In addition, liver toxicities caused by various natural products have now been identified (Heathcote and Wanless 1995), and their combination with alcohol may enhance potential adverse effects. To date, limited documentation of such interactions exists because of a lack of scientific studies on this subject (Miller 1998). In closing, combining alcohol with certain medications, particularly those with sedative effects, can increase the risk of adverse events, including falls, driving accidents, and fatal overdoses. The more alcohol a patient consumes, the greater the risk for alcohol and medication interactions. Universal screening, careful prescribing choices, and patient education can help minimize the risks of combining alcohol with certain medications.

Depression (Off-label)

Disulfiram-like reactions have been reported in the literature (94–96). Reactions can range in severity; one patient required admission to recovery games for groups the intensive care unit (97). This patient reportedly experienced symptoms following consumption of 500 mg of griseofulvin and a single can of beer. The effect of the PK of the amoxicillin-alcohol interaction was studied in eight healthy volunteers receiving, on three separate occasions, amoxicillin (500 mg) with water or alcohol. The absorption of amoxicillin, when combined with alcohol, was delayed compared to its absorption with administration with water (11). This was demonstrated by an increased lag time, time to maximal concentration (Tmax), and half-life.

If you have questions about taking other antidepressants with Trintellix, talk with your doctor. Your doctor will consider the benefits and risks you may have from taking other antidepressants with Trintellix before prescribing them. Trintellix may worsen a certain kind of glaucoma called closed-angle glaucoma. If you have glaucoma, let your doctor know before you take Trintellix. They’ll discuss with you whether this medication is safe for you to take.

Your liver is a large organ in the upper right side of your abdomen. It also helps with blood clotting, and it filters out any toxic or dangerous chemicals in your blood. Damage to your liver can reduce its ability to perform these functions. It can also lead to increased pressure in your brain or abnormal bleeding and swelling. As long as you take acetaminophen as directed, you can drink alcohol in moderation.

Common questions about Trintellix and interactions

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Trintellix can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article. Taking Contrave exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions. If you can’t take Contrave, there are several other medications that your doctor could prescribe for weight loss. If you have questions about taking Contrave with ibuprofen, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

1. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) If you take other drugs that contain bupropion, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Contrave for you.
2. Multiple authors reported no disulfiram-like reactions (48, 52–54, 56, 57, 59, 61).
3. Online drug information centers for Walgreen’s, Rite Aid, and CVS pharmacies were queried for each antimicrobial for concurrent alcohol use warnings (Table 1).
4. Before starting Trintellix treatment, let your doctor know if you have problems with bleeding or take blood thinners.

CBD’s interaction with morphine varied in different behavior models. For example, when the acetic acid stimulated stretching assay model was used, the combination showed synergistic effects. In the hot plate thermal nociceptive assay model, acetic acid decreased operant responding for palatable food model and sub-additive effects (an effect that is less than additive) were observed. These results suggest that distinct mechanisms of action underlie the interactions between CBD and morphine.

One patient developed heart block after taking linezolid and 7 mg of tyramine (81, 82). Per prescribing information, large quantities of beverages with a high tyramine content, including red wine and tap beers, should be avoided and limited to less than 100 mg of tyramine daily (83). Given linezolid’s weaker affinity and reversible MAO enzyme inhibition relative to that of other MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), other authors have investigated the need for a tyramine-restricted diet (81, 84). The pressor responses to an oral tyramine challenge were compared in subjects receiving linezolid or placebo (81). The smallest dose of tyramine resulting in a systolic blood pressure (SBP) increase of at least 30 mm Hg was 100 mg in the linezolid arm (81).

Historically, ethionamide was believed to cause hepatotoxicity with alcohol consumption. Though the literature is limited, mild liver disease and alcohol use are not an absolute contraindication, with appropriate monitoring. Despite an FDA warning, we were unable to identify published data that demonstrate an increased risk with concomitant ethambutol and alcohol use. Although package labeling warns of potential hepatotoxicity from the use of fluconazole, an assertion not supported by the literature (89), there is no specific recommendation to avoid concomitant alcohol use (92).

Several classes of antidepressant medications exist, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, and atypical antidepressants. These classes differ in their mechanism of action in that they affect different brain chemicals. All types of antidepressants, however, have some sedative as well as some stimulating activity.