Is it possible to combine Klacid and alcohol? This question worries everyone who has to take this medicine, and there is some celebration or celebration ahead. Klacid belongs to a large group of macrolides. These are antibiotics or antibacterial drugs that inhibit development, growth, and in some cases they finally kill the causative agents of infectious diseases, that is, they manage to effectively eliminate the very cause of their formation. Macrolides from other antibacterial drugs favorably differ in that they are considered to be few Toxic, but the have the largest possible range of action.
Features of the drug
In this article we will tell if Klacid is compatible with alcohol. The antibiotics to which this drug belongs are prescribed for patients with various chronic and acute infectious pathologies. So combining drugs from this group with alcohol is strictly prohibited.
However, if we carefully study the annotation for Klacid, we find that there is no information whatsoever about its incompatibility with alcohol. In this regard, patients have a reasonable question: is it really not recommended to combine this drug with alcohol, or maybe you can really drink alcohol and Klacid?
In order to understand this issue in detail, we will examine in detail how this medicine affects our body, and also how it interacts with ethyl alcohol.
Instructions for use
Assessing the compatibility of Klacid and alcohol, it is worthwhile to understand in which cases this drug is used. Doctors prescribe it when diagnosing a patient with inflammatory or infectious diseases that are caused by microorganisms that are sensitive to the drug.
It could be:
- lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchitis);
- infections of the upper respiratory tract (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis);
- infection of soft tissues and skin (folliculitis, impetigo, abscesses, cellulitis);
- otitis media;
- localized infections provoked by mycobacteria;
- localized or disseminated mycobacterial infections.
Contraindications
You should always remember the contraindications that exist when taking this medication.
These include:
- porphyria;
- severe renal impairment;
- period of breastfeeding;
- pregnancy;
- simultaneous administration of cisapride, astemizole, terfenadine, pimozide;
- increased individual sensitivity to antibiotics from the macrolide group.
Doses and method of application
The drug is released in the form of a suspension. It should be taken orally, regardless of the meal. If the drug tastes too unpleasant, you can drink it with milk.
To prepare the suspension, it is recommended to add water to a certain point in the bottle with granules (this should be done gradually). After this, the vial is actively shaken. The resulting suspension can be stored for two weeks out of the reach of children at room temperature.
The daily dose of this suspension for minors is 7.5 milligrams per kilogram of weight twice a day. This amount of drug will be especially effective in non-mycobacterial infections. The maximum dose that can be taken during the day is 500 mg twice a day.
As a rule, the total duration of the course of treatment does not exceed five to seven days. Ultimately, this period depends on the severity of the condition of the patient and the pathogen that caused the disease. Remember that before each use, the bottle must be shaken thoroughly.
Mechanism of action
You can figure out whether it is possible with Klacid alcohol by analyzing the mechanism of action of this drug. The main active ingredient in it is a semi-synthetic antibiotic called clarithromycin. Its molecule in its structure has a 14-membered lactone ring, which determines its bacteriostatic effect.
In a bacterial cell, this substance is introduced into the largest ribosomal subunits. Thus, he manages to effectively block the process of protein synthesis. Protein deficiency leads to inhibition of the vital activity of the bacteria themselves, inhibits their development and growth, effectively inhibiting the reproduction process.
The drug "Klacid" is quickly absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract. With a blood stream, it appears in the liver, where it begins to transform into an active metabolite, which circulates in the blood, being bound to plasma proteins.
Active metabolite
The active metabolite has the ability to effectively penetrate into the tissues of the body, remaining in them for at least two days. Interestingly, the active substance of this drug is metabolized directly in the liver, and is excreted from the body with the help of urine and bile. The half-life directly depends on the dose of the drug, ranging from six to nine hours.
An important point is that gram-negative and gram-positive anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms are sensitive to clarithromycin. A similar effect occurs when interacting with intracellular organisms. In particular, we can talk about streptococci, staphylococci, treponemas, gonorrheal neiseria, mycoplasmas, chlamydia, listeria, legionella, enterobacteria, hemophilus bacillus, pseudomonads, mycobacteria, bacterioids.
Klacid demonstrates high efficiency when interacting with Helicobacter pylori, which is considered one of the main causative agents of gastric ulcer and gastritis.
Release form
The suspension, the reception of which has already been described in this article, is the main, but far from the only dosage form of this drug.
Also, "Klacid" is available in long-acting tablets, immediate-release tablets, in a lyophilisate for the preparation of an infusion solution and in granular powder for the manufacture of the same oral suspension.
Due to the widest spectrum of antibacterial action, the drug is successfully used to treat infectious pathologies of various localizations.
It is noteworthy that the medicine is not always prescribed for oral administration. If the patient's condition is considered too severe, it is administered intravenously.
Side effects
The most common side effect when taking this drug is candidiasis of the mucous membranes. In particular, the intestines, oral cavity, and vagina are at risk.
Candidiasis (or thrush) is formed with a significant decrease in immunity, which is maintained at a normal level due to stable human microflora. When using various antibacterial agents, including Klacida, the problem of acute dysbiosis often arises. This is due to the fact that antibiotics inhibit the growth of not only pathogenic microorganisms, but also their own microflora. This leads to sad and unpleasant consequences.
Under the influence of an antibiotic, the number of so-called "native" bacteria gradually decreases, and fungi of the candida genus come in their place. These are conditionally pathogenic fungi, which are contained in minimal amounts in the composition of normal human microflora. Moreover, with a significant increase in their number, candidiasis begins to develop on the surface of the mucous membranes. In most cases, it is accompanied by burning, severe itching, and profuse mucus.
This side effect during the course of treatment with Klacid can be avoided only if the corresponding antifungal drugs are taken together with the antibiotic. It can be Fluconazole, Nystatin, as well as eubiotics - Lactovit, Linex, Bifiform.
Dosage Failure
Also, provided that the prescribed dosage is not observed while taking this medication, other side effects may occur.
These include digestive upsets. It can be vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, lack of taste, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation. Allergic reactions, disturbances in the liver (a significant increase in the level of liver enzymes, cholestasis, jaundice) are also likely. There is a risk of neurological disorders, suppression of blood formation, decreased vision and hearing, blood pressure, weakened immunity, urinary retention, joint pain, decreased urine output.
Kick in the liver
Considering the compatibility of Klacid and alcohol, it should be noted that this is fraught with a severe blow to the liver. The fact is that both substances (both ethyl alcohol and clarithromycin) are hepatotoxic in themselves. If you use Klacid and alcohol at the same time, they potentiate each other's toxic effects.
Ultimately, this can lead to a slowdown in the metabolism of both compounds. The intake of alcohol and "Klacida SR" 500 mg leads to the fact that there is a slowdown in the breakdown of alcohol. As a result, the concentration of acetaldehyde in the blood increases significantly. This is an intermediate highly toxic ethanol metabolism product.
The effects of Klacid with alcohol can be extremely unpleasant. Acetic aldehyde with ethyl alcohol causes significant damage to the walls of the liver cells, and in some cases even destroy them. Due to the fact that the metabolism of clarithomycin occurs in the liver, a slowdown in its conversion leads to an increase in the time for its elimination. Because of this, the compatibility of Klacid SR and alcohol is low, as the likelihood and risk of an overdose of antibiotics increases.
Due to the increased load on the liver, acetaldehyde breaks down. This appears as a disulfiram-like reaction. Symptoms of this condition are a rush of blood to the face, a sense of fear, rapid breathing, palpitations, vomiting, nausea, noise in the head, headaches, severe weakness, and a drop in blood pressure.
If you regularly drink alcohol with Klacid, you can significantly increase the likelihood of developing thrush. Moreover, the patient’s condition is likely to deteriorate significantly, he will experience an increased load on the liver.
Detrimental effects on cells
"Klacid SR" and alcohol are not recommended for joint use, although this is not separately prescribed in the instructions for use. It must be remembered that the toxic compound is alcohol itself, adversely affecting all cells of the body, without exception. Including microflora, weakened by the use of an antibiotic.
The bacteria that make up the human microflora are designed not only to improve digestion, but also to synthesize B vitamins. These include cyanocobalamin, folic acid, thiamine, pyridoxine. Due to alcohol, the number of beneficial bacteria decreases, which causes a deficiency of the corresponding vitamins. Also, alcohol violates the absorption of these vitamins in the intestine, which only exacerbates the patient's condition.
Allergic reactions
Do not forget that ethanol is a strong allergen. An increase in the reactivity of the body can lead to unforeseen allergic reactions, up to anaphylactic shock.
Allergenic properties are also characteristic of antibiotics. As a result, the likelihood of such a reaction while taking alcohol and Klacid, according to reviews, is significantly increased.
Patient opinions
In order to minimize possible side effects, as well as negative consequences, it is important to know how long after taking the antibiotic you can afford to drink one or two glasses of alcohol.
According to reviews on the compatibility of Klacid and alcohol, only in this case can we expect that there will be no health consequences. Given that this substance can remain in the tissues for two days, drinking alcohol earlier than 48 hours after the dose is not recommended.
It must be remembered that combining alcohol and antibiotics is always dangerous to health, so it is better to refrain from drinking, at least for the duration of treatment. This will help to avoid unpleasant complications.