With fungal infections, doctors prescribe the drug "Pimafucin." This medicine successfully fights the unpleasant manifestations of candidiasis (thrush). It quickly eliminates itching, inflammation and redness of the mucous membranes. Can I take Pimafucin and alcohol together? How does ethanol interact with an antifungal drug? We will consider these issues in the article.
Description of the drug
"Pimafucin" refers to polyene antibiotics. Its active ingredient is natamycin. This substance destroys the cell walls of Candida yeast, which leads to the death of the microorganism.
There are three forms of drug release:
- tablets for oral administration;
- vaginal suppositories;
- cream for topical use.
Natamycin is not absorbed into the blood either by oral or topical application. Does this mean that "Pimafucin" with alcohol can be taken together? To answer this question, you need to understand the indications for prescribing the medicine.
Indications and contraindications
This drug is most often prescribed for genital thrush in men and women. In this case, topical forms are usually used. The cream can also be applied to the epidermis and mucous membranes in the treatment of candidiasis of the skin, nails and ear canal.
In severe cases, therapy is supplemented with pimafucin tablets for internal use. The oral form of the drug is also prescribed for intestinal candidiasis, as well as for fungal infections provoked by prolonged use of antibacterial drugs.
This medicine has practically no contraindications. It should not be taken only in patients with hypersensitivity to natamycin. Pimafucin is prescribed even for pregnant women and nursing mothers. The active component of the drug does not affect the development of the fetus and does not pass into breast milk.
Unwanted effects
This medicine very rarely causes unwanted effects. In the early days of treatment with cream and suppositories, a slight burning sensation can be felt, which subsequently passes quickly.
During treatment with tablets, dyspeptic symptoms (diarrhea, nausea) occur in some patients. However, such symptoms disappear on their own and do not require drug withdrawal.
Ethanol Interactions
How do pimafucin and alcohol interact in the body? Natamycin and ethanol do not react with each other. The active component of an antifungal drug acts exclusively locally. Ethanol is absorbed into the bloodstream and has a systemic effect on the body. Therefore, these two substances are in no way in contact.
It can be concluded that the compatibility of Pimafucin and alcohol is quite high. However, doctors categorically do not recommend drinking alcohol during antifungal therapy. What is the reason for such a ban?
Consequences of combining
The main contraindication to drinking alcohol is not taking a polyene antibiotic, but the disease itself. With candidiasis, doctors do not recommend drinking alcohol. That is why Pimafucin and alcohol cannot be taken together.
Candida yeast becomes pathogenic only under certain conditions. This microorganism is normally found in the body of any person. But only with a decrease in immunity, the fungus begins to multiply actively, which leads to candidiasis.
Alcohol creates favorable conditions for the activation of the fungus. Ethanol dramatically weakens the immune system. This leads to the complete neutralization of the therapeutic effect of the drug. If a person drinks alcohol during an exacerbation of thrush, then the disease can become chronic and often recur later on.
During illness, doctors recommend that patients exclude carbohydrate foods from the diet. This is due to the fact that such food contributes to the active reproduction of the pathogen candidiasis. Alcoholic beverages are rich in carbohydrates, so they are illegal foods in thrush.
It is especially undesirable to combine Pimafucin tablets and alcohol for intestinal candidiasis. This disease most often occurs due to a violation of the microflora in the digestive tract. Drinking alcohol dramatically increases the risk of dysbiosis.
Can Pimafucin and alcohol be taken together if the drug is used in the form of suppositories or cream? In this case, it does not matter in what form the drug is taken. After all, the components of the drug are not absorbed into the blood. Alcohol is contraindicated during the entire period of the disease. Otherwise, getting rid of a fungal infection will be very difficult.
When to drink
Doctors are allowed to drink alcohol only after complete recovery from candidiasis. This does not mean that you can drink alcohol immediately after the course of treatment. It is necessary to pass a re-analysis for the concentration of the fungus in the smear from the affected areas. And only with normal research indicators, you can afford to drink a little alcohol. If you drink alcohol earlier, then relapse of thrush and the transition of the disease into a chronic form is possible.
There are times when a person drank alcohol before starting antifungal therapy. When can treatment begin? After all, it is known that alcohol when taking "Pimafucin" significantly weakens the effect of the drug. It is necessary to wait until ethanol is completely eliminated from the body.
On average, a moderate amount of light alcohol is removed through the kidneys 8 to 10 hours after ingestion. If a person has consumed a large amount of strong alcohol, then it is necessary to wait about 1 day. And only after this period, you can start therapy, and in the future refrain from alcohol until complete recovery.