Can I take the Tsifran antibiotic and alcohol together? This question is of interest to many patients. As a rule, during antibiotic therapy, doctors do not recommend taking alcohol. How categorical is this ban? Can a small dose of light alcohol damage during treatment? We will consider these issues in the article.
Drug description
The drug "Tsifran" is an antibiotic from the group of fluoroquinolones. Its active substance is ciprofloxacin. This medicine has a mild and gentle effect on the body. It has few contraindications and, unlike other antibiotics, does not violate the intestinal microflora.
In this case, "Tsifran" is able to affect a wide range of microorganisms. The drug acts so quickly that the bacteria do not have time to adapt to ciprofloxacin. Even a small dosage of the drug is enough to achieve a therapeutic effect.
This drug helps with chronic infections that are difficult to treat with other types of antibiotics. In addition, it is well compatible with other drugs and can be used as part of complex therapy.
We can conclude that "Tsifran" is an effective and relatively safe tool. However, it is harmless only in cases where the patient complies with the rules for taking the antibiotic and the doctor’s recommendations. Doctors emphasize that the compatibility of Cyfran and alcohol is very poor.
Types of drug
The antibiotic is available under the following trade names:
- "Tsifran OD". It contains only one component - ciprofloxacin. The drug is made in the form of tablets and powder for injections. It is effective even when bacteria have developed resistance to other drugs.
- "Tsifran ST". This drug has a wider spectrum of action than the usual "Tsifran". What is it taken from? In addition to bacterial infections, it is also effective in diseases caused by simple microorganisms. This is due to the fact that it includes not only ciprofloxacin, but also tinidazole. This substance is capable of destroying the DNA of protozoan cells.
Indications and contraindications
For various diseases of an infectious nature, doctors prescribe "Tsifran". What does this medicine help from? It is prescribed for the following pathologies:
- sinusitis and sinusitis;
- osteomyelitis;
- genital infections;
- bacterial pathologies of the excretory organs;
- inflammation of the lungs, trachea and bronchi;
- intestinal infections;
- skin inflammation.
Instructions for use of tablets "Tsifran" reports that the active component of the drug penetrates not only into internal organs, but also into bones. This allows you to use the drug for inflammatory pathologies of the musculoskeletal system.
The drug "Tsifran ST" has a wider spectrum of action than the usual form of antibiotic. It can be used not only for bacterial pathologies, but also for diseases caused by simple pathogens:
- amoebic dysentery;
- giardiasis;
- trichomoniasis.
Instructions for the use of tablets "Tsifran" does not recommend taking an antibiotic during pregnancy and lactation, diseases of the circulatory and nervous system, as well as under the age of 16 years.
The duration of antibiotic treatment is from 7 to 14 days. In chronic osteomyelitis, the drug is taken for a longer time - from 30 days to 1.5 years.
Compatibility
Before starting therapy, doctors warn patients about the poor compatibility of Cifran and alcohol. This is due to the fact that both ciprofloxacin and ethanol aggressively affect the liver. With joint admission, a double load is created on this organ. As a result, the liver begins to poorly process harmful substances.
All this indicates the inadmissibility of the combined use of "Tsifran" and alcohol. The consequences of such a combination may be as follows:
- severe intoxication;
- difilsoram-like reaction (if the patient is taking the drug "Tsifran ST");
- change in antibiotic sensitivity;
- increased side effects of the drug.
Further we will consider these undesirable effects in more detail.
Increased alcohol intoxication
If a patient drinks alcohol together with Cifran, it becomes difficult for the liver to process both ethanol and antibiotic metabolism products. The body ceases to cope with the load.
As a result, the ethanol content in the blood increases. Taking even a small amount of alcohol against the background of antibiotic therapy can lead to severe intoxication. In humans, coordination of movements is disturbed, double vision is noted, confusion, decreased muscle tone.
In addition, it should be remembered that the drug "Tsifran" is taken for serious infectious pathologies. During this period, the human body is greatly weakened by the disease. Therefore, the use of even a small dose of alcohol against the background of infection can lead to severe intoxication.
Difilsuram-like reaction
Particularly dangerous is the combined use of alcohol and Cifran ST. This can lead to the appearance of a difil-suram-like reaction. This form of medication contains tinidazole. This substance significantly reduces the production of liver enzymes that break down ethanol. As a result, the level of the decay product of alcohol, acetaldehyde, increases in the body. This substance is poisonous and causes poisoning.
The consequences of co-administration of this form of "Tsifran" and alcohol are the same as when drinking alcohol after coding with Esperal. A person’s well-being worsens. Shortness of breath, redness of the face, tachycardia, severe headache. Blood pressure drops sharply. In severe cases, death is possible.
Change in antibiotic sensitivity
Drinking alcohol can decrease the body's sensitivity to antibiotics. This is especially undesirable during a serious infectious disease. Even a small dose of alcohol can lead to the fact that the effectiveness of the drug will be reduced to zero.
In some cases, alcohol can lead to an increase in the sensitivity of the body to the active component of Cyfran. As a result, the patient has an allergic reaction, accompanied by a rash such as hives, itching and redness of the skin. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock or Quincke edema occurs.
Other consequences
Under normal conditions, this antibiotic rarely causes side effects. However, when combining alcohol and Cyfran, the risk of undesirable effects increases sharply. A condition may arise that resembles a severe hangover syndrome in its manifestations.
There is a severe headache resembling a migraine attack. This is accompanied by dizziness, nausea and vomiting, tachycardia and irregular blood pressure.
It is important to remember that "Tsifran" has a prolonged effect. Therefore, the consequences of co-administration of an antibiotic with alcohol may not immediately affect, but after some time.
How much can I drink
How much alcohol can be after "Tsifran"? On average, an antibiotic is excreted from the body within 48 to 50 hours. At this time, an increased burden on the kidneys is created, since most of the active components of the drug leave the urine. Drinking alcohol during this period is unacceptable.
You must also remember that the drug has a prolonged effect. In addition, you need to give the body time to recover from the disease. Therefore, doctors recommend abstaining from alcohol for another 1.5 to 2 weeks after taking the last pill.
There are times when a person drank alcohol, and soon the doctor prescribed a course of treatment with Tsifran. When can I start taking an antibiotic? Treatment can only be started when ethanol is completely out of the body. The period of elimination of alcohol is individual. It depends on the body weight and gender of the person, the quantity and strength of the drink, as well as on the characteristics of metabolism.
On average, alcohol is eliminated from the body within 10 to 12 hours. This period can be delayed up to a day if the patient drank a large amount of strong drinks. You can start taking the medicine only at the end of this period.