The production of antibacterial agents has made life easier for health workers. Now many diseases can be treated conservatively with just a few pills. Previously, some pathologies caused by pathogenic microorganisms were fatal. Now a person can easily get rid of them. But far from always, treatment is effective. In most cases, the patient himself is to blame for the poor result: he took the antibiotic incorrectly or abused alcohol. Today's article will tell the reader what Ciprofloxacin is. Is it possible to drink alcohol during treatment with this remedy and what does it threaten in the future?
Description of the drug
The antibacterial agent “Ciprofloxacin” belongs to the group of fluoroquinolones. The active substance of the same name interacts with the cell, damaging its walls. As a result of use, complete inhibition of microorganisms, including those that are at rest, is observed. The medicine is available in different forms:
- 250 mg and 500 mg tablets are for oral use;
- drops containing 3 mg of the active substance are used for introduction into the ears and eyes;
- an ointment that contains 3 mg of ciprofloxacin is used for applications on the eyes;
- a solution comprising 2 mg of the main component is injected.
The drug “Ciprofloxacin” is used to treat bacterial infections localized mainly in the genitourinary tract in men and women. Less commonly, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of ENT diseases, pathologies of the respiratory system, abdominal cavity and soft tissues.
Contraindications
Before using Ciprofloxacin and alcohol, the patient should study situations in which the use of this medication is unacceptable. The use of an antibiotic is contraindicated in:
- individual sensitivity and intolerance to the main active substance;
- child under the age of 18;
- pregnancy and further lactation;
- disorders of the blood;
- renal failure.
Eye drops can be used in children from 12 months, but they are contraindicated in viral keratitis.
Ciprofloxacin and alcohol: information from the instructions
If you turn to the annotation with the question of whether it is possible to simultaneously use the claimed antibiotic and alcohol, then you will not get a definite answer. The manufacturer mentions that some liver toxic drugs should not be combined with Ciprofloxacin. Also, the combination of some drugs with this medication can enhance or weaken its effect. The instruction warns that during treatment it is necessary to consume more fluid, but which one does not say. Based on this, many consumers conclude: that which is not prohibited. - allowed. So, in fact, is it possible to combine the Ciprofloxacin antibiotic with alcohol?
The effect of the antibiotic taken with ethanol on the body
What will happen inside your body if you take Ciprofloxacin and alcohol at a time? To understand this, you need to know how an antibiotic is broken down.
After internal use, the active substance is in the stomach. Here it is insignificant, but irritates the mucous membrane. The instruction recommends taking the medicine on an empty stomach in order to increase the speed of its absorption. If you drink alcohol at the same time, then the negative reaction will only intensify. Any alcohol is irritating to the walls of the digestive tract. The patient may then experience abdominal discomfort, heartburn, nausea, or diarrhea.
Further, the active substance ciprofloxacin and an alcoholic drink penetrate the blood. The maximum concentration of the drug after drinking a tablet is detected after 1-2 hours. If you inject a medication, then there is a momentary entry of the drug into the blood. After this, ethanol, like an antibiotic, is filtered by the liver. The load on this organ becomes so strong that some substances remain untreated. An intoxication of the body occurs, changes occur in the liver. All this is fraught with allergic reactions, disruption of the nervous system, convulsions, headache and other unpleasant manifestations.
Adverse reactions
If Ciprofloxacin and alcohol are used together, the consequences may manifest as adverse reactions. The more you drink alcohol, the higher the likelihood of their heavy course. Instructions for use of the drug says that it can provoke:
- fungal infections;
- dyspeptic disorders;
- blood pathology;
- allergic reactions of varying severity;
- anorexia, refusal of food;
- sleep disturbance, headaches;
- drowsiness and fatigue;
- cramps, tremors;
- violation of blood pressure;
- fainting, malfunctioning of the heart;
- impaired renal function.
If you drank alcohol after Ciprofloxacin and suddenly felt unwell, you should immediately seek medical help. It is better to call an ambulance, as further consequences may be the most unexpected.
What do people think?
Many patients believe that alcohol after Ciprofloxacin can be taken immediately, on the same day that treatment was completed. This is actually a big mistake. The drug is excreted from the body for at least a day. After using ophthalmic drugs, the active substance can be detected in the patient's body for another week. Therefore, do not grab a glass after the last pill. Wait at least 3-4 days.
There are reviews about taking Ciprofloxacin and alcohol together. The compatibility of the substances was normal. Nothing critical has happened. Treatment helped patients, but no negative effects were found. Doctors believe that such a combination could be a time bomb. The combination has a negative effect on the liver, which is sure to manifest itself in the future.
Despite all the arguments and limitations, patients are divided into two camps. Some people prefer to give up alcohol for the treatment period, which is usually no more than two weeks. Others drink alcohol without any concern, without worrying about the consequences.
Recommendations of specialists
What to do if a stormy feast is planned, and you are taking Ciprofloxacin? After how much alcohol you can - ask your doctor. The duration of abstinence will depend on the form of medication you are using. The doctor can not only establish a limited time, but also talk about the consequences of using the drug with ethanol, as well as give individual recommendations.
- If you are taking Ciprofloxacin for the treatment of the urinary tract, then it is better to completely abandon drinking. Alcohol is a diuretic, which is not always necessary in the treatment of such diseases.
- The simultaneous use of alcohol and Ciprofloxacin will lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of the drug. An antibiotic may simply not cope with its task.
- If ethanol eliminates the effectiveness of the drug, then resistant bacteria form in the body, which is fraught with the transition of the disease into a chronic form.
- Do not recommend doctors rely on the reviews of friends, colleagues and acquaintances. If they have this combination did not cause negative consequences, this does not mean that it will be so in your case.
To summarize
The drug "Ciprofloxacin" is recognized as an effective antibiotic that can cope with many diseases. If you are prescribed a course of the drug, then there are serious health problems. Do not ignore them. The term of treatment is not so long that you cannot give up alcohol. Doctors strongly recommend that during the treatment to exclude the use of alcohol, as this can result in completely unpredictable consequences. Take care of yourself, because apart from you, no one can do this. Get well soon!