Can You Mix Amoxicillin With Alcohol?

Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
·8 min read

Medically reviewed by Femi Aremu, PharmD

According to one study, more than 40% of adults had taken medication in the previous year that could interact with alcohol.

Since many drugs, including antibiotics, can interact with alcohol, it's recommended to confirm with a prescribing healthcare provider the potential health risks of drinking alcohol with a given prescription medication.

One such example is amoxicillin, a commonly prescribed, generic beta-lactam antibiotic, which can negatively interact with alcohol. Despite this, it should be safe to consume alcohol again about 48-72 hours (between two to three days) after you finish your course of amoxicillin.

Alcohol can make antibiotics less effective, as well as worsen existing side effects or create additional side effects.

Read on to learn about the potential consequences of mixing alcohol with prescription medications, with a specific emphasis on the potential dangers of mixing alcohol with amoxicillin.

<p>Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images</p>

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

Understanding Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin is an orally administered (taken by mouth) prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain bacterial infections in adults and children (generally 2 years and older), including:

It's also used along with other medications to treat stomach ulcers caused by the bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). However, amoxicillin can only be used by adults to treat stomach ulcers.

In some cases, healthcare providers may prescribe amoxicillin to treat conditions that differ from what the drug was initially approved to treat. This is called an off-label use.

Amoxicillin is sometimes used off-label to treat Lyme disease or to prevent infections during certain surgeries or dental work.

Dosage Forms

Generic amoxicillin is available in the following oral forms:

  • Capsule

  • Chewable tablet

  • Tablet

  • Liquid suspension

Brand-Name Variations

Amoxicillin is a generic medication.

It's also available as either the sole or one of several active ingredients in the following brand-name products:

Alcohol and Prescription Drug Use: What's the Risk?

You might want to know what risks are involved with drinking alcohol while taking prescription drugs.

In general, limit or avoid drinking alcohol while taking medications. Alcohol may interact with prescription medications in several ways.

These include:

  • Speeding up or slowing down the way your body clears the medication. This can make the medication less effective or increase your risk of side effects or toxicity from the medication.

  • Increasing how much alcohol your body absorbs. This can raise the amount of alcohol in your blood and increase your risk for alcohol-related side effects.

  • Changing how the medication works in your body. This can make the medication more or less effective than usual.

While alcohol does not interact with every prescription drug, in many cases, it can worsen existing side effects or cause additional, independent side effects.

For example, mixing alcohol with prescription medications can cause the following side effects:

Amoxicillin and certain other prescription medications can also cause these side effects.

Mixing amoxicillin and certain other prescription medications may worsen or increase your risk of experiencing these symptoms.

Alcohol and Other Antibiotics

Alcohol can interact with antibiotics besides amoxicillin.

Such examples include:

  • Zithromax (azithromycin) may increase the alcohol concentration in your blood. This may raise your risk for alcohol-related side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, and slowed reaction time.

  • Griseofulvin, an antibiotic typically used to treat ringworm on the scalp, may also interact with alcohol. Griseofulvin may increase the effects of alcohol and lead to serious side effects, such as rapid heart rate, liver damage, excessive vomiting, and shortness of breath.

  • Generic doxycycline. Doxycycline may be prescribed to treat several conditions, including pneumonia and acne. One study found that consuming alcohol while taking doxycycline may make doxycycline less effective.

On the other hand, some antibiotics don't interact with alcohol and are found to be generally safe to take, even if you drink alcohol.

These include:

Remember that the interactions mentioned above do not reflect every antibiotic that interacts with alcohol.

Be sure to check with a healthcare provider if you would like to consume alcohol during your antibiotic treatment.

Alcohol and Other CNS Depressants

Some alcohol and drug interactions can be dangerous and may result in severe symptoms.

This includes drinking alcohol while taking central nervous system (CNS) depressants.

The CNS consists of your brain and spinal cord and controls brain activity and several body functions, including breathing.

Specific prescription CNS depressants are typically used to treat anxiety, manage pain, or help with sleep.

Examples of CNS depressants include:

Alcohol is also a CNS depressant. These types of drugs slow down the activity of your CNS, and combining CNS depressants can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening symptoms.

These include:

In rare cases, mixing alcohol with CNS depressants can lead to a drug overdose that may result in coma or death.

How Long After Taking Amoxicillin Can You Drink Alcohol?

Alcohol and amoxicillin can cause similar side effects, and combining the two can worsen or increase your risk of having these side effects.

However, it should be safe to consume alcohol again about 48-72 hours (between two to three days) after you finish your course of amoxicillin.

Examples of side effects alcohol and amoxicillin may cause include:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Headache

  • Diarrhea

If you have any of these side effects, avoiding or limiting alcohol during your amoxicillin treatment may help relieve them.

It's also possible that alcohol may slow down your body's absorption of amoxicillin. This means that it may take amoxicillin longer than usual to start working if you drink during your treatment.

Alcohol may also weaken your immune system. This can increase your risk of infection or make it more difficult for your body to fight infections.

Because amoxicillin is used to treat infections, alcohol may make it more difficult for amoxicillin to treat your condition.

Limiting alcohol in general while you're treating an infection may help you heal quicker and lower your risk of side effects.



Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

If you or a loved one would like help with AUD, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-4357 for information on obtaining support or finding a treatment facility in your area.



Consumption Guidelines for Amoxicillin

Your healthcare provider will recommend a amoxicillin dosage based on several factors, such as your age and the condition you're taking amoxicillin to treat. Be sure to take this medication exactly as prescribed.

Amoxicillin is typically taken once every eight hours or once every 12 hours, which your healthcare provider will include in the instructions of your prescription.

If you have side effects, such as nausea or diarrhea, your provider may recommend you take amoxicillin with a meal or a snack. This may help alleviate or prevent these side effects.

Taking Oral Penicillin Products

Oral penicillin antibiotics such as amoxicillin are typically used to treat conditions such as:

Examples of other penicillin antibiotics include:

  • Penicillin

  • Ampicillin

  • Dicloxacillin

Do's & Don'ts of Use

Like other antibiotics, penicillin should be taken regularly as a healthcare provider prescribes. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.

Then, take the next dose after your regularly scheduled number of hours have passed. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

Taking this medication with a meal or a snack may help relieve or prevent specific side effects, such as nausea or diarrhea.

Finishing the course of antibiotic treatment prescribed for your condition is essential. This helps prevent bacteria from becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Store oral penicillin-like antibiotics at room temperature (68-77 degrees F).

Like all medications, amoxicillin and other penicillin antibiotics should be kept out of reach of children and pets.

Summary

Amoxicillin is a penicillin-like antibiotic belonging to the group of drugs called beta-lactam antibiotics. It has several oral forms, including capsules, tablets, and suspensions. Brand names are Amoxil, Talicia, or Augmentin.

Amoxicillin is prescribed to treat certain bacterial infections, including strep throat and skin infections.

Alcohol can interact with certain prescription drugs, including amoxicillin. Side effects you may have from an amoxicillin and alcohol interaction are generally mild.

However, drinking alcohol while taking certain other prescription drugs, such as CNS depressants, can be more dangerous. You should not drink alcohol if you take this type of medication.

Combining amoxicillin with alcohol may increase your risk of side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. Drinking alcohol during your amoxicillin treatment may also make it more challenging to recover from your infection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can drinking alcohol make a bacterial infection worse?

It’s possible.

Drinking alcohol can weaken your immune system. Your immune system helps your body fight infections, including bacterial infections.

If you have a weakened immune system, your body may not be able to fight infections as well as usual. This may allow the bacteria to grow and make your infection worse.

Is there long-term damage associated with alcohol use during a round of antibiotics?

It depends.

Most side effects that may happen if you drink alcohol while taking an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin, are generally mild and should go away shortly after you stop drinking alcohol or finish your round of antibiotics.

However, consuming alcohol while taking certain antibiotics may cause more severe and potentially long-term side effects.

For example, combining Gris-PEG (griseofulvin) with alcohol can increase your risk of having liver damage, which may be long-term.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.