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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To drink alcohol on antibiotics that say avoid alcohol?

118 replies

MummaRumma · 17/04/2014 16:29

I got some metronidazole antibiotics and it says avoid alcohol.
Does that mean even 1 solitary glass of wine is not allowed? What will happen to me?
If I'm not allowed, how on earth do I get through a family filled Easter weekend!?!?
I did not think this damned bv infection through

OP posts:

Caitlin17 · 18/04/2014 01:03

You will be really, unspeakably ill. I'm not a drinker at all but at one of the rare occasions I couldn't get out of a "family" do with partner's ghastly family I thought sod it I'm not sitting through this without a glass of wine. I have never been so ill after only one glass of wine and it had an effect really quickly.

ItsNotATest · 18/04/2014 01:09

Like everyone else, any other antibiotic is fine to drink with (avoidance of alcohol is just an urban myth).

Metronidazole, don't even think about going there. It's what is in Antabuse. Just google disulfiram reaction.

goodasitgets · 18/04/2014 01:17

If they don't work, try balance activ gel. I can't have antibiotics for bv because they give me thrush and it's just a hell of round in circles
That gel cleared it, and no bloody thrush

sashh · 18/04/2014 06:11

Does anyone know of any bad reactions or are they quoting 'stories'?

Yes a lot of people do know, either through direct seeing friends/family or like me from working in hospitals.

I am actually amazed that some people have managed to drink while taking these, the only way I can explain it is that you are probably similar to the people who don't react at all to LSD.

If you are absolutely sure you were taking metronidazole, drank and did not have a reaction you are in a tiny minority and you should not be telling someone to go against medical advice because you did and got away with it.

It's like a child saying they ran across a busy road without looking and didn't get hurt so no one should bother looking for cars or stopping.

OP don't do it

123Jump · 18/04/2014 07:22

Yes, I have done this.
I had always heard that you could have a few drinks whilst on antibiotics, and I believe you can. Have hardly ever had them actually.
Had a tooth abscess, ouch! Dentist prescribed antibiotics (thought it was flucloxicillin, but may have been metro), she said that you specifically should have no alcohol with them.
At a friends house with others, sure have a glass, you'll be fine...in minutes I felt off...then so unwell.
Not vomiting, but thought I was having a heart attack. I had to go home, not sure how I made it. Dreadful night, just felt scarily unwell.
Told my dentist when I went back. She said "wow! I'll really stress it to people now!"
The irony is that I'm a nurse. And the people at the house were all Doctors, sisters a GP.....

myitchybeaver · 18/04/2014 07:32

Yes, I've drunk on metronidazole. I'm also a nurse and very cynical and thought it was a myth. I vomited in the pub (couldn't even get to the door or toilet) within a minute or two of consuming alcohol.

You really can drink with all the other antibiotics.

Also suggest you say you're taking them for a dental abscess instead of your fanny

Whatsthatnoise · 18/04/2014 07:37

When I was about 19 I was prescribed metro for an infected wisdom tooth, being 19 and sure of myself I had a glass of wine not only was I so drunk I could have easily gotten hurt I was sick for days. Being sick for days stopped the anti biotic from working and I needed something else. I never made that mistake again.

BumPotato · 18/04/2014 08:00

I had 2 glasses of wine, two hours apart, too soon (12 hrs) after finishing a course of these. I got extremely drunk on those two glasses and the next day was spent vomitting and feeling bloody awful.

ImSoOverIt · 18/04/2014 08:02

Do NOT drink alcohol with metronidazole EVER! They are they only ones where it is REALLY important not to. The will make you VERY I'll.

Whoever prescribed them to you should have made this very clear. Do not touch a DROP for at least 3-4 days afters you've finished the course .

Jollyphonics · 18/04/2014 08:17

How bad is your infection? If not drinking is going to cause you lots of bother, why not start your antibiotics after the weekend?

As a GP I do advise people specifically about alcohol when I prescribe metronidazole, but it's easy to forget, especially on the day before a bank holiday when it's very busy.

ImSoOverIt · 18/04/2014 08:22

Metronidazole can be used for other things. It is used as part of the triple therapy to get rid of the big that causes stomach ulcers (along with clarithromycin and omeprazole I think), could you say you had that? that is the only thing I can think of that isn't gynae related and that you would still be walking around!

Or just don't say what the infection is, just say I have an infection, I have to take powerful antibiotics and I absolutely mustn't drink with them! My dad had to take these with for giardia actually, a gut infection, and he was relatively unwell. You could say you had that, but I doubt anyone would want to eat with you!

ImSoOverIt · 18/04/2014 08:23

Bug not big

Scuse typos

justtoomessy · 18/04/2014 08:37

Take it on a one off 2gr dose I have fine it before and it works fine

Marylou2 · 18/04/2014 09:00

Sorry for you OP but same thing happened to me with a dental abscess a few weeks ago.I Googled the side effects and it's definitely not worth it! I'd lay into the Easter eggs instead! .

wowfudge · 18/04/2014 09:14

OP you are doing the right thing by avoiding the booze when taking these.

It annoyed me to see some posters advising you to take a mega dose to get through the antibiotics more quickly - they don't know you, your medical history or even have any medical training as far as we know. Take them as prescribed. On a related note, some antibiotics can be rendered less effective if you have alcohol.

differentnameforthis · 18/04/2014 09:32

Alcohol with met can make you [pretty sick.

MyBootsAreMuddy · 18/04/2014 12:57

My brother ended up in hospital last yr after drinking a glass of champagne at a wedding whilst on metronidazole after a root canal.
He was so violently sick he damaged his asophogas and started throwing up blood. He had uncontrollable shivering and sweating, stomach cramps and then started getting heart palpitations and chest pain.
He was rushed to hospital because his heart rhythm was all over the place. I still remember the phone call from an incoherent SIL at 2am thinking my dbro was about to die.

He is okay now but if you had seen the state he was in about 11 months ago you would be shocked! He actually hasn't had any alcohol at all since as it scared him so much.

ArielPistachio · 15/04/2017 11:21

Hi, got prescribed these a few days ago for a tooth infection. I am on 400mg 3 times a day. Last night at home, tested out a theory in preparation for a boozy BBQ I'm invited to over the Easter weekend. I took an antihistamine a half hour before drinking a JD and coke, with literally a drop of JD in. My stomach felt a bit queasy. Proceeded to have 3 lite beers over about 5 hours and was fine with no sickness or other side effects. Took another antihistamine before going to bed, just incase first one wore off. And slept through the night. I'll probably only have a few at BBQ. I don't want to take the Mickey and super over do it, as I know my body will be struggling to process the alcohol. So yes, antihistamines stop you throwing up, and even work against metronidazole in this instance!

bigmac4me · 15/04/2017 11:29

Many years ago I worked in a pharmacy. We were always told to express the seriousness of not drinking any alcohol with metronidzaole. I particularly stressed this when a friend was on them once. The friend knew better "one glass isn't going to hurt" etc. After less than half a glass she was violently ill with dramatic heart palpatations and pain, taken to hospital and stayed there for a week until things were under control.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/04/2017 11:50

Ariel, you are being very silly, it may have worked for one night, there are no guarantees the reaction will be the same. Metronidazole is a bloody dangerous drug when used in conjunction with alcohol. Oh, and antihistamines and alcohol aren't a great combination either.

riddles26 · 15/04/2017 11:57

I can't even begin to describe how stupid you are being Aerial. Metronidazole is known to react with alcohol and make the person violently sick. You haven't even considered the potential for the antibiotic not being as effective when drinking and your recovery from infection therefore being impaired. You may have been fortunate to escape the sickness the first time but that certainly doesn't mean you won't the next time. Is alcohol that important to you that it is worth risking your health over?

AwkwardSquad · 15/04/2017 12:01

It's entirely your choice. I wouldn't, though - not on metronidazole

Crispbutty · 15/04/2017 12:01

Old thread but to the poster that just bumped it. You are an idiot.

If you have an infection why do you want to stop the anti biotics working.

AwkwardSquad · 15/04/2017 12:02

Oh yes, so it is. For fuck's sake.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 15/04/2017 12:04

You are being incredibly stupid Ariel and you sound fairly proud of yourself for being so.

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