How much does alcohol negate the effect of antibiotics?

[hillbilly]

I'm in the middle of a 7 day course of ABs and going out tonight with friends (I don't go out very often). I would really like to be able to have a glass of wine but wonder how much it will affect the ABs.

It depends on the antibiotic. Here's a summary of what Wikipedia has to say:

Interactions between alcohol and certain antibacterials may occur and may cause side-effects as well as decreased effectiveness of the antibiotics.

Drinking alcohol in moderation is unlikely to cause problems for most common antibiotics.

However, taking alcohol with certain specific types of antibiotics should be avoided completely because of serious side-effects.

Those with serious side-effects include: metronidazole, tinidazole, cephamandole, latamoxef, cefoperazone, cefmenoxime, and furazolidone.

Alcohol may also significantly impair the efficacy of doxycycline and erythromycin succinate.

Personally I'd stick to non-alcoholic to be safe, unless your patient information leaflet says otherwise.

Thanks Fossil I'll check the type of AB it is.

Unless it says not to drink on the box this is a complete myth.

Thanks. Balanced views. I went out and had a couple of glasses and a great meal, cycled home and am looking forward to a good sleep! I'm sure no harm has been done :-)

It doesn't.

Drinking with some A-Bs will make you feel sick, or be sick, but it won't stop them working [other than throwing them up]