Metronidazole

[Lookingforadvice123]

Hi everyone

I'm currently on a 5 day course of metronidazole (400mg) for my bad wisdom tooth. I know it's an antibiotic you should NEVER drink on, but the pharmacist said I should also avoid alcohol for 48hours after completing the course. Is this just the pharm being cautious? I will take my last tablet around 4-5pm on Saturday, and I'm going out for a few drinks on Sunday night. I was only going to have a couple of glasses of wine, but I'm worried it's too risky.

Has anyone drank 24 hours after finishing this type of antibiotic?

Tbh I havent tried as mixing alcohol with it makes you horribly sick

Dd was on it for 2 months but no help I'm afraid as she's only 7 .
I hope someone else knows

This is the one they give to alcoholics to stop them drinking. It makes you really, really sick. I really wouldn't risk it. I use it as a topical gel for acne and I don't drink much at all on it.

Really don't do it. There's a reason it's part of treatment regime for alcoholics. I forgot and drank after finishing course and it got messy!

If I do have more than one I feel awful, and that's just a gel and j expect just a tiny amount gets to the bloodstream or I'm just a lightweight

its likely to make you feel sick as a dog and be very very sick, when I took mine for 2 weeks I was told don't take any alcohol for 7 days afterwards, they also told me not to take it if I had taken alcohol before I started the course.

And never never touch sherry whilst on it. You will projectile vomit. A lot!

Definitely DO NOT drink you will be violently ill. I have been there.

take a sick bag with you

I'm on metranidazole til friday and was hoping for a Baileys or two at the weekend. I'm glad I've seen this thread!

Ditto what everyone else said. I had it once, finished the course on Friday morning, went out Saturday night and only had a couple of drinks, and though I wasn't sick have never felt so awful in my life. ABs take up to 48 hours to leave your system.

Absolutely do not risk it, I repeat do not risk it.

Thanks everyone. Balls this makes me very sad though. Been looking forward to my evening out for ages, but it looks like it's not worth it! I will be ok 48 hrs after though right? Got another night out on the 23rd!

PS thank god for pharmacists! The dentist who wrote me the prescription literally didn't mention anything! You'd think they would have with antibiotics like this!

I had to take it for an infected tooth, had a liqueur chocolate day after last tablet and felt really dreadful..and I drink like a fish!

Just think how good you will feel the next morning of no alcohol. :-) but agree don't drink for 48 hours after

I have took this a couple of times for BV. The dr said they take 24hrs to get out your system but I always wait 2 days to be on the safe side.

Actually you CAN drink on most antibiotics, this one is an exception, follow the pharmacists advice to the letter.

Chemically this drug is very similar to antabuse - the stuff that alcoholics take to stop them drinking. If you drink with it you WILL be VERY ill. Imagine the worst case of flu you have ever had and add nausia.

Don't do it!

I've been on that for 4 weeks and also amoxicillin. I don't drink but the dentist explained why not to. Everyone here is right - they give it to alcoholics as the effects are dire. I got told the damage I could do to my insides through the vomiting would be far worse than the damage the AB were already curing.

Thanks everyone I've 100% decided to stick to the orange juice and lemonade Sunday night! I'll be ok for Monday night though right, which will be 48 hours after I finish the course?

I was only told by the pharmacist to avoid alcohol 24 hrs before and after finishing the course. But that was some years ago and advice may have changed.

Have a look at patient.co.uk and see what it says, or NHS website.

To be honest, I guess it depends on how you've been on them, lots of people feel really ropey on certain antibiotics & painkillers, whereas others are completely unaffected.

Yup, mine is out if date - NHS website states no alcohol 48 hrs after finishing the course!

Enjoy Monday night out

I know LAqueen it's really poor isn't it!! I've had much better advice from the pharm, colleagues and mumsnet. The dentist wouldn't even give me a straight answer whether my tooth is actually infected or not (my wisdom tooth is partially erupted and the area is really swollen and inflamed)! Thanks everyone else I'm confident I'm doing the right thing! Looking forward to a drink Monday night now!