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Original poster

No alcohol with metronidazole gel?

25 replies

MrsBartlet · 19/09/2009 10:35

The doctor has prescribed Metrosa 0.75% gel (metronidazole) for me to put on my nose as he thinks I may have a touch of rosacea. He didn't mention not having any alcohol whilst using it but I noticed in the leaflet accompanying the gel that it should be avoided. Not being able to cope without my Friday night wine (!) I thought I would use the gel in the morning yesterday and not again and I should be ok. However after a small amount of wine last night I started to feel nauseous and so I stopped. I don't know whether it is just in my mind but I'm finding it difficult to get my head round the idea that putting a bit of gel on my nose means I can't have a glass of wine! And I have to use the gel for 4-6 weeks! Any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
intravenouscoffee · 19/09/2009 10:38

I know metronidazole reacts very badly with alcohol, certainly taken orally. Didn't know you could get it in gel form but may have some effect still. I believe if you drink at all when you're taking the oral stuff it can make you violently sick so stands to reason the gel could have a lesser but still noticable effect. BTW I'm not a pharmacist so someone else may be along shortly to tell you I'm talking rubbish...

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 19/09/2009 10:47

Thanks. Yes I know that taken orally it has a strong reaction with alcohol as I have been prescribed it by the dentist previously and the pharmacist said that even if I had trifle with a touch of sherry in it I would be violently ill! Needless to say, I avoided all alcohol. I am just unsure about the gel as I thought that either the doctor or pharmacist would have mentioned that I need to avoid alcohol.

OP posts:
mankyscotslass · 19/09/2009 10:49

I use the gel and still have a few drink. Not really noticed much of a problem with sickness or anything, but that may just be me!

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 19/09/2009 13:22

Thanks - I still feel rubbish today and I last used the gel yesterday morning and only had a very small amount to drink last night. Maybe it is unconnected [hopeful emoticon!]

OP posts:
alypaly · 20/09/2009 19:03

metronidazole is really dangerous to take with alcohol. Although only a small amount is absorbed into blood stream from a gel or cream ,it is enough to cause problems in the liver and kidney as alcohol stops metronidazole from being broken down into harmless byproducts.
So if it cant be broken down ,it builds up to harmful ,sometimes toxic levels.
Metronidazole is used to treat alcoholics sometimes, as it makes them feel so ill they dont touch anymore alcohol.

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 21/09/2009 08:16

Thank you alypaly - that is good to know. I guess I will just have to forego any wine whilst using the gel!

OP posts:
weegiemum · 21/09/2009 08:19

Don't use metronizadole with alcohol!!!

I did (came back from travelling as a student with amoebic dysentry, got prescribed metro for it, felt better, had a pint .....) and I have never felt as ill in my life!!

Not worth it. Your doc should havev
told you!

alypaly · 21/09/2009 09:33

MrsBartlet...BTW alcohol can also make rosacea worse as it increases blood flow to cheeks.
Spicy food,exercise,stress...increased emotions,all contribute to making face redder.
Has doc tried you on 3 months of tetracyclines yet?

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 21/09/2009 14:49

No - he has just prescribed the metronidazole gel and wants to see me in 4 - 6 weeks. If things haven't improved he is going to refer me to a dermatologist. I am worried that if it is rosacea (and I am pretty sure it is) then according to the doctor I will have it for the rest of my life and have to use this gel for several months at a time. Now I wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea here and thinking that I am an alcoholic (!) but I do enjoy a few glasses of wine at the weekend and don't fancy having months at a time when I can't drink anything!

OP posts:
alypaly · 21/09/2009 15:10

MrsBartlet..you wont have it for the rest of your life if it is dealt with sooner rather than later.
I would think the gp will put you on tetracyclines before he refers you to a dermatologist as that is standard procedure.

If it is only mild tablets normally clear it up but it can take up to 3 months to start working. They dont really know what causes rosacea as it is quite a complex but common problem. Avoid the spicy stuff and alcohol til it has gone down ,that will really help and if the weather changes ,avoid massive temperature changes.
Do you mind me asking how old you are.

I had it for about 1yr and it went ...never had it back and now i can eat spicy food and have a drink

hotchachachaingbunny · 21/09/2009 15:17

I'm using metronizadole - must have missed the no alcohol bit... Have had a few glasses of wine, with no ill effect, but will obviously now rethink.

I've been diagnosed with rosacea, and am so pleased to hear that there is the possibility of having clear skin again, as it all seemed doom and gloom when I saw the dermatologist. I'm supposed to follow a very restricted diet for three months as well as tablets, gel and azeleic(sp?) acid. It's a joy! But if there is light at the end of the tunnel, then I'll persevere!

Great to find others like me

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 21/09/2009 15:20

Oh thank you alypaly - that is reassuring. I am 38. I tick lots of the boxes for people likely to get rosacea - aged between 30-40; fair complexion; blush easily etc etc. I made the mistake of looking it up on the internet and then started to panic a bit!
I was tempted to use the gel Monday - Thursday so that I could have wine at the weekend but I guess you are going to tell me I should cut it out altogether?!

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsBartlet · 21/09/2009 15:26

hotchachachaingbunny - I don't fancy a restricted diet as well as no wine

OP posts:
alypaly · 21/09/2009 15:27

yes mrs b...cut it out otherwise you will just prolong the problem. I was 45 when mine started. Just used to blush alot and then burn after cold OR hot food, out in the pub,especially after a windy cold walk or exercise. If i got emotional my face and neck used to burn..I use to get really embarrassed as i looked like a right boozer.
I am dark haired and it doesnt seem to be just blondes or fair skins in my experience. More common in women than men tho...

hattyyellow · 21/09/2009 15:40

Oh dear. I've been prescribed the gel and was trying to find out why alcohol was so bad. I drink so little - probably just half a glass of wine most nights, but it's so nice to sit down and have a drink once the kids are in bed!

I thought that the gel wasn't half as bad as the oral form for reactions to alcohol...

Best stop that nightly glass. The gel does seem to work well - I only got diagnosed as having rosecea after several years of it and it's 80% better now. Just flares up in very windy or hot weather or when I've eaten something hot..

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 21/09/2009 16:56

Right - I am swearing off alcohol until I go back to the doctors in 4 weeks time.

Glad you're finding that the gel works, hattyyellow. I think I have only had rosacea for a couple of months as that was when I first started to notice my nose being red when the rest of my face wasn't. I generally have quite a good complexion so it was very noticeable. Hopefully I have caught it early enough!

OP posts:
alypaly · 21/09/2009 19:08

hattyyellow 9it is not as bad as the tablets but a certain amount is absorbed thro the skin and therefore goes into bloodstream. i guess if its affecting you dont take alcohol. But alcohol makes the condition of rosacea worse anyway so it is probbly a waste of time having the gel or cream whilst drinking IYGWIM

There are no clinical trials to prove problems of absorption, but if it makes you feel sick ,i guess it is sensible to stop the old alcohol til condition subsides.

alypaly · 21/09/2009 19:10

sorry about the typos,my son has pinched my chair and i am kneeling on the floor...cant reach keyboard properly...

Original poster
MrsBartlet · 14/10/2009 20:11

I'm in need of more advice! I am 4 weeks into using my Metronidazole gel (I am going back to see the doctor next week) and the end of my nose feels lumpy. Does anyone know if this could be a reaction to the gel? I am trying hard not to get paranoid and think that my nose is changing shape ! I don't think my rosacea is that bad - mainly just being a red nose every now and again. It went red yesterday and that is the first time it has happened whilst I have been using the gel. Please reassure me that this isn't the start of my nose changing shape!

OP posts:
Aleebalee · 18/02/2011 22:40

I have been diagnosed with Rosacea & have been prescribed Metrosa Gel (no noticeable side effects from alchohol, fortunately), however i am now in week three of using it and my skin is worse, really dry & itchy. has anyone else experienced this? GP did say the condition may get worse before it improves. I wonder whether i ought to persist!!!:(

alypaly · 20/02/2011 01:00

if you have rosacea,you should try and avoid alcohol,spicy foods,extreme temps,stress and over exercise as these can exacerbate the condition.if its really bad a 3 month course of tetracyclines often helps.

rathlin · 20/02/2011 13:27

Hi, as a clinical pharmacologist, yes, you can use metronidazole gel and drink alcohol. The amount absorbed systemically is negligible and very unlikely to cause an interaction with alcohol. It will not cause problems in liver and kidney as suggested above although as someone has said, if you are taking it for roseacea, avoiding alcohol should be a given. Read the patient information leaflet provided with the drug, it should say whether or not to avoid alcohol.

sparkle1977 · 20/02/2011 21:22

I am also using the metrosa gel and have been for about two weeks and have had the odd cheeky glass of wine at the weekend and have had no adverse affects for your info.

Bexterw21 · 16/01/2019 10:13

I've been on metrosa gel for a red nose and pipples on my nose, I look like an old drunk😒 can't say it's looking any better, infarct it's worst.

Scarlson · 10/02/2019 15:31

I have rosacea and my nose gets swollen and my face gets puffy. I am also using the gel. Are the symptoms of rosacea or a reaction to the gel?

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