We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGeek
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Is It Safe to Combine Metronidazole and Alcohol?

By Erin J. Hill
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,959
Share

The safety of taking metronidazole and alcohol at the same time has not been fully established or disestablished. Common understanding used to be that drinking alcohol while taking this medication could lead to serious complications. Many studies have failed to back up this claim, so further investigation is needed in order to determine if there are any serious risks in this combination.

Since the safety of drinking while taking metronidazole has not been fully established, it is recommended that patients taking this medication avoid alcoholic beverages. Side effects of doing so many include nausea, flushing, and headache as well as dizziness. These reactions are also common among those taking metronidazole even when no alcohol is consumed, so determining a link is difficult. Many researchers theorize that the reactions noted by some patients were really just reactions to the drug itself rather than the combination of metronidazole and alcohol together.

There are other reasons why taking metronidazole and alcohol at the same time may not be a good idea. Although patients may not experience a serious or life-threatening reaction from doing this, alcohol can cause some medications to lose effectiveness. Metronidazole is an antibiotic often prescribed for treating vaginal and certain other infections. Drinking alcohol at the same time could result in a prolonged or recurrent infection.

Excessive alcohol consumption may also cause similar side effects as metronidazole and can lead to further discomfort. Both substances can cause stomach upset and dizziness, so combining them can intensify these effects. Drinking may also lead to a higher dosage of this medication being needed in order to cure or control infection.

The consumption of both metronidazole and alcohol may also cause strain on the liver. This is generally not an issue when alcohol is consumed in moderation, but excessive drinking when combined with this and certain other medications may lead to severe liver damage. Those who have any underlying health condition may also want to avoid drinking, whether taking medication or not.

Anyone who cannot withhold from drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole may have a drinking problem. These individuals should seek medical help or counseling to get control of their drinking. Long-term consumption of alcohol can lead to serious health complications.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Editors' Picks

Related Articles

Discussion Comments
By ddljohn — On Mar 08, 2014

I'm sorry to say that I have mixed metronidazole and alcohol before and I did experience side effects. I have a high alcohol tolerance but when I drank while on metronidazole, it only two drinks for me to get very drunk. I also had dizziness, a headache, nausea and odd facial flushing.

My friend was very worried and wanted to take me to the hospital. He said that I looked as if I were to have a heart attack. I decided to go home and wait for a little while to see if things got better. I drank lots of water, also tried to eat something although it was difficult. It took me hours to feel better and I finally fell asleep in the morning. I felt much better when I woke up but that was certainly one of the worst experiences of my life. I'm not sure if I'm very sensitive to this combination or not. I'm sure that others have had similar experiences.

By ZipLine — On Mar 07, 2014

@donasmrs-- I know what you mean. We are warned against drinking alcohol with most medications. But you really do need to avoid alcohol while on metronidazole. They don't react well to one another and cause many side effects.

There are some antibiotics out there that can be mixed with alcohol without problems. But metronidazole is not in that group. The reason is because the drug prevents or reduces the body's ability to break down and get rid of alcohol. So the alcohol and the by-products accumulate in your body causing bad side effects. Especially if you have blood pressure problems or a sensitive stomach, this combination can make you very ill. So just avoid it.

By donasmrs — On Mar 06, 2014

If the safety of this combination has not been established, does that mean that I can have a drink or two while on metronidazole without problems?

My doctor gave me the same old answer, that "it is not advisable to drink" while on it. Does that mean I can't drink period? Or does that mean I can drink moderately?

Hot Topics
WiseGeek,
in your inbox
Our latest articles, guides,
and more, delivered daily.
Follow us:
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/is-it-safe-to-combine-metronidazole-and-alcohol.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.