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Nitrofurantoin is a first-line antibiotic treatment for common urinary tract infections (UTIs) like cystitis. If you are taking Nitrofurantoin to treat a UTI you may...
Nitrofurantoin is a first-line antibiotic treatment for common urinary tract infections (UTIs) like cystitis. If you are taking Nitrofurantoin to treat a UTI you may be wondering about nitrofurantoin and alcohol effects. In this article we discuss how drinking alcohol while taking Nitrofurantoin may affect the treatment of UTIs and its symptoms. This will allow you to be better informed and aid you in making the best decisions for your health.
Nitrofurantoin belongs to a class of antibiotics called nitrofurans.
Having been in use as early as the 1950s, Nitrofurans have proven to be highly effective as medications for UTIs such as including cystitis.
Nitrofurantoin works by killing the bacteria responsible for causing UTIs and hence get rid of the infection and your symptoms.
What makes Nitrofurantoin work so great is that it rapidly filters out of your blood and into your pee so it can build up and concentrate in the place it’s targeting- your urinary tract.
Alongside this, very few bacteria are resistant to Nitrofurantoin and even better, side effects are very limited too.
No wonder this drug has been effective for so many decades, however, as with all drugs some precautions (particularly relating to nitrofurantoin precautions alcohol ) must be advised.
As with most drugs, there are potential side effects when taking Nitrofurantoin.
Potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, dizziness and headaches.
Nitrofurantoin may also cause rare side effects as listed in the table below. It is important that you know these in order to make the best choices for your care and know when to consult a doctor.
Rare side effects of Nitrofurantoin:
|
Psychological changes |
Visible changes |
Bodily changes |
|
Changes in mental orientation e.g confusion |
Swelling of the hands, feet, lower limbs or face |
Chest pain |
|
Mood changes |
Allergic reactions (hives, breathing difficulties) |
Anaemia |
|
Altered behaviour or thoughts |
Jaundice |
Liver damage |
|
Hallucinations |
Jaundice |
|
|
Difficulty breathing or swallowing |
||
|
Changes in bladder control |
nitrofurantoin side effects alcohol : exacerbates Nitrofurantoin side effects and UTI symptoms. This will be discussed in further detail below.
If you have any concerns or experience any of these signs consult a medical professional who can best help you or your doctor for their advice.
Firstly, you may be thinking I know Nitrofurantoin sounds great for my UTI but can i drink alcohol with nitrofurantoin ? Ultimately, no you should not drink alcohol while taking Nitrofurantoin.
Alcohol reduces Nitrofurantoin’s effectiveness against your UTI, worsens UTI symptoms and increases the likelihood of side effects such as headaches, nausea and vomiting. Additionally Alcohol makes it more difficult for your body to process medications (such as Nitrofurantoin.) This will only prolong your symptoms and impair your body’s recovery from a UTI.
So what happens if you drink on nitrofurantoin? There are no known direct interactions between Nitrofurantoin and alcohol, however alcohol is certainly known to exacerbate potential side effects of Nitrofurantoin and worsen UTI symptoms. Additionally, alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to metabolise Nitrofurantoin making it less effective in destroying bacteria.
So, although little is known about nitrofurantoin alcohol interaction directly, alcohol impairs your body’s ability to fight off infections, increases potential side effects and worsens your UTI symptoms. It should therefore be avoided when treating UTIs with Nitrofurantoin.
Alcohol negatively impacts your body during a UTI by causing dehydration, increasing acidity levels in your body, and by disrupting your body’s ability to metabolise antibiotics fighting off the infection (Nitrofurantoin).
Dehydration: It is important to remain hydrated while your body is fighting off an infection. This allows you to pee more frequently and “flush out” your urinary tract. Alcohol counteracts this, leaving your body in a dehydrated, sub-optimal state to fight off infections.
Increased acidity: Alcohol is a known bladder irritant and increases your body acidity. This makes your experience of UTI symptoms worse and slows down recovery.
Disrupted drug metabolism: Alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to process drugs so antibiotics become less effective at targeting the bacteria causing your UTI.
While we discuss the negative effects alcohol has on your body during a UTI, it is worth being aware of the general symptoms of common UTIs like cystitis:
Overall, it is safe to say whether it’s nitrofurantoin and wine or nitrofurantoin and beer it is best to lay off all kinds of alcohol while treating your UTI to give yourself and your body the best chances of recovery from an infection.
The NHS recommends avoiding drinking alcohol when taking general antibiotics. This is because some antibiotic side effects such as dizziness or nausea can be intensified by alcohol consumption. It is also a sensible idea to avoid alcohol when you are already feeling ill because alcohol slows down your body’s recovery and energy levels and often interferes with how your body metabolises medication.
It has also been observed that alcoholism is associated with increased risk of recurrent UTIs.
So while the NHS doesn’t list specific contraindications between Nitrofurantoin and moderate alcohol usage, it is advised to avoid drinking if you are already taking nitrofurantoin and drinking alcohol.
While taking any antibiotics for your UTI, we recommend some safer alternatives to alcohol to help you last the duration of your antibiotic treatment course.
Non-alcoholic beverages such as:
Offer much healthier alternatives, and options like herbal teas even have positive relaxant effects to boost your mood. These are also suitable long-term alternatives if you have been considering making healthier choices for your wellbeing and ruling out alcohol altogether.
It is recommended you avoid alcohol consumption for at least 72 hours after finishing your course of Nitrofurantoin. If you have already consumed alcohol while taking Nitrofurantoin or you’re counting down the days, then don’t panic.
Before you run off and Google “nitrofurantoin how long after alcohol” just remember to try to avoid alcohol for at least 3 days after your Nitrofurantoin course. If you have consumed Alcohol 72 hours after finishing your course, but symptoms have been alleviated it’s possible the medication worked as expected but as always, consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
In summary, Nitrofurantoin is a very effective antibiotic for common UTIs . While there are no known interactions between alcohol and Nitrofurantoin, it is highly recommended you avoid alcohol while on Nitrofurantoin so you can swiftly recover from a UTI without experiencing any worsening symptoms or side effects.
If you are seeking Nitrofurantoin to treat your UTI, you can buy it safely and conveniently as Meds for Less.
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