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If you have been told you have bacterial vaginosis, the doctor has probably given you Metronidazole to treat it. They might have asked if you...
If you have been told you have bacterial vaginosis, the doctor has probably given you Metronidazole to treat it. They might have asked if you drink and advised you to stop while you are taking this medication. That is not because they do not want you to have fun at that wedding or after work drinks you are going to, but because it can be quite dangerous.
For a quick overview: Metronidazole is a type of antibiotic that is a very effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis. The reason why you should avoid alcohol is because this antibiotic can disrupt the way your body processes or gets rid of alcohol and its breakdown products. This results in a risk that high levels of the toxic waste products can build up in your body which can cause potentially severe side effects. In this article we talk more in depth through the risks of the alcohol and metronidazole combination and answer some commonly asked questions.
So how does this medication actually work in the body? Metronidazole is a medication most commonly used to treat a condition called bacterial vaginosis. Let’s talk through what this condition is for some context. Bacterial vaginosis is actually a very common condition so please do not feel embarrassed to seek help for it. It usually presents with symptoms such as smelly, colourless vaginal discharge and itchiness in the vaginal area. The symptoms are due to an imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria in the vagina. The imbalance affects the natural acidity of the environment and allows certain bacteria to grow more.
With this in mind, Metronidazole is a type of antibiotic that stops the growth of the bacteria that causes bacterial vaginosis. It is an effective medication that can come in many forms from a tablet to a cream. You will typically feel the effects and relief from symptoms quite quickly, often within days. However, there are some precautions that you need to be aware of when taking Metronidazole. So next let’s get into the question that is probably on your mind, “can i drink alcohol while taking metronidazole?”
So what happens if i drink alcohol while taking metronidazole? This is not a cocktail mix you want to try. It is always best to avoid drinking alcohol with metronidazole treatment because there is a risk that the two substances interact. More specifically, Metronidazole has an effect on how your body breaks down alcohol. For those of you super interested in science, the alcohol metronidazole interaction can lead to something called a “disulfiram-like reaction”. Overall this means there can be a build up of the breakdown products of alcohol; this can lead to symptoms such as:
Okay so how long after taking metronidazole should you avoid alcohol? As mentioned, while it is advised to avoid alcohol while taking Metronidazole, it is not a forever ban. If you have an event lined up where you think you will be drinking, it is best to wait a minimum of 2 days after finishing the course of Metronidazole before drinking. This is because it can take around 44 hours or more for your body to get rid of the medication.
However, if you have a liver condition then you might need to wait longer than 2 days after finishing the medication before you can drink alcohol. This is because the liver is important in processing medication so it might take longer than usual for your body to fully get rid of the Metronidazole. In this case, it may be best to wait 3 days after finishing the course of Metronidazole before drinking alcohol. Overall, if you have any pre-existing medical condition (e.g liver problem) please double check with your doctor about alcohol use after the medication.
It may be tempting to think of the warning to not drink as just scaremongering on the internet, but please know that the alcohol warning on Metronidazole is not just a myth. This antibiotic medication affects the way that the body breaks down and gets rid of alcohol. If you want to read up on more of the scientific evidence, there is a risk of a “disulfiram-like reaction” when you drink alcohol on metronidazole. Basically, this means there is a risk that toxic byproducts of the breakdown of alcohol can build up to dangerous levels in the body. This can cause side effects such as nausea and vomiting, headaches, stomach aches, and in more severe cases palpitations and finding it difficult to breathe. So hopefully if you were searching up “metronidazole why no alcohol?” this article has now emphasized how important it is that you avoid alcohol when taking Metronidazole. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to a pharmacist or your doctor.
If you need to drink you should consult your healthcare provider first to discuss your treatment and potential alternatives. However, it may be more useful to think about alternatives to alcohol such as alcohol free drinks or non-alcoholic imitations of drinks. The Metronidazole treatment is only a few days long so if you are finding it difficult to abstain from alcohol for this period it may be helpful to think about your relationship to alcohol.
There are some other options apart from Metronidazole that can be considered such as Clindamycin (as a cream) or home remedies such as probiotics. Please note that while these options may be less likely to interact with alcohol, these can vary in effectiveness and may not be a like-for-like alternative to Metronidazole. Overall, if you feel it will be difficult to stick to the treatment guidance of avoiding alcohol while taking metronidazole, then please inform your doctor before starting treatment so they can discuss or modify the treatment plan going forward.
So when should you seek medical advice if you have mixed alcohol and metronidazole? Whether it was on purpose or on accident, if you have had any alcohol while taking metronidazole treatment, there is a risk that you will experience severe side effects as it can be a toxic interaction. Mild side effects like mild headaches or mild abdominal cramps may go away by themself but you should seek medical advice if they persist.
It is important that you seek emergency medical attention if you notice or identify with any of the following: