Can You Drink Alcohol on Bactrim?
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You’ve been sick with an ear infection for days. Your head feels like there’s been nonstop road construction going on inside; you’re feeling drained (literally — must be all that stuff oozing out of your ear), and everyone’s voice sounds like they’re trapped inside a fish tank. But you just got some antibiotics from your doctor and today is a little better, so you think, hey, maybe I’ll have a beer with dinner?
But then you glance over at the bottle of Bactrim you’ve been prescribed, and it says clearly, “Don’t take with alcohol.” Now what? “Will I die if I drink on Bactrim?” Probably not, right? You text one friend who says, “Go for it! Those labels exaggerate.” But then you text your sister, and she remembers something about Bactrim being different. Who's right? Is the Bactrim and alcohol interaction truly dangerous? In short, can you drink on Bactrim?
Bactrim is an antibiotic containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. It’s used to treat bacterial infections of the middle ear, as well as urinary, respiratory, and intestinal infections. Occasionally, it might also be used to prevent some types of pneumonia.
But what are antibiotics in general? And what are they for? Let’s take a brief look.
Although we tend to associate antibiotics with the modern era, they’ve actually been around since ancient times. Our ancestors from ancient Egypt, Nubia, China, Serbia, Greece, and Rome all figured out that certain herbs and types of mold could cure infectious diseases. Although they didn’t understand the chemical mechanism, they put antibiotics into practice in their medicine.
Literally meaning “opposing life,” “antibiosis” was first scientifically described by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch in 1877, when the pair laid the groundwork for the germ theory of diseases by showing that microorganisms were responsible for the spoiling of products such as milk. They found that other microorganisms (i.e., antibiotics) could inhibit the growth of their harmful counterparts.
As a Nature article explains, antibiotics officially came onto the scene when they were accidentally discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Surprisingly, we have Fleming’s notoriously messy workspace to thank for this breakthrough! After leaving a few petri dishes with staphylococci bacteria cultures scattered around before taking off for vacation, Fleming came back to a surprising find: some of the dishes had grown a fungus (the basis for penicillin) that seemed to have killed off the disease-causing bacterial strain! (Who knew that a messy desk could set off a chain of events that revolutionized modern medicine and ultimately led to a Nobel Prize!)
Penicillin use skyrocketed in the 1940s, to the point where it could be easily purchased at any corner drug store virtually without restrictions or medical supervision. However, the heyday of antibiotics has been followed by a bit of a backlash. Scientists noticed that having too many bacteria killers out and about wiped out the good strains along with the bad, and bacteria started to adapt to be resistant to known antibiotics. Since then, it’s been a race to keep up and develop new approaches that don’t create drug-resistant strains that can’t be treated.
Today, there are over 100 types of antibiotics on the market — including Bactrim — with specialized targets and various mechanisms of action. They have to be prescribed by a doctor, and it’s important to follow the instructions about their use to get the most out of the treatment without causing unintended harm.
Like any medicine, Bactrim comes with side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite. Sometimes, however, the side effects might get a bit more serious.
But before you go swearing off Bactrim altogether, rest assured, these last few side effects are extremely rare! Bactrim has been used for decades and is generally well-tolerated by most people.
Is there anything that makes Bactrim stand out from its counterparts? Yes! Bactrim takes a dual-action approach and gets metabolized in a way that’s a bit different. Let’s explore a bit further.
So what about mixing antibiotics with booze: is it a no-go? Sort of okay? Or do all those bottles say “Don’t mix with alcohol” out of an abundance of (possibly unnecessary) caution?
According to a 2020 research review, there are a few possible outcomes of adding booze to the antibiotic mix.
When it comes to mixing alcohol and Bactrim in particular, there are special considerations to keep in mind.
If the word “disulfiram” sounds a bit familiar (we are talking about this in the context of alcohol, after all), you’re on the right track! Disulfiram is a popular medication prescribed to those committed to sobriety who want an extra psychological barrier to manage cravings on a daily basis.
Disulfiram inhibits certain processes in alcohol metabolism, prolonging the negative feelings associated with alcohol. Imagine the hangover from hell that doesn’t seem to end. Knowing that drinking on disulfiram will wreak all kinds of havoc can serve as a deterrent for many who are struggling with urges. By taking it at the beginning of the day, we’ve decided for ourselves that drinking today just isn’t worth it!
Still, when we’re talking about Bactrim, the risk of a disulfiram-like interaction is actually pretty low. Bactrim is not disulfiram (and is less likely to cause this particular problem than some of its antibiotic cousins), so mixing it with alcohol probably won’t send you to the hospital. Still, it’s not a great idea — and probably won’t make you feel that great.
Doctors say that it’s best to wait at least 48 hours after completing a course of Bactrim before drinking. The rationale behind the waiting period? Allowing the body to process the antibiotic fully.
“I Drank Already, Will I Be Okay?”
Probably. If you had a drink while on Bactrim and are feeling all right, there shouldn’t be much to worry about (though it’s not a great idea to do this on a regular basis). Of course, if you have any concerns at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a medical professional right away!
If you’re finding it hard to stay away from alcohol while on Bactrim, here are a few tips to help.
In the end, we’re taking Bactrim because we’re sick, and we’re probably feeling far from our best. So while having a drink on this medication probably won’t put us in immediate danger, we’re not really doing ourselves any favors either. After all, good-old ginger or chamomile tea might just do the trick when it comes to easing symptoms and allowing our body to get the rest and healing it needs.
As writer Leo Tolstoy once said, “Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself.” (Well, maybe with a little help from Bactrim!)
1. What is Bactrim, and how is it different from other antibiotics?
Bactrim is an antibiotic that’s commonly prescribed for ear, urinary, or respiratory infections. Unlike many of its counterparts, it has two different components — sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. While the first is metabolized by the liver, the second is excreted by the kidneys.
2. Can you drink alcohol on Bactrim?
Drinking alcohol while taking Bactrim can have negative effects, such as nausea and skin reactions. It could also be hard on the liver and kidneys, since both organs are involved in processing Bactrim as well as alcohol.
3. What about the sulfamethoxazole and alcohol interaction?
The interaction of sulfamethoxazole and alcohol adds an additional concern, since it can cause a “disulfiram-like” reaction, resulting in acetaldehyde buildup and the extremely unpleasant reaction that can follow.
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