Can You Drink on Macrobid? What Are the Risks?
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You’ve just been prescribed Macrobid, and you’re ready to finally kick this infection. Especially because tomorrow is your friend’s birthday party — and it’s going to be lit! You’re looking forward to having a few drinks, and you’ve already preordered your Uber for the drive home.
A quick glance at the leaflet from the pharmacy says you should be okay to drink on Macrobid, so you don’t need to worry — right?
Just because we can eat all the cookies in the cookie jar doesn’t mean it’s healthy to do so. Even though there aren’t any direct interactions between alcohol and Macrobid, there can be adverse effects to mixing the two. Let’s examine these effects further; well-informed decisions require well-formed knowledge!
Macrobid (a.k.a., nitrofurantoin) is an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections, most commonly urinary tract infections (UTIs). The antibiotic is different from other, more common antibiotics; it collects in the urine, making it a good choice for infections involving the lower urinary tract. It’s one of the most common prescriptions in the United States with roughly 4 million prescriptions per year. Macrobid only works against bacterial infections, not viral infections of the urinary tract (such as BK virus, adenovirus, or herpes simplex virus).
The medication starts working within a couple of hours, and it is typically taken for 5-7 days. Several side effects are associated with Macrobid:
In very rare cases, Macrobid can cause damage to lungs, liver, and nerves. However, Macrobid is regarded as generally safe to use.
Macrobid is the brand-name version of the generic drug nitrofurantoin. Brand-name Macrobid contains nitrofurantoin in both slow-release macrocrystal form and a quick-acting liquid monohydrate form. Together, this attacks an acute UTI from two angles. (Other nitrofurantoin formulations contain only macrocrystals and are usually used as a preventative to avoid UTIs.)
Our doctor will prescribe the appropriate form of nitrofurantoin to treat our specific circumstances. The most important thing is to take it as prescribed and read all directions and warning labels.
So, can you drink alcohol while taking nitrofurantoin? The answer is complicated. Although Macrobid and alcohol don't have any direct interactions, mixing them can interfere with the drug’s effectiveness, damage our liver, and slow down our recovery from infection.
Despite no acute interactions, it’s clear that alcohol can still interfere with nitrofurantoin. While the above conditions can complicate UTI treatment, there are also some ways that .
To make more mindful decisions when drinking while on nitrofurantoin, it’s important to know what we may be getting into:
We may have missed the tiny print on the back of the bottle warning us of these potential risks. If we’ve already had a drink or two while taking nitrofurantoin, should we be concerned?
First of all: don’t panic! You’re going to be okay; plus, high stress levels can negatively impact recovery and lead us to make rash decisions through black-and-white thinking.
Avoid further drinking and make sure to continue taking the medication as directed. Immediate symptoms may not show up after drinking, and it shouldn’t cause any immediate risk to health. If symptoms do arise, keep track of them and reach out to a doctor.
Drinking while on nitrofurantoin isn’t recommended, but what about after? Similar to drinking while on the medication, drinking after finishing treatment may not cause immediate risks or direct impacts. However, it’s recommended to wait at least 48 hours after finishing nitrofurantoin to resume drinking.
Even after finishing the round of antibiotics, there’s still the chance of a lingering infection. Take it easy on alcohol — or better yet, avoid it all together — for a week or two after finishing treatment. This allows the body a better chance to fight off any infection that could still be present. Drinking immediately after finishing treatment will not cause any significant dangers (beyond the regular dangers of alcohol), but making intentional choices sets us up for the most successful and safe recovery.
If we choose to drink, mindful practices can help minimize potential negative consequences to our recovery from infection. Actioning these four strategies can lead to safer and speedier healing:
Macrobid and nitrofurantoin are short-term antibiotics that help to treat UTIs. Although not immediately dangerous, mixing alcohol and Macrobid puts unnecessary stress on our body and increases the possibility of unpleasant symptoms and complications.
If we choose to drink, implementing mindful drinking practices can minimize risks. Keeping these strategies in our back pocket can be helpful for practicing safe alcohol consumption in other scenarios as well. Here’s to a healthy tomorrow!
1. Can you drink on nitrofurantoin?
There are no acute interactions between nitrofurantoin and alcohol. However, drinking while on the medication increases the risk of adverse side effects and complications.
2. How long does Macrobid take to work?
Macrobid kicks in after a few hours. Symptoms of infection will continue to get better over a few days, however, it’s important to finish the entire 5-7 day treatment cycle to completely eliminate the infection.
3. Are Macrobid and nitrofurantoin the same thing?
Macrobid is the brand-name form of nitrofurantoin. They are used interchangeably, but some brand-name forms of nitrofurantoin have slightly different formulations than Macrobid and attack infections differently. Whether we’re taking a generic form of nitrofurantoin or brand-name Macrobid, alcohol has the same impact.
4. What are the dangers of mixing nitrofurantoin and alcohol?
Drinking alcohol on nitrofurantoin may increase the risk of experiencing adverse side effects and could decrease the effectiveness of the medication.
5. How long after taking nitrofurantoin can I drink alcohol?
There may not be any immediate risk to drinking after taking nitrofurantoin, but waiting at least 48 hours is recommended. This gives our body a chance to fight off any lingering infection without interference from alcohol.
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