Amoxicillin appears on many professional lists of essential medicines. It is often prescribed in the United States to treat infections. There are different brands of amoxicillin being used in the US which include the following:
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Trimox
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Amoxicot
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Moxilin
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Moxatag
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DisperMox
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Amoxil
Amoxicillin has frequently been used as a way to fight ENT, bronchopulmonary, and pleural infections since the 1980s. It falls in the category of penicillin antibiotics. When prescribed with other drugs, it is also used to treat types of bacterial infections such as duodenal ulcers and H pylori infections. There are many studies showing over 50,000,000 prescriptions for amoxicillin were written by physicians in the past few years.
There are two types of Amoxicillin. There is a sterile sodium kind which is an injected medicine and Amoxicillin trihydrate which is taken orally. Generally, sterile sodium amoxicillin is prescribed to people who have trouble taking oral medications. Amoxicillin trihydrate comes in a tablet form and is chewable. The powdery substance within the medicine allows for the suspension of extended release. Some people often wonder can you drink alcohol amoxicillin 500mg dosage? While drinking alcohol in combination with amoxicillin won’t lead to death, it is highly recommended that you don’t drink while you are taking amoxicillin 500 mg dosage.
You can only legally get amoxicillin with a prescription from a physician. Although this medication has been used for years to treat different types of infections, many people still ask these questions. “Is it OK to drink alcohol while taking Amoxicillin?” and “Can I have a glass of wine while taking Amoxicillin?” Let’s dig a little deeper into the answer to these questions now.
Drinking Alcohol When Taking Amoxicillin
Typically, drinking any type of alcohol with drugs is not healthy for the body. This is one reason you will notice on drug bottles that there is a warning indicating not to consume alcohol while taking a particular drug.
The side effects which are associated with combining alcohol and Amoxicillin can be very uncomfortable to a person who is trying to heal from an infection. This is the main reason physicians and medical experts highly oppose combining the two. In addition, alcohol reduces the effectiveness of the medication. Now you are probably asking yourself, “will alcohol kill amoxicillin?” or perhaps you are wondering, “does alcohol make antibiotics ineffective?” There are enzymes in our body which breakdown alcohol and drugs. When your body has a significant amount of alcohol in it, it struggles with the inhibition of the enzymes. This means it takes longer for your body to break down the drug.
Don’t forget that amoxicillin is prescribed to treat a variety of infections. With this being said, when the effect of the medicine slows down, your body finds it harder to fight off your infection. Then, it takes longer for your body to get healthy again.
Consuming alcohol and amoxicillin does not usually result in death. However, you should remember that drinking alcohol excessively makes a person’s immune system weaken. It can be addictive and can cause death. In addition, there are side effects associated with combining Amoxicillin and alcohol.
Side Effects of Combining Amoxicillin with Alcohol
There are many side effects that a person can experience when taking amoxicillin-clavulanate and alcohol. These uncomfortable side effects include the following:
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
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Nausea
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Abdominal pain
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Dehydration
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Flushed skin
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Minor to major headaches
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Chest pain
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Trouble breathing
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Enhanced heart rate
You can experience serious side effects from simply taking amoxicillin on its own including jaundice, swollen glands, pain in the muscles, bleeding in the nose, mouth, or anus. In addition, alcohol when frequently consumed in large quantities can cause minor to severe health problems. Alcohol abuse is the cause of thousands and thousands of deaths annually around the United States. If you find yourself addicted to it, the right thing to do is contact a medical professional or an addiction specialist, so they can help you through recovery into sobriety.
The common, minor side effects from amoxicillin and alcohol become stronger and more severe when you combine the two. Plus, it can affect the body’s healing process, making your infection stick around longer and possibly turning into something more severe. You can find more about this by researching Amoxicillin and alcohol WebMD.
Alcohol Consumption – How Much is Safe to Drink?
Many people drink to celebrate or simply relax. However, people who are taking their Amoxicillin should always refuse to drink, at least until they fully heal from the infection making its way through their body. Often, when a person drinks excessive amounts of alcohol, regardless if they are on medication, it could be a sign of alcohol abuse.
There are people every day who pick up a glass of wine, drink a beer, or pour a small shot of bourbon into a drink with a friend. However, drinking while taking Amoxicillin can make your life harder. It can cause your body to slow down the healing process which means getting rid of an infection is more difficult.
It is important to remember that drinking alcohol causes vomiting, nausea, dehydration, and enhances the side effects associated with Amoxicillin. This is why many doctors tell their patients not to drink while taking this type of medication. Even if your doctor hasn’t talked to you directly about alcohol and amoxicillin, you can talk to a pharmacist about it. You should also remember to read the warning labels on your medicine bottles, no matter what kind it is, to see if it is dangerous to consume with alcohol. Also, many experts recommend that anyone with an alcohol abuse disorder tell their physician about it before taking any type of medicine, including amoxicillin. This will ensure your doctor knows how to treat all your medical issues properly.
If you find yourself drinking large amounts of alcohol, and can’t handle going without it, this might be the best time to seek help. There are many alcohol rehab centers that specialize in helping people with alcohol addiction. Now is a good time to let them help you.
Questions or concerns about alcohol mixed with Amoxicillin? If so, reach out to Sunshine Behavioral Health today.A Message From Our CEO
Medical disclaimer:
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Licensed medical professionals review material we publish on our site. The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals.