Sometimes it is okay to drink alcohol while taking certain medicines. Other times your doctor will strongly advise you not to. If you are worried about the side effects of amoxicillin and alcohol, here are some common side effects of taking amoxicillin and alcohol together.

Amoxicillin

This drug is penicillin antibiotic. Amoxicillin is used to treat certain bacteria and infections such as bladder infections. It can also treat gonorrhea. Some forms of amoxicillin are used to treat infectious mononucleosis.  It is also sometimes used to treat ulcers in the small intestines. This antibiotic prevents bacteria from forming cell walls, and therefore prevents it from surviving. Overdose symptoms include low urine production, low kidney function, and possible liver failure. Amoxicillin comes in tablet form and chewable tablet form. Brand names of amoxicillin include: Moxatag, Wymox, Amoxil, andTrimox. Side effects of amoxicillin can include mouth and lip sores, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, vaginal itching, hairy tongue fever, swollen glands, unusual bleeding in the sensitive parts of the body, muscular weakness, fatigue, or muscular tingling.

Alcohol Side Effects

To date there has been no scientific studies proving any side effects from alcohol consumption and amoxicillin. However, there are many people who claim negative side effects from mixing amoxicillin and alcohol such as intense dizziness, nausea, increased bacterial infection and black outs.  Because of this, it would be advisable to take your amoxicillin well before you plan to drink. There are also rumors that alcohol makes amoxicillin less effective. This has also never been proven. However, sugars in alcohol can create bacteria.

Health Side Effects

Your doctor may still advise you not to mix alcohol and amoxicillin because it is an anti-biotic. Generally anti-biotics and alcohol will have negative side effects when mixed. While this hasn’t proved to be the case with amoxicillin, because it is a form of anti-biotic, you will still want to know about anti-biotic and alcohol side effects. As mentioned before, alcohol has a tendency to exaggerate side effects of many types of medicines and this can be especially dangerous with anti-biotics.

If you have a serious bacterial infection, the sugar that is contained in alcohol breaks down and aids in the growth of bacteria. While you have a bacterial infection, you should avoid drinking alcohol at all, as this may cause the infection to flare up.

Side Effect Enhancers

If you choose to drink while taking amoxicillin, you should be aware that alcohol can sometimes exaggerate the side effects of amoxicillin, especially side effects such as dizziness. Taking alcohol with many medications (especially anti-biotic based medications) can cause extreme drunkenness and terrible hangovers, while sick, neither of these side effects can be pleasant.

While there are no medical studies proving any negative side effects when mixing alcohol and amoxicillin, you should still abstain from mixing alcohol and drugs if at all possible. If you feel that you need to drink alcoholic beverages, please talk to your health provider and discuss possible options with him/her.

Low Kidney Function

As mentioned before, low kidney function is a possible side effect of taking amoxicillin and can be aggravated by consumption of alcohol whilst on the drug. If your kidney function is low or your kidney has failed your body will not be able to properly dispose of waste in your body, you will be unable to regulate water, unable to balance electrolytes, and your body will not promote red blood cell production which can lead to life threatening issues.

Signs of Low Kidney Function

The most dangerous thing about low kidney function and even low kidney failure is that for quite some time it will be asymptomatic, meaning no symptoms will show themselves making it hard to diagnose. One symptoms start showing up, you usually have an advanced case of low kidney function or failure. Weakness and shortness of breath from simple activities are usually the first symptoms to appear. You may also notice a rise in the acidity levels of your body which may manifest themselves by an acidic stomach or persistent heartburn. Your doctor may notice rising levels of potassium in your blood, and a low red blood cell count. This lowered cell count may lead to anemia. Loss of appetite may also occur. If you experience any of these symptoms, please see a doctor or health care provider immediately.
Liver Failure

Liver failure can be a very serious disease. The liver is a vital organ in your body and facilitates the removal of waste from your internal structure, disposing of it through your urine and stool. When your liver fails or stops functioning at maximum capacity, your body will not be able to filter through the bad elements going through your body and they will stay in your body, building up biological toxic waste.

Signs of Liver Failure

There are several symptoms to look for if you suspect you have developed liver damage or failure. Nausea, fever, and headache are general symptoms that accompany liver damage. Jaundice is a symptom that will occur in later stages of liver damage. Jaundice is the yellowing of skin and the whites of the eyes.

Both your urine and stool will change colors. Your urine will become very dark, and your stool will become very pale, even white. Another symptom of liver failure is the development of spider web-like veins on your shoulders, neck, and chest. If you experience any of these symptoms you need to see your health care provider immediately. Your liver has started to deposit waste bile into your body. There are many bad things in your waste bile that can cause major harm to your body. If you are lucky they will only cause swelling, but they can cause internal bleeding, comas, and even death.  It is for this reason that you need to take your medication as directed, and see your health provider immediately if you start experiencing any of these symptoms.

While consuming alcohol while taking amoxicillin shouldn’t do any major damage, most doctors will not recommend it, to be on the safe side. If you feel that you are experiencing any negative side effects, especially liver or kidney damage, please refer to your health care provider or pharmacist as they will be best able to assist you.