Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Doxycycline?

Mixing Alcohol And Doxycycline

Drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics is never recommended as it may increase the likelihood of adverse or harmful side effects. Drinking alcohol while taking antibiotics, such as Doxycycline, affect how the medication works in the body, which can reduce its effectiveness and possibly cause unwanted results.

Drinking alcohol while taking Doxycycline can also make intoxication easier to achieve, further impairing cognitive and motor function. Reading and following the instructions on medication labels is vital, and you should always discuss with your healthcare provider before drinking alcohol on any prescription medication. It may even be necessary to avoid alcohol altogether while on certain medications. Additionally, your prescribing doctor can provide guidance and education on potential risks or interactions regarding alcohol use with prescribed medications.

What Is Doxycycline?

Doxycycline is an antibiotic medication available only by prescription. It’s used to treat various bacterial infections, as well as skin conditions like acne or rosacea. Doxycycline is best known for treating respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, and some sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Typically, Doxycycline is taken orally in tablet or capsule form. Taking it with a full cup of water is recommended to prevent potential side effects, such as esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus). The prescribed dosage and duration may vary depending on the infection being treated and the patient’s age, weight, and overall health.

Doxycycline may not be appropriate for everyone and can interact with certain medications. Therefore, informing your healthcare provider if you have any pre-existing health issues or are taking any other drugs is vital.

Can You Drink While Taking Doxycycline?

It is usually advised not to consume alcoholic beverages while taking Doxycycline, or any prescription medication, since alcohol can hinder this medication’s effectiveness and increase the likelihood of adverse side effects. These side effects include gastrointestinal issues such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Furthermore, alcohol can hinder the body’s ability to appropriately absorb the antibiotic, thus decreasing its effectiveness in curing an infection. For these reasons, it is recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while on Doxycycline. Still, if you decide to drink, it is best to wait several hours after taking the medication to ensure the body has absorbed it. The best choice will always be to follow instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist regarding alcohol consumption while taking prescription medications.

Side Effects Of Drinking Alcohol While On Doxycycline

Taking Doxycycline comes with its own side effects, and the risk of these side effects may increase if you consume alcohol. Some of the most common side effects of Doxycycline include the following.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Alcohol can aggravate the lining of the stomach, which increases the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain. Gastrointestinal issues are potential side effects of taking Doxycycline by itself, so taking alcohol in addition to this medication only increases the risk of these side effects.

Decreased Effectiveness

Alcohol may affect how the body absorbs the medication, reducing its potency and function in treating the underlying infection. This can lead to the infection worsening or coming back, which may have a host of other unwanted side effects.

Liver Toxicity

Doxycycline and alcohol are both metabolized by the liver. Combining the two can increase the likelihood of liver toxicity and damage.

Central Nervous System Damage

Using alcohol and Doxycycline alone can affect the central nervous system. Combining the two can further increase side effects and the risk of dizziness, lightheadedness, and impaired coordination.

Dehydration And Kidney Damage

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urination, leading to dehydration. A side effect of Doxycycline is diarrhea, which also causes dehydration. Using the two drugs together may increase the likelihood of kidney damage in cases of severe dehydration.

Struggling To Not Drink Alcohol?

Understanding the risks of taking any medication is essential, even more so when considering combining it with other drugs or medicines. Keep in mind that antibiotics are usually only taken for a brief period. Therefore, it is best to consider waiting to have alcoholic beverages until you are done taking prescribed medications. Waiting to consume alcohol will decrease the risk of any unwanted or harmful side effects.

If you find it hard to not drink while taking Doxycycline or other prescription medications, even with warning from your primary care doctor, it may be a sign of a possible alcohol use disorder (AUD). The inability to refrain from alcohol use is a hallmark symptom of an alcohol addiction. While antibiotics may not be the most dangerous drug to mix with alcohol, it can cause lasting damage to your liver, kidneys, and central nervous system.

Find Support For Alcohol Addiction

If you or someone you know is struggling to control their alcohol use, the time to get help is now. To get started, contact a treatment provider today to learn more about what options are available.