Can You Take Cipro (Ciprofloxacin) With Alcohol?
Mixing alcohol with antibiotics like Cipro (ciprofloxacin) generally isn't recommended.
I am currently taking Cipro (ciprofloxacin) for a kidney infection and I was wondering if I can drink alcohol on it. I talked to my pharmacist and she said I should just make sure to stay hydrated. Looking for a second opinion.
Nov 14, 2022- There is no direct chemical interaction between Cipro and alcohol, but drinking is not recommended while treating an infection because alcohol weakens your immune system and worsens antibiotic side effects like nausea and diarrhea. Alcohol causes dehydration, which interferes with your body's ability to fight the infection and recover properly. It's best to avoid alcohol while taking Cipro and focus on staying hydrated and getting rest instead.
Answer
While there is no direct interaction between ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and alcohol, it is not recommended to drink while recovering from an infection.
Alcohol can decrease immune function and exacerbate (i.e., make worse) antibiotic side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and upset stomach.
Additionally, while recovering from an infection, it is important to stay well-hydrated and get plenty of rest. Alcohol can cause dehydration.
How Alcohol Is Metabolized
Alcohol is primarily metabolized via alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1), and catalase. The byproducts of alcohol include acetaldehyde and acetate which contribute to many of the negative effects.
Genetic variation of these enzymes causes varying degrees of alcohol metabolism—which is why everyone tolerates alcohol differently and when mixed with antibiotics, some may experience worse side effects than others.
Some drugs, like metronidazole, may cause a “disulfiram-like reaction” when taken with alcohol. This can cause flushing, nausea, vomiting, and general “hangover effects”.
These drugs inhibit aldehyde dehydrogenase which is crucial in the metabolism of alcohol. Some of these drugs include disulfiram and chloramphenicol.
Disulfiram is actually used clinically to treat alcohol dependence since it makes drinking alcohol much less desirable. Ciprofloxacin is not one of these drugs.
Cipro Information
Ciprofloxacin is a commonly used antibiotic in the fluoroquinolone class and can be used to treat a variety of infections. It is considered to be a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Ciprofloxacin is absorbed via the GI tract and is metabolized and eliminated via the liver and kidney. Ciprofloxacin does inhibit CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, but neither of these impact alcohol metabolism.
Ciprofloxacin can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea similar to other antibiotics. Unique side effects of fluoroquinolones include tendon rupture (especially in the elderly population, burning/tingling in extremities, and CNS effects.
Final Words
Thanks so much for reaching out and please feel free to do so again anytime.
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Antibiotic
- A medication used to treat infections caused by bacteria by killing the bacteria or stopping their growth.
- Ciprofloxacin
- A common antibiotic medication used to treat various bacterial infections.
- Fluoroquinolone
- A class of broad-spectrum antibiotics that includes ciprofloxacin and is used to treat many types of bacterial infections.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotic
- An antibiotic that is effective against a wide variety of different bacteria rather than just specific types.
- GI tract
- The digestive system, including the stomach and intestines, through which medications are absorbed into the body.
- Cytochrome P450
- A group of liver enzymes responsible for breaking down and eliminating many drugs and substances from the body.
- Aldehyde dehydrogenase
- An enzyme that helps break down alcohol in the body by converting toxic byproducts into safer forms.
- Disulfiram-like reaction
- An unpleasant response that occurs when certain drugs are combined with alcohol, causing flushing, nausea, and vomiting.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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