Clarithromycin and Alcohol

The medication Clarithromycin is an antibiotic drug, which is used to treat uncomplicated bacterial infections that affect the human’s ear, stomach, skin, respiratory tract, and soft tissue. It helps to fight bacteria or prevent the growth of bacteria in the human’s body.

This medication is not intended to treat such conditions as flu, colds, or other virus infections. The medication Clarithromycin can be dispensed in the pharmacies only by the doctor’s prescription if you have a bacterial infection.

Generally, the medication Clarithromycin is prescribed for the treatment of pneumonia within the patients of the age of 5-15 years old. It is also used to treat strong cough and other bacterial infections, as well as gastric ulcers that are caused by H. bacteria.

The question about taking antibiotic medications with alcohol is rather complicated as it is considered by the majority of people, that antibiotics have a bad interaction when they are mixed with alcohol. In fact, everything depends on the type of the drug and the mechanism of the drug’s action. As for taking the antibiotic drug Clarithromycin with alcohol, you should know, that it is not recommended to drink alcohol during the therapy with this medication, although there is no categorical prohibition to take alcohol during the treatment. You should avoid drinking alcohol during the period of treatment with Clarithromycin. Drinking a small amount of alcohol during your treatment with this drug will not harm the patient's health, but alcohol abuse during the period of the treatment may lead to the occurrence of serious side effects.

If after taking alcohol and Clarithromycin you experience any unusual health conditions and a bad reaction, then you should immediately consult the doctor. It is important to note, that despite the lack of evidence of bad interaction with alcohol, this drug should be taken with caution. It’s also should be noted, that if you take it with grapefruit juice, it can lead to metabolic disorders and the worsening of your health problems. Therefore, avoid taking grapefruit and grapefruit juice during the treatment with Clarithromycin.

Taking the drug Clarithromycin can cause some side effects. They include diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, headache, vomiting. Despite the fact that there is no direct prohibition on alcohol while taking this medication, it should be understood that the risk of side effects is increased when the drug is mixed with alcohol.

There are side effects that occur quite rarely. They are liver anomalies, problems with the ear, slowing of the heart rate and a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood. If you have heart problems, such as an irregular heartbeat or an arrhythmia, then you should definitely inform your doctor as this drug may adversely affect the heart rhythm.

Also, in rare cases, the drug Clarithromycin can cause the type of hepatitis, which can adversely affect the functioning of the liver and cause various health problems. If this happens, it can take up to six weeks to return to normal health.

Some patients may experience allergic reactions after taking the drug Clarithromycin. They may include breathing problems, swollen tongue and mouth, fever and upset stomach. If you observe these adverse reactions after taking the drug, then stop using this medication and consult your doctor immediately. Perhaps this antibiotic does not suit you and your doctor will prescribe another effective medicine to you.