To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of pyrazinamide. Ethambutol is used in combination with other antimycobacterials as first-line therapy for treatment of tuberculosis (112). To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of isoniazid. Use of alcohol with griseofulvin should be avoided due to risk of a disulfiram-like reaction, which may be severe.

• The efficacy of azithromycin was unaffected by alcohol, as survival rates were similar in both alcohol-fed rats and control groups in the pneumococcal pneumonia rat model (13).
• Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News.
• Whiskey did not significantly modify the absorption of 200 mg of oral doxycycline.
• In addition, alcohol can worsen the side-effects that Levaquin causes.
• Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
• Alcohol may adversely affect the PK of erythromycin and may increase blood alcohol levels.

Drinking alcohol can cause long-term side effects, so getting the proper recovery treatment is essential. Although data are not optimal, it is reasonable to advise avoidance of alcohol consumption in patients taking isoniazid. A disulfiram-like reaction and a possible increased risk of hepatitis are potential concerns. Isoniazid is often listed as an agent that can cause a disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol due to its inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase (106–108).

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They suggest that you talk to your healthcare provider before taking Levaquin and drinking or using tobacco products. A person should always consult a doctor before mixing alcohol and antibiotics, as some potential side effects can be dangerous. The table below summarizes the recommendations and effects of drinking alcohol while taking different antibiotics. Metronidazole affects the function of a key enzyme that helps the body digest alcohol. When metronidazole inhibits the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase, the levels of acetaldehyde accumulate in the blood.

If your body does not absorb enough of the antibiotic, you will have a harder time fighting off the infection. Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, traveling, and cheering on the UCF Knights. Research on GLP-1 drugs for AUD and other substance use issues has gained momentum in recent years. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole can affect the metabolism of folic acid in bacteria. In rare cases, it can also affect the metabolism of folic acid in human cells.

Symptoms may include facial flushing, nausea, headache, vomiting, chest pain, vertigo, sweating, thirst, blurred vision, weakness, confusion, and hypotension (8). When levoFLOXacin as the oral solution is given with enteral (tube) feedings, levoFLOXacin may not work as well. You could interrupt the feeding for 1 hour before and 2 hours after the levoFLOXacin dose. However, this still may not entirely avoid the interaction and may not always be feasible. According to a study published in March 2014 in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, calcium found in supplements can decrease the effectiveness of Levaquin. The Mayo Clinic states that using alcohol or tobacco with Levaquin may cause interactions to occur 35.

Levofloxacin Interactions with Food and Herbs

In this article, we will explore the answer to this important question and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately.

Is Drinking Alcohol Safe While Using Levaquin?

Drinking while taking Levaquin can lead to nervousness, confusion, agitation, and severe disorientation. Moreover, drinking after taking any antibiotic, including levofloxacin, can also cause issues with attention and memory loss. Francisco Church is a rehabilitation specialist and the chief editor of Recovery Ranger. He creates this site to offer guidance and support to individuals seeking to overcome addiction and achieve lasting sobriety.

These concerns may be responsible for alcohol warnings that accompany many antimicrobials, but what are the data and strength of support for these warnings? The goal of this review was to summarize existing data, which in turn generates insights into the origin of these warnings. This review may also be helpful in assessing a patient who presents with an adverse drug effect which may or may not have been due to an alcohol and antibiotic interaction.

Azoles are antifungals approved for the treatment of fungal infections (88). Per package labeling, alcohol did not affect alcohol dehydrogenase in in vitro studies and may be concurrently consumed with secnidazole (73). Nitroimidazoles are used for parasitic or anaerobic infections (45). The most common example is metronidazole; however, tinidazole and secnidazole are also members of this class.

Levaquin drug interactions

The absorption of amoxicillin, when combined with alcohol, was delayed compared to its absorption with administration with water (11). This was demonstrated by an increased lag time, time to maximal concentration (Tmax), and half-life. Delay in absorption was postulated to be due to alcohol’s inhibition of gastric emptying and the lower solubility of amoxicillin in alcohol than in water.

Why Is It Unsafe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Levofloxacin?

Symptoms include headache, palpitations, sweating, flushing, and hypotension (109, 110). It has also been postulated that such a reaction may be due to isoniazid’s inhibition of monoamine oxidase, as symptoms have been reported after consumption of wine (109). Isoniazid was found to alter central monoaminergic neurotransmission (111). Although aldehyde dehydrogenase was inhibited with coadministration, blood acetaldehyde levels were not increased. Early in vitro studies suggested that metronidazole or its metabolites inhibited liver alcohol dehydrogenase (67–69).

You should also take Levaquin several hours after you have consumed any product that contains aluminum, calcium or magnesium. Your healthcare provider might consider alternatives like sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim for certain infections. Given the biologic plausibility, it would be prudent to avoid alcohol with pyrazinamide. Taking antibiotics such as metronidazole and tinidazole while consuming alcohol can cause several unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects, such as liver damage and seizures. When people drink tap beers and red wine with linezolid, the amount of tyramine in the blood may rise.

Sweating was experienced by 63%, palpitations by 78%, dizziness by 56%, hypotension in 24%, tachycardia in 76%, premature atrial beat in 4%, and premature ventricular beat in 3% (18). Despite this interaction, not levaquin and alcohol everyone will experience these reactions when drinking while taking metronidazole. Still, people should avoid drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole.

To our knowledge, there are no data available on the efficacy of cycloserine. Cycloserine is a second-line agent in the treatment of tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacterial diseases (98, 118). To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of ethionamide. Ethionamide is used in the treatment of TB that is resistant to first-line agents (113). To our knowledge, there are no data available on the PK/PD or efficacy of ethambutol.

Interaction occurs with unclear frequency, and, when it occurs, it ensues with varying severity. Data are limited regarding the adverse effects of concomitant use of FQs and alcohol. One case report documents a 46-year-old male who developed erythema multiforme while receiving ciprofloxacin after consuming alcohol (25). The reaction resolved with continued ciprofloxacin use and abstention from alcohol. Amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid may lead to decreased alcohol consumption.

This means your doctor may recommend a medicine for a condition it hasn’t been approved by the U.S. Further research is needed to help identify the exact link between GLP-1 drugs and reduced alcohol cravings. Scientists have linked heavy and binge drinking with an impaired immune system. People with an impaired immune system have a higher risk of infection. Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker. While levofloxacin is effective, its risks mean it should be used cautiously and only when necessary.