Levaquin and alcohol might not be a life-threatening combination at first, but they can lead to dangerous complications. For example, disorientation, confusion and agitation can cause fatal consequences if you are operating heavy machinery. Because of this, you should always avoid consuming Levaquin and alcohol at the same time. If you accidentally take both products at once, you should avoid driving or operating heavy equipment. Despite these limitations, the findings of this review levaquin and alcohol bring into question many of the conventionally accepted alcohol-antimicrobial interactions.

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.

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.

What Happens If I Drink Alcohol While Taking Levofloxacin?

A total of 87 studies are included in this review, after many were excluded due to duplications or not being relevant to the review (Fig. 1). Jenna Fletcher has enjoyed writing and reading anything she can get her hands on for a very long time. While attending Muhlenberg College for her Bachelor of the Arts, she was selected to present several academic papers in national conferences. These days, Jenna writes mainly about home decor, lifestyles, crafts, food, and fitness on her blog, SensationallySeasonal.com.

How long after taking Levaquin can I Drink Alcohol?

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.

Fluoroquinolones

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).

The oxazolidinone class of antibiotics, including linezolid and tedizolid, are typically used in the treatment of resistant Gram-positive infections (80). Levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and trovafloxacin had improved efficacy in alcohol-fed rats compared to alcohol-free rats (24). All antibiotics were equally effective at improving survival and had improved efficacy in alcohol-fed rats. Control groups had higher mortality rates that were thought to be due to higher protein binding in the absence of alcohol. Alcohol influences the rate but not the extent of amoxicillin absorption.

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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.

Levaquin Interactions

Cephalosporins with an MTT side chain or an MTDT ring have an increased risk of a disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol. Cephalosporins lacking these side chains appear safe to consume with alcohol. Commonly used cephalosporins, including cefdinir and cefpodoxime, do not possess the aforementioned side chains and are considered safe to use with alcohol. The effect of the PK of the amoxicillin-alcohol interaction was studied in eight healthy volunteers receiving, on three separate occasions, amoxicillin (500 mg) with water or alcohol.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• A randomized, double-blind crossover trial of 30 healthy subjects assessed the pressor response to an oral tyramine challenge in patients treated with 200 mg of tedizolid.
• Antibiotics are drugs that target bacteria to treat and prevent infections.
• They suggest that you talk to your healthcare provider before taking Levaquin and drinking or using tobacco products.

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.

If a reaction does occur, this review provides mechanisms and symptom complexes potentially allowing for a more efficient diagnosis. LevoFLOXacin and multivitamin with minerals should not be taken orally at the same time. Products that contain magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, and/or other minerals may interfere with the absorption of levoFLOXacin into the bloodstream and reduce its effectiveness. If possible, it may be best to avoid taking multivitamin with minerals while you are being treated with levoFLOXacin. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs.

SULFA ANTIBIOTICS

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.