With individuals suffering from forms of bacterial infections, doxycycline is what’s usually prescribed. While the medication is common and effective for its purpose, there are dangers when it comes to mixing it with other substances like alcohol. While mixing these two substances can be an absent-minded mistake, the effects of it can be long-lasting. Understanding the full impact of combining doxycycline with alcohol can help ensure doxycycline effectiveness and avoid the mental & physical side effects the mixture can cause.
What is Doxycycline and How Does It Work?
Doxycycline is a type of antibiotic that’s prescribed to individuals who are suffering from any type of bacterial health problem. These can range from respiratory infections, severe acne, urinary tract, and even chlamydia. How this medication works is that it inhibits the growth and spread of invasive bacteria that can inhabit the body, thereby eliminating certain infections.
What Does Alcohol Do To The Body?
Alcohol is very popular as a substance used to enhance one’s mood during extroverted activities. The substance is a depressant for the central nervous system meaning that it alters how the brain and body react to certain events. Alcohol can give its users feelings of euphoria, and relaxation, and can make them more confident in situations that would usually give them anxiety. However, overconsumption of alcohol can impair judgment, lead to memory loss, and result in hangovers. Additionally, for those who may suffer from mental illness, alcohol can bring out negative aspects for them and feed into delusions and harmful thinking.
What Happens When You Combine Doxycycline and Alcohol?
Combining doxycycline and alcohol can result in numerous health risks while also reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotic. Both substances have their individual side effects already so mixing them both can heighten shared effects and create new ones. Consuming alcohol while using doxycycline to treat a bacterial infection will outcompete and interfere with the antibiotic’s absorption into the body. As a result, the duration of whatever is being treated will become almost or as long as it would have been if untreated, making the antibiotics a waste. Alcohol though its wanted effects wear off quickly for many can stay in the bloodstream from 12-48 hours depending on how heavy the consumption is. Alongside this nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and liver toxicity are just a few of the side effects of doxycycline and alcohol that are heightened. Liver disease, especially for those who have a family history of it, can be a reality for those who combine both consistently.
The Effects of Combining Doxycycline and Alcohol – In Summary
In endurance, mixing doxycycline and alcohol can have a lasting impact on the user’s health. Combining can reduce the antibiotic’s effectiveness, increase shared side effects while creating new ones, and lead to liver problems. For individuals prescribed doxycycline, combining it with any alcoholic beverages should be avoided to the best of their ability. It is always recommended to check in and bring up any concerns you have with your healthcare provider as your health and wellness are their number one priority.
