Metronidazole (Flagyl) and Alcohol Myth
The Bad Buzz: Metronidazole (Flagyl) and Alcohol Myth is one of the most common myths among people. People believe that it’s dangerous to take metronidazole and alcohol together because they will cause you to die from liver failure or other complications. However, there are no scientific studies proving this fact.
There are several reasons why people may think this. First of all, many people don’t know how to use metronidazole correctly. Second, some people do not understand the side effects of metronidazole and alcohol combination. Thirdly, some people have heard bad things about metronidazole and alcohol combination which causes them to avoid using it at all costs.
Fourthly, some people just don’t like metronidazole and alcohol combination because it makes them feel sick.
However, these are all misconceptions. There is no proof that taking metronidazole and alcohol together will result in any negative consequences. If anything, taking both drugs at the same time could make your life easier since you won’t need to worry about getting sick anymore due to vomiting or diarrhea after drinking alcohol. Also, some people who don’t take metronidazole and alcohol together will vomit or have diarrhea after drinking alcohol.
Metronidazole works by killing the bacteria in your stomach that causes these side effects, so metronidazole can actually prevent the side effects of drinking alcohol.
In fact, it can be dangerous to avoid taking metronidazole and alcohol together. Since you will still be drinking alcohol, the alcohol still has a negative effect on your body. If you are vomiting or having diarrhea because you are taking metronidazole, it is even more likely that you will get alcohol poisoning since your body will not be able to expel all of the toxins. It can even cause you to lose consciousness.
If you are having alcohol withdrawal symptoms, it is important to take metronidazole so that you don’t relapse or get sick from the alcohol and vomit since this can lead to choking on vomit in your sleep.
In conclusion, metronidazole and alcohol myth should be considered carefully before deciding whether or not to take it. If you choose to drink alcohol while taking metronidazole, it is important to do so in moderation and be careful of the side effects that both of these drugs can cause when taken together. Always drink responsibly.
The Facts
Metronidazole (Flagyl) and Alcohol: The Facts
In this facts section, we will be talking about the facts and myths of taking metronidazole (flagyl) with alcohol. We will also talk about what happens if you take metronidazole and alcohol, the dangers, the warnings, and tips on using them both. We will cover a few topics that will be of great use to you as a patient and we encourage you to read this section carefully.
Common Opinions about Metronidazole and Alcohol
We talked about the common myths of metronidazole and alcohol in the introduction, but in this section, we will talk about the most common opinions people have about this topic. While some of these opinions are myths, others are true. Let’s get started.
Combining metronidazole and alcohol can increase the negative effects of both drugs.
While it is true that alcohol causes many negative effects such as drowsiness, lowered inhibitions, and impaired judgement, taking metronidazole and alcohol at the same time will NOT cause these effects to be increased. In fact, taking these two drugs at the same time could prove to be fatal as the sedative effects of alcohol will cause you to fall into a deep sleep, and this sleep could lead to respiratory arrest. It is also possible for alcohol poisoning and alcohol overdose to occur if you take both drugs and consume alcohol, so this should definitely be avoided at all costs.
Metronidazole will prevent you from getting a hangover.
Some people believe that if you take metronidazole and alcohol, you won’t get a hangover. However, this is simply not true. While it is true that metronidazole can help prevent some of the negative effects of alcohol, such as a headache or nausea the next day, it will NOT prevent a hangover. A hangover is caused by your body’s inability to process the toxins in alcohol as quickly as they are consumed.
Metronidazole does not help your body process the toxins and actually causes your body to become even more toxic since it is unable to expel all of the harmful byproducts of alcohol. If anything, taking metronidazole with alcohol can increase the likelihood of getting a hangover.
You can prevent a hangover if you take metronidazole and alcohol.
While the logic behind this may seem sound, it is simply not true. As mentioned in the previous “fact,” metronidazole will NOT prevent a hangover. In fact, if you take both of these drugs and drink alcohol, you are at an even higher risk of getting a headache, feeling nauseous, vomiting, and getting a hangover. These symptoms will be worse than if you had just drank alcohol due to the effects of both drugs on your system.
Metronidazole can cause dry mouth and dehydration.
While metronidazole has been proven to cause dry mouth, it does not directly cause dehydration. Metronidazole does prevent certain bacteria in your body from producing toxins, and these toxins are what cause dry mouth. As a result, you may have a dry mouth and be more susceptible to getting a dry mouth, but directly causing you to become dehydrated. Fortunately, if you do notice dry mouth due to metronidazole, it is very easy to prevent or lessen the effects by drinking plenty of water and chewing sugarless gums to stimulate saliva.
Metronidazole has negative effects on your digestive tract.
While this is true to a certain extent, it isn’t quite as severe as some would believe. Metronidazole can cause nausea and vomiting, especially in higher doses. It can also decrease your appetite leading to loss of weight. Metronidazole does have negative effects on the gastrointestinal tract and can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and inflammation of the large intestine.
If you take metronidazole over a longer period of time, it can also potentially cause peptic ulcers.
Metronidazole is teratogenic and can cause birth defects.
While metronidazole can cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy, the chances of this actually occurring are very small. The manufacturer recommends that women do not take this medication while pregnant because the potential risk to the fetus outweighs any potential benefits of taking the drug. Most studies have shown that if metronidazole is taken in the first trimester, there is a chance that the fetus could experience organ abnormalities. There has not been enough studies done to show if metronidazole can cause birth defects when taken in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Metronidazole does pass into the placenta and is found in higher levels in the bodies of infants than in adults. This could potentially be due to a less effective barrier between blood and brain in younger people or just due to the immaturity of the metabolic system.
Metronidazole should not be taken when pregnant and women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not come in contact with patients who are currently taking this medication. If a woman becomes pregnant while taking metronidazole, she should talk to her doctor immediately about whether or not she should continue the medication.
Metronidazole causes peripheral neuropathy.
While peripheral neuropathy is a serious and debilitating condition that causes numbness, burning, or tingling sensations in the arms and legs. This can interfere with your ability to walk or feel pain which can result in further bodily harm, metronidazole does not cause this condition. There have been some studies performed that show a link between the two, but more studies are needed to confirm this. Currently, the FDA does not require drug manufacturers to place peripheral neuropathy on metronidazole’s list of potential side effects.
Metronidazole causes cancer.
While metronidazole does cause DNA changes and has been shown to cause cancer in rodents, this medication does not cause cancer in humans. This side effect is one of the most overstated regarding this medication. Studies have shown that the risk of cancer from this medication is extremely low and is not seen when the medication is taken in the short term for an infection. Most, but not all studies have shown that long-term use of the medication can increase the risk of cancer.
It should also be noted that most studies performed on this medication were done in the 1970s before we had the knowledge that we have about bacteria and viruses today.
Metronidazole can cause a false positive for marijuana.
While this medication can cause a false positive for marijuana use, it is not considered a very reliable test. A more specific test should be done to confirm metronidazole’s initial findings.
Metronidazole causes lactic acidosis.
Lactic acidosis is a condition that develops when the body starts producing unusually large amounts of lactic acid. Metronidazole does cause lactic acid buildup in some people, especially those with liver or kidney problems, but it does not cause lactic acidosis.
Metronidazole causes Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
While Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a condition that causes the top layer of skin to shed, this medication does not directly cause this condition. Most reports of Stevens-Johnson syndrome in those taking metronidazole have been shown to be caused by other conditions such as an infection.
Metronidazole causes a loss of smell.
A loss of the sense of smell, also known as a “congenital anosmia,” is a common side effect of this medication. A loss of the sense of smell can develop at any time while taking this medication and is usually permanent.
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