# Antibiotics and drinking

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 15, 2000, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393 "2000-04-15T12:59:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bigneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6f9a4e/32.png) [@bigneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigneck)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393/1 "2000-04-15T12:59:00Z")

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I’m on my 3rd day of taking Amoxicillin for a respiratory infection. Would I be doing myself a whole bunch of harm if I had a few beers with my friends tonight? I’ve heard that antibiotics don’t work if you drink with them. I’ve also heard that while antibiotics are not as effective if you drink, you can get away with having a few. What’s the story?

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**Author:** ![BigRoryG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigRoryG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigRoryG)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393/2 "2000-04-15T14:48:00Z")

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Drink apple juice. Don’t risk it. That is all.

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“My drinking team has a Rugby problem.”  
_This sig line has been brought to you by the creative mind of Wally_

If you need a graphic solution, [http:\ alk.to\Piglet](http://http:%5C%09alk.to%5CPiglet)

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**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393/3 "2000-04-15T15:04:00Z")

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BigRory speak heap big truth but it’s a bad idea to get medical advice from well meaning folks on the net. Ask your phamacist. It sounds like a corny line from a patent medicine commercial but you’ll find no one better to give you the straight dope on meds and that includes your doc.

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**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393/4 "2000-04-15T15:27:00Z")

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Padeye is right, ask your pharmacist. Even if there is no harmful interaction, alcohol suppresses your immune system, so if you’re already fighting an infection, reducing your bodies defense against it is a bad idea.

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**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393/5 "2000-04-15T15:27:00Z")

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The best part is you can just phone your pharmacy - even if it is your supermarket and ask to speak with the pharmacist and it’s a done deal. It’s part of his job to know about that does and doesn’t go with antibiotics (and even which antibiotics) and they are really happy to pass this information along.

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Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotics-and-drinking/10393/6 "2000-04-15T15:50:00Z")

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Look at the bottle, it should say so right on it. or try [rxlist.com](http://rxlist.com)