If you have been prescribed clarithromycin, then the chances are that you are dealing with a bacterial infection of some kind.
This might perhaps be a chest infection, sinusitis, a skin condition, or even part of treatment for a more serious health concern or condition.
While you should be focusing on recovery from your illness, a lot of people will be wondering whether or not they are able to consume alcohol whilst on clarithromycin.
It’s an understandable concern, especially if you tend to drink alcohol on a regular basis.
For many people across the UK, alcohol is part of everyday life, whether you tend to drink during a meal out, a family celebration, or you simply enjoy a quiet drink at home.
This is why it is important to ask your local GP, pharmacist or nurse whether or not you can mix alcohol with clarithromycin.
In this article, we will explore how clarithromycin works, how it interacts with alcohol, what risks might be involved in mixing these substances and what you should do if you think that you have become addicted to consuming alcohol or other addictive substances.
Clarithromycin is a type of antibiotic that is commonly prescribed to treat a range of bacterial infections, including chest infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, sinus infections, ear infections as well as a number of skin and soft tissue infections.
Likewise, it is also commonly used to treat certain stomach infections, often in combination with different medications and therapy [1].
Clarithromycin works by interfering with the bacteria’s ability to produce proteins that are necessary for their survival.
Without these proteins, bacteria cannot grow or multiply effectively.
Clarithromycin is usually taken twice each day, although some people might be asked to take it once a day.
Courses of clarithromycin often last between 5 days and 14 days, depending on how severe the infection is that you are being treated for.
As with most antibiotics, clarithromycin can cause a number of different side effects. According to NHS guidance, common ones include nausea, diarrhoea, stomach aches and altered taste as well as severe headaches.
Understanding these side effects is important when considering alcohol use, as alcohol can make some of these side effects and your initial illness even worse.
If you have recently been prescribed clarithromycin, then your local GP, nurse or pharmacist should have clearly explained what you are taking it for, how much you should be taking and for how long.
They should also discuss the common side effects with you, so that you know what to expect.
Unlike with certain antibiotics, such as metronidazole, clarithromycin does not produce a well-known severe reaction when mixed with alcohol.
NHS advice indicates that alcohol does not directly stop clarithromycin from working, although it might make the side effects commonly experienced with the medication worse [2].
It is important to understand that although there is no severe reaction known, it does not automatically make drinking alcohol whilst taking clarithromycin advisable.
Below are a number of different reasons why drinking alcohol whilst taking clarithromycin might still be unwise and you might want to avoid doing so.
Even though there are no major red flags when it comes to mixing clarithromycin with alcohol, there are still several factors that make alcohol consumption during clarithromycin treatment less than ideal.
Some of these reasons are listed below for you:
As discussed above, clarithromycin is known to commonly cause gastrointestinal (stomach) upset. It is also well known that alcohol can’t also irritate the stomach and digestive tract as well.
This means that when combined, you may experience increased nausea, severe stomach pain, diarrhoea or vomiting that will get progressively worse the more you continue to mix the two substances.
When you drink alcohol with clarithromycin, what might have been mild discomfort could become significantly more unpleasant.
In addition, both alcohol and clarithromycin can contribute to headaches and dizziness, putting you at a greater risk of falling which is particularly worrying if you are over a certain age.
It is important to understand that clarithromycin is processed through the liver. Alcohol is also metabolised by the liver, meaning that mixing the two might put your liver at risk.
Whilst most healthy individuals can tolerate short-term overlap without experiencing severe consequences to their health, drinking heavily while taking clarithromycin may increase the strain on the liver, potentially resulting in liver damage.
In some rare cases, clarithromycin has been associated with liver inflammation. When you add alcohol into the equation, it will most likely increase the burden on the organ responsible for processing both substances.
This is particularly concerning if you have pre-existing liver problems. If this is the case, then avoiding alcohol during the course is especially important.
When you are ill, especially when fighting an infection or inflammation in the body, your immune system is working overtime.
However, alcohol can weaken your immune function, particularly when consumed in large amounts during a binge drinking session.
Even moderate drinking might disrupt your sleep, make you dehydrated and reduce your immune system making it harder for you to recover from your illness.
As discussed above, there is no formal evidence that drinking small amounts of alcohol whilst on Clarithromycin will impact your health in a severe way.
However, there are certain circumstances in which alcohol should be avoided entirely while taking clarithromycin. Some of these certain circumstances are listed below for you:
As discussed above, both alcohol and clarithromycin rely on liver metabolism. This means that individuals with liver impairment face greater risk when they consume both substances.
Liver disease, especially fatty liver disease can put your health and even sometimes your life at significant risk.
Clarithromycin is known to interact with several other drugs, including a number of statins, heart medications, antidepressants and a medication such as warfarin.
If you are already managing complex medications, then adding alcohol into them may complicate things even more and should always be avoided if you are taking multiple medications.
If clarithromycin is already causing you some negative side effects, such as nausea, dizziness or stomach issues, then drinking alcohol is likely to worsen and heighten those symptoms.
This is why you should avoid drinking alcohol altogether if you start to experience any of the above side effects and should always consult a doctor or other medical professional such as a pharmacist or nurse.
If you have ever been seriously unwell, then you will know that being unwell can have a serious impact on your mood and your mental well-being.
This is because things such as fatigue, pain and isolation during recovery sometimes lead people to suffer in silence or alternatively reach for alcohol or other addictive substances to relieve their pain or mental health issues [3].
It is important to remember that alcohol is a depressant and while it may provide short-term relief from pain or mental health issues, in the long run, severe alcohol abuse is likely to seriously disrupt your sleep quality, increase your anxiety, depression or worsen your low mood in general.
If your mental health is suffering as a result of pain or alcohol abuse, then it is important to seek help immediately.
After reading the above advice, if you are still determined to consume alcohol while taking clarithromycin, then the following precautions may reduce the risk to your health.
If drinking while on clarithromycin, you should try to limit your alcohol use to just one small drink from time to time.
Likewise, you should also avoid drinking spirits or high-strength alcoholic drinks, always consume food when you drink alcohol, and always stay as hydrated as possible.
Likewise, you should also avoid drinking alcohol if you start to feel unwell and always avoid combining this type of medication with other substances.
If you are concerned about how much alcohol you or someone you know is consuming, then you should seek help immediately.
There are a number of signs and symptoms that someone’s drinking is turning into an addiction, some of which are listed below for you:
These experiences are more common than many people realise, and it is important to understand that an alcohol addiction often develops gradually and not overnight, without dramatic warning signs and symptoms.
If your alcohol use has started to feel difficult to manage, then it is important to understand that you are not alone.
At Rehab 4 Addiction, our team of specialists are able to support and advise individuals across the UK who are concerned about their drinking consumption.
Our team will be able to examine your addiction concerns and recommend a range of treatment options, including inpatient rehab treatment, outpatient rehab treatment, medical detoxes and addiction therapy treatment, including cognitive behavioural therapy.
To conclude, clarithromycin is often prescribed to help your body recover from an infection. Supporting that recovery involves more than just simply taking your medication each day.
Instead, it means allowing your immune system to recover and function properly. For some people, this might mean reducing your alcohol consumption drastically or stopping drinking altogether.
Whilst drinking small amounts of alcohol whilst taking clarithromycin will most likely not have a dramatic impact on your health, there are several different reasons why avoiding consuming alcohol whilst taking clarithromycin should be taken seriously.
Likewise, if you are worried that your alcohol consumption is getting out of control, or worry that someone else might be, then it is important to remember that support is available to you.
Our team at Rehab 4 Addiction is able to provide confidential help and support to help you explore your relationship with alcohol and consider your treatment options.
For help and support with your addiction concerns, then contact a member of the team by calling us on 0800 140 4690 or by visiting us online by searching for www.rehab4addiction.co.uk.
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/clarithromycin/
[2] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/clarithromycin/common-questions-about-clarithromycin/
[3] https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/health-issues/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
