Penicillin and alcohol

Penicillin is one of the world's favorite drugs. The reason for this can be given as the immense effectiveness of the drug in a very short period of time. Penicillin is derived from Penicillium notatum, a mold. This very effective drug can be used by any person unless he is allergic to it. There are certain differences between penicillin and most other drugs. One such difference is that unlike most other drugs, penicillin is able to work even after a person consumes alcohol. This is because alcohol has nothing to do with bacterial infection or with the method of action (MOA) of penicillin.
The use of antibiotics dates back to around 2,500 years ago as Chinese found out that, fungi that grew on a medium such as soybean curd cured boils to cure boils. There were also other such discoveries made by many other civilizations such as the Mesopotamians as well as the Egyptians. A certain chemical (streptomycin) made by a fungus cured boils. The same antibiotic cures Bubonic Plague today. However, the discovery of penicillin made the biggest impact on antibiotics. The uses of penicillin have been increasing and facts in the recent years. One such equally amazing fact is that penicillin works even with the intake of alcohol.
Penicillin works even against meningitis, pneumonia and other diseases. Penicillin was also found to be effective against certain diseases that were called as "Venereal Diseases" or "VDs". These diseases are today known as "Sexually Transmitted Diseases or "STDs". During the years of 1950s and even 1960s, serious advice for not taking penicillin with alcohol was instructed for moral reasons than any pharmacological reasons. The belief that alcohol may decrease the sufferer's inhibitions and pass the infection to others even before the penicillin cured the transmitted disease became strong and hence alcohol was asked to stop.
This myth conception of not taking alcohol with antibiotics slowly increased. Alcohol adds extra load on the immune and liver system as well as impairs your judgment, reduces your energy, reckless behaving, staying up late and not acquiring the required rest is the feeling created even with half a glass of beverage. Even with contemporary drugs namely tinidazole, metronidazole, and others potentially cause vomiting, nausea, headaches, cramps in the abdominal, flushing and fast heart rate. However, alcohol reduces absorption of antibiotics namely doxycyclines as well as tetracyclines. These interactions are eminent to pharmacists as well as medical doctors. Owing to all these reactions, it is recommended to stop consumption of alcohol while taking penicillin medications.

Linus Orakles
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