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Can Cipro Be Taken Along With Alcohol?

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Posted on Mon, 3 Nov 2014
Question: I am taking 500 mg CIpro 2x daily. It safe for me to drink alcohol? How much (if any) alcohol is it safe for me to drink?
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Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (28 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No interaction with alcohol

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

there is not any know interaction between ciprofloxacin and alcohol. Provided you won't drink so much that hepatic metabolism gets impaired, you won't have any problem. Drinking a couple of drinks or so sounds reasonable and is not supposed to cause trouble.
You haven't mentioned whether ciprofloxacin is the only drug you'll be taking or not. Other drugs, including some antibiotics, do have interactions with alcohol.
I hope I've made things clear for you!
If you still have questions on this matter, please let me know. I'll be glad to provide the necessary explanations.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 hours later)

The only other prescription medication I take is 5 mg. of a generic version of Norvasc, daily.
I think that "hepatic metabolism" and alcohol may be a concern. How much alcohol is it safe for me to drink while I'm taking cipro without adversely affecting and possibly damaging my liver?

Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Let me explain it further...

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

ciprofloxacin can be safely taken even by patients with liver problems, so you don't have to worry too much about it. My advice about alcohol consumption was a general advice. Unless you drink huge amounts of alcohol and get very drunk there is no danger with ciprofloxacin. Getting very drunk imposes a heavy load on the liver and this is the only real danger.
Since you mentioned liver safety issues, you should know that daily consumption of 50-75gr of alcohol per day may result in cirrhosis over a 10 year period. Other factors come into play too, so that not everybody develops cirrhosis.
Back to your main question, a couple of drinks is OK, more than 5 drinks usually lead to acute intoxication which impairs metabolic pathways.
Ciprofloxacin itself may rarely inflict damage to the liver. In case of liver damage regardless of the cause, other probably dangerous substances/drugs should be avoided.
I hope you've got the answer you were after.
Feel free to ask again, if you'd like more clarifications.

Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Can Cipro Be Taken Along With Alcohol?

Brief Answer: No interaction with alcohol Detailed Answer: Hello, there is not any know interaction between ciprofloxacin and alcohol. Provided you won't drink so much that hepatic metabolism gets impaired, you won't have any problem. Drinking a couple of drinks or so sounds reasonable and is not supposed to cause trouble. You haven't mentioned whether ciprofloxacin is the only drug you'll be taking or not. Other drugs, including some antibiotics, do have interactions with alcohol. I hope I've made things clear for you! If you still have questions on this matter, please let me know. I'll be glad to provide the necessary explanations. Kind Regards!