Having a drink when you’re taking antibiotics can be risky. Depending on why you are taking antibiotics, it may lead to a less effective treatment. Sometimes, mixing alcohol and prescriptions becomes a habit and addiction. When this happens, it’s called polysubstance abuse. It’s dangerous and can create numerous health complications depending on what you’re taking. If you’re facing addiction to drugs or alcohol, connect with our team at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida by calling 866.294.5306 for help.
What Are the Dangers of Mixing Drugs?
When you mix drugs, the substances may interact with each other. When that happens, it can make it very difficult for a person to get the benefits of any prescription drug they need. Some drugs amplify the results of medications. Others negate them.
Combining alcohol and antibiotics is troublesome for many reasons. Doctors often recommend not mixing alcohol with any drugs, including antibiotics, because the interactions can be complex or difficult to predict.
The type of antibiotics taken plays a significant role in the outcome of mixing these drugs with each other. For example, those taking doxycycline or erythromycin may find that alcohol makes the drugs less effective. It can also create risks such as:
- Stomach pain
- Digestive problems
- Diarrhea
- Ulcers
- Fatigue
Others create much worse risks. For example, taking linezolid or isoniazid with alcohol can cause liver damage and high blood pressure. Griseofulvin taken with alcohol can cause skin flushing, sweating, and a rapid heart rate. It’s always better not to mix these substances.
Mixing Drugs and Addiction Risks
Some people on a short-term antibiotic or other prescription may make the mistake of mixing drugs. They don’t think about it; it’s an accident. Other times, polysubstance abuse occurs. That means a person seeks out the mixing of drugs to create a different outcome. When this happens, addiction is a significant risk and can cause many health complications for you.
You may have signs of addiction when you are mixing alcohol and prescription drugs if you:
- Purposefully plan to use more than one drug at a time
- Cannot stop taking the drug
- Use the combination of drugs to achieve a different outcome than the prescription is written for
- Seek out the medication on a constant basis, craving it
- Needing to use the combination of drugs to deal with emotional trauma
If you have tried to stop taking the drug but failed to do so due to cravings or withdrawal side effects, that’s a good indication that you’re battling addiction. That may also mean your body is dependent on the drug.
Call Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida for Immediate Help
It’s not always safe to stop taking the prescription without a doctor’s supervision. Our team at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida can offer help. We’ll work closely with you to ensure you are able to overcome your addiction through a detox and therapy process. This can be done safely in medical detox. That means we can monitor your mental and physical health to minimize any adverse outcomes.
When it comes to managing mixing alcohol and prescriptions, know when to get help. Our comprehensive detox services can offer that support, including:
- Men’s detox center
- Women’s detox center
- Holistic detox center
- Medical detox center
- Residential detox center
- Addiction treatment plan
Mixing alcohol and prescriptions or any other drug creates a risk to your health with each instance. Through addiction and dependence, it can be hard to stop using on your own. With the help of our team at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Florida, treatment can help you stop using for good. Learn more about our program by calling 866.294.5306 or reaching out to us now online.
