Can You Drink Beer While Taking Ciprofloxacin?

Posted on Wed, 2 Oct 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 2 Oct 2013 Answered on

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : can you drink beer while taking ciprofloxacin? In fact I would like to list the other medications he is taking at 68 to see if beer endangers him.....warfarin sod, multaq, crestor, benazepril....thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hi and welcome to XXXXXXX

Detailed Answer:
It depends what amount of beer. Of course,0.3dcl of beer per day isnt considered as significant alcohol which can have any effect.
But when used with any antibiotic including ciprofloxacin,alcohol will cause less antibiotic efficiency so infection may not heal. Some other serious effects generally dont happen,but it is not advisable to drink alcohol during antibiotic course.

When speaking about warfarin, the excessive use of alcohol will affect the metabolism of warfarin and can elevate the INR which increases risk of bleeding.Also, 1 beer daily is not considered to have bad effects.

Multaq,crestor and benzaperil can be used while drinking beer,but also it should not be excessive drinking(more than 2 beers per day) since alcohol abuse will cause high blood lipids and BP elevation so these drugs dosages will have to be increased.
So all in all,he may drink beer after antibioitc course is over,but it should not be more than 2 beers per day if you ask me and modern medicine.
Wish you good health. Feel free to ask. Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar