MAJOR — Use With Caution
🔴 MAJOR — Alcohol + Metronidazole causes a severe disulfiram-like reaction.
Evidence level: STRONG
Metronidazole blocks your body from breaking down alcohol properly, causing a violent reaction: severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, and rapid heartbeat even from small amounts of alcohol.
Metronidazole inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing accumulation of acetaldehyde when alcohol is consumed (disulfiram-like reaction).
Avoid ALL alcohol (including mouthwash, cooking wine, and alcohol-containing medications) during metronidazole treatment and for 3 days after finishing. The reaction is extremely unpleasant.
Food timing is critical with antibiotics. Some (amoxicillin, doxycycline) are better absorbed with food. Others (most fluoroquinolones with dairy/calcium) must avoid specific foods. Alcohol — check if it contains calcium, iron, or significant minerals, as these chelate with many antibiotics. Follow the label instructions for Metronidazole precisely.
Any alcohol amount, alcohol in medications/mouthwash
Severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, headache, rapid heartbeat, abdominal cramps
Ask about all alcohol sources including medications and hygiene products
Antibiotic interactions are often temporary (duration of treatment). Space supplements and probiotics 2-3 hours away from antibiotic doses. Ask your pharmacist if timing adjustments can reduce the interaction risk.
Metronidazole blocks your body from breaking down alcohol properly, causing a violent reaction: severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, and rapid heartbeat even from small amounts of alcohol.
Food timing is critical with antibiotics. Some (amoxicillin, doxycycline) are better absorbed with food. Others (most fluoroquinolones with dairy/calcium) must avoid specific foods. Alcohol — check if it contains calcium, iron, or significant minerals, as these chelate with many antibiotics. Follow the label instructions for Metronidazole precisely.
Severe nausea, vomiting, flushing, headache, rapid heartbeat, abdominal cramps
Antibiotic interactions are often temporary (duration of treatment). Space supplements and probiotics 2-3 hours away from antibiotic doses. Ask your pharmacist if timing adjustments can reduce the interaction risk.
Ask about all alcohol sources including medications and hygiene products
Or browse the full interaction database (121,000+ pairs).