Why can you not drink while using the medication?
What are side affects of drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole vaginal gel. why can you not d?
Question posted by lilmich on 15 Feb 2012
Last updated on 19 October 2018 by Jennar117
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4 Answers
Jennar117
20 Oct 2018
I was prescribed MetroGel (Vaginal) once a day for 5 days. My doctor said I can drink alcohol while using MetroGel, but couldn't if it was the pill. Although, on my prescription it said to avoid alcohol while taking it and at least 24 hours after taking it. I didn’t drink those 5 days on it, but the next day (14 hours later) I had a few vodka drinks and was completely fine. The only reaction I had while taking MetroGel was a headache/migraine for 4 days and a little bit lightheaded.
Flagylhater
28 Dec 2017
Drank night before starting flagyl (metronidazole ) and slightly nauseated after first pill. Didn't drink during 2 week course, waited 24 hrs after last pill and started back drinking, no problems other than felt like shit while taking meds.
Inactive
15 Feb 2012
Profuse nausea and vomiting will occur if you drink on metrogel. Worse if you take the flagyl pills, but some react even with the vaginal gel. When i say profuse, think projectile as well. Alcohol should be avoided at all cost when on metronidazole in any form. Patti
lilmich
15 Feb 2012
Thank you.. ;)
Lauren W
18 Oct 2014
I've been taking metronidazole for 3 days and just had a glass of wine about 4 hours ago (totally forgot not to) and I'm completely fine. So no, these side effects are not a definite. Not everyone reacts the same.
AnaheimShaolin
10 July 2015
I took flagyl once for 14 days. I finally gave in about 7 days later and had a few beers and a shot of Jager. I never got sick, I didn't even get a single side effect. Maybe I was just lucky.
Tri-Du
19 Nov 2016
I have been taking this medication for a few days. I had not even a full glass of wine and the next day I felt very off. Not myself, felt like I was going to vomit all day, extremely tired, headache, stomach was very sore.
Rajive Goel
15 Feb 2012
Alcohol and Metronidazole interact in a severe or even dangerous way. Even the prescribing information for Metronidazole products warn of this possible interaction, stating that consuming alcohol while taking this drug (or even within three days of Metronidazole) may cause the following side effects:
Nausea; Vomiting; Flushing; Headache; Digestive upset.
However, recent clinical studies have failed to demonstrate a significant interaction between Metronidazole and alcohol. Despite the lack of a demonstrated interaction, the doc/pharmacist will probably still warn you to avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Most of the supposed effects of the Metronidazole/alcohol interaction can be attributed to just the antibiotic.
It is your decision whether or not to drink alcohol while taking Metronidazole. Perhaps you are willing to risk the possibility of unpleasant effects. Perhaps you prefer to avoid even the possibility of such problems.
Please take care, wish you best!
lilmich
15 Feb 2012
Thank you for the info. It helped a lot...
Rajive Goel
16 Feb 2012
Most welcome!
Mammalovesjpj
22 Dec 2016
I was put on flagyl yesterday and tonight I had a couple of vodka and oj, a friend just said I was going to get deathly ill.. Is this true
Cchestnut
6 Jan 2017
Has anyone been on this medicine and drunk one or two drinks and got sick
lizzardswag
20 Feb 2017
NEVER EVER EVER DRINK ALCOHOL WITH THIS ANTIBIOTIC. I had just 1 beer and I uncontrollably vomited for 24 hours and ended up in the ER. And the nausea and stomach cramps persisted for a week and a half. Not worth it.
tapioca14
26 Aug 2017
I wanted to answer this question because I was looking for an answer last night before I I had a couple of drinks. Here's my answer. Please never ever take this medicine with alcohol. Last night I went out and I had a couple of drinks while on this medication. Even though the label on the bottle says DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL with this medication, I still did! I thought it would be the same as when I took antibiotics for strep throat a couple years ago and I was ok after a few drinks.
Last night I thought I was going to die. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling very nauseous. I walked to the bathroom and I was forcing myself to throw up and I couldn't. I said I need milk because I drink milk before bed after I have a few drinks to prevent a hangover(not telling you to do it, it's something I do, consult with a doctor first before drinking milk after a few drinks). But, I couldn't get up! My legs felt locked! I started to sweat and shiver.
My skin started to get cold and I started to see little dots and I knew if I get up right now, I would faint and hit myself on the corner of the sink or toilet. I yelled for my boyfriend's name to come. He said, what's wrong in a scared voice and I said get me milk, now, I can't get up. By then I'm uncontrollably sweating, and I'm panicking! I told my boyfriend, I think I need to go to the emergency room! I couldn't even cry, I was shocked, nauseous, sweating, laying flat on the bathroom floor. He got me a glass of milk, and I drank that glass so fast, I lost my breath for about 2 seconds. I laid back down and I asked for another glass. I'm still sweating, and seeing different colors. My vision started to blur and I told myself, Is this the feeling of when you're about to die? I have never felt this before so that's why I was determined that I was about to die. I mean, I was also woken up around 3:00am, your mind starts to play tricks on you. I asked for a cold towel as well. He placed the cold towel on my forehead, had another glass of milk. Few minutes passed, and I stopped sweating. My legs were tingly but I could lift them up, but I'm still laying flat on the floor. He got me a third glass of milk and I only drank half of it. I started to feel a tad better. Still nauseous but the blur vision, the constant sweating and feeling of fainting was slowly disappearing. I had the leftover milk on the glass right next to me. Just waiting a little more until I just felt nauseous. Believe me, I rather be nauseous than whatever I just felt. I drank the rest of the milk and crawled to bed. I didn't want to get up in a rush or even slowly because I was afraid of that feeling to return. I laid in bed, the nausea was also starting to go away but lingered a little more. I fell asleep. I woke up this morning not feeling 100 percent, more like 75-80 percent. Better than nothing. I can walk, sing and be myself again! Please don't drink alcohol with this medication. It was a terrible experience! If you do, call 911 thats the first thing to do or please have someone in the house, have milk and be prepared to to make a cold towel or ice pack to place on your forehead. Not sure if it was those three that helped. I'm not a doctor. Just a person who did a bad mistake of mixing metronidazole with alcohol.
Addsimms
7 Nov 2017
I just came off of this medicine. Used it for 5 days and drank alcohol probably 3 of those 5 days. No major side effects except a headache almost all 5 days and slight nausea. Nothing that was too much to handle though or prevented me from going to work. Hope that helps.
Related topics
bacterial vaginitis, metronidazole, alcohol, medication
Further information
- Metronidazole uses and safety info
- Metronidazole prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Metronidazole (detailed)
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