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Most antibiotics (and drugs, in general) are metabolized via the liver. Alcohol is, too. They use a common pathway (you can look up cytochrome p450, for details). So if you're taking antibiotics, and you're simultaneously medicating yourself with alcohol, the liver has less ability to metabolize the antibiotic.

Dosing schedules are created by the manufacturers with expectations of average sized humans with average liver functions. Those dosing schedules try to maintain a high enough level of antibiotic to kill the infection you're treating, but not so high a level of antibiotic that toxic levels build up in you. So if the liver is occupied trying to metabolize alcohol, it has less reserve to process the antibiotic. Antibiotic levels may build up to toxic levels. YMMV.

One or two drinks on a holiday is unlikely to make a big deal, but obviously no health care provider is going to recommend it (for legal reasons).
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Old 04-07-2009, 06:38 PM
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