Cefdinir and Alcohol – is it Safe to Take them Together?

Cefdinir and Alcohol: Bacterial infections are one of the common causes of diseases in humans as well as living organisms. Different bacteria attack the human body in different ways and as such, the medications for curing different bacterial infections or diseases are quite varied as well. One such common medication that most people use today is cefdinir, which is usually sold under the market name of Cefzon and Omnicef.

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What is Cefdinir?

Cefdinir is a semi-synthetic anti-bacterial drug developed by Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and first introduced in the market in 1991. However, it was in 1998 that the FDA approved the sale and use of the drug. At present, Cefdinir is amongst the top-selling drugs in its category. Coming to the category, Cefdinir is classified as a cephalosporin antibiotic medicine and works by killing the infection-causing bacteria. As such, it is also termed as a bactericidal. However, it must be strictly remembered that Cefdinir doesn’t work against viral infections and may even make situations worse.

Various Use of Cefdinir

As an antibiotic, Cefdinir is used for the treatment of a number of bacteria-caused diseases like strep throat, sinusitis, sore throat, bronchitis, a number of strains of pneumonia, serious skin infections, infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute bacterial otitis media, etc. You can take it either in the form of capsules or powder as per your choice or as suggested by your doctor. However, Cefdinir is not a treatment for flu or common cold as they are caused by a virus.

Common Side Effects of Cefdinir

Though Cefdinir is highly effective in curing bacterial diseases, it doesn’t come without any side-effects. In fact, a number of minor and major side-effects have been noticed in people using Cefnidir. The common minor side-effects that you may notice while under a cefdinir prescription are as follows:

Nausea
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Headache
Vaginitis
Vaginal yeast infections
Skin rashes or itching
Gas

Most of these symptoms occur very negligibly and usually go away once the medication is stopped. Stool may also become bloody or watery while under medication. But it wouldn’t be wise to take anti-diarrhea drugs as these are known to make things worse. Stool may turn bloody or watery even two months after the completion of the medication course and this may be accompanied by fever and stomach cramps. This is quite normal. People who regularly take iron supplements may also find their stools turning reddish in color. There is nothing to worry about though. Symptoms like rashes and diarrhea may be a bit more prominent in kids under the age of 2 years. However, if the symptoms seem to worsen, it would be ideal to call for medical help.

Apart from the side-effects mentioned above, the use of Cefdinir may also cause a few other effects that are more serious and should be paid attention to more minutely. Such effects are:

Swelling of different parts of the face like lips, mouth, tongue, etc
Difficulty in breathing
Hives

A doctor must be immediately contacted if you suffer from any of the following symptoms:

Chest pain
Convulsions
Sore throat
Vomiting
Confusion
Insomnia
Thrush
Short breaths
Swollen glands
Tarry stool
Leucopenia
Abdominal pain
Unusual bleeding
Kidney problems
Mood changes
Weakness and fatigue
Bloody or cloudy urine
Blistering or peeling of skin
Fever, flu, coughs, body aches, etc.
Increase in blood glucose in diabetic patients
White spots, ulcers, and sores on the lips

In very rare cases, taking cefdinir may cause Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, an intestinal condition caused due to resistant bacteria. Such a condition may arise several months after the treatment is over and must be treated by a doctor only. Taking pain medications or anti-diarrhea medicines may cause complications.

Cefdinir doesn’t usually cause allergic reactions, but if you see symptoms like itchy skin, swollen facial features, acute dizziness, etc., a doctor must be called upon immediately. Long-term users may face issues like oral thrush or vaginal infections as well.

Cefdinir and Alcohol Interactions

As with many other drugs, consuming alcohol while on a cefdinir prescription is said to be prohibited. According to the common notion, consumption of alcohol prevents antibiotics from working on curing the disease. As such consumption of cefdinir, an antibiotic and alcohol together are not recommended by doctors.

Cefdinir and Alcohol Interactions – is it a myth?

Though it is a common idea that antibiotics and alcohol interact with each other when taken together, this isn’t true in case of all antibiotics. This idea originated when penicillin was initially invented and used for the treatment of diseases. Since the medicine was still a novelty and quite priceless, doctors preferred that their patients abstained from anything that could have even the slightest effect or impact on the working of the antibiotic.

Though the function of a certain few antibiotics is altered or affected by alcohol, a generalization of the fact isn’t true. This means that alcohol doesn’t inhibit the functionality of most antibiotics, including cefdinir.

Should you take Cefdinir and Alcohol Together?

Though there is no direct interaction between cefdinir and alcohol, yet that doesn’t mean that you can consume a whole lot of alcohol while on prescription. Consuming alcohol in significant amounts while taking cefdinir may enhance

What Happens when you take Alcohol and Cefdinir Together?

Alcohol may not inhibit or change the way cefdinir acts, but they compete with each other when it comes to their metabolism. This is because the enzymes that work to metabolize cefdinir are the same ones that help in the breakdown or metabolism of alcohol. This means that the metabolism of one will hinder the metabolism of another. Due to this cefdinir remains in the bloodstream for a duration that is much longer than normal. This significantly increases the side-effects caused by cefdinir and makes the consumption of cefdinir more complicated.

Moreover, long-term use of alcohol also seems to enhance the production of enzymes that help in the metabolism of antibiotics, thus reducing their presence in the body over time. As such, small dosages of cefdinir may fall short of curing the disease and the dosage must be significantly increased to get the desired results, thus often delaying the healing process in heavy drinkers.

Additionally, when the body is faced with an attack from foreign pathogens, it often tries to fight that off by increasing the body temperature (fever). But consumption of alcohol causes the blood vessels to become dilated. As a result, the body fails to enhance the overall temperature, thus impeding the healing process.

Moreover, since most body systems work inefficiently or slowly when you are under the attack of a disease, it would be unwise to put additional stress on it by drinking too much alcohol that often takes a toll on your digestive and renal system. Alcohol also triggers fluid loss by the kidneys, thus increasing the chances and occurrence of dehydration. It’s not just about antibiotics, but generalized body conditions of an unwell person.

Ramifications of the Side-effects of Cefdinir

Cefdinir has its own share of side-effects, the severity of which may differ from one patient to another. But consumption of alcohol is known to intensify these side-effects in most patients which is why drinking alcohol in significant amounts while taking cefdinir isn’t a good idea. Drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, stomach upset, etc. are some of the common effects of both cefdinir and alcohol. So, a person taking both these substances together may be faced with severe cases of these symptoms. As such, it would be best to avoid getting involved in activities that require attention or alertness like driving vehicles, using sharp objects and so on.

Patients with sensitive gastrointestinal tract may also face increased problems when cefdinir and alcohol are taken together. In some patients, cefdinir may trigger cell multiplication in the GI tract causing unwanted irritation that leads to an excess release of stomach acid. This often causes vomiting and nausea in patients which are further ramified when alcohol is consumed conjointly with the drug.

Certain rare side-effects of cefdinir like allergic reactions, stomach pain, fever, difficulty in urination, etc. are seen to be enhanced in the presence of alcohol in the body. It is important to take medical help immediately in such situations.

Some cephalosporins can interfere with alcohol breakdown that can lead to vomiting, flushing, and nausea. Though cefdinir isn’t one such cephalosporin, it may, in some cases, act like one in the presence of alcohol.

In rare cases, the bacteria for which cefdinir has been prescribed may become resistant to it in presence of alcohol, thus, reducing and nullifying its efficacy.

Is moderate Consumption of Alcohol Safe with Cefdinir?

Moderate or responsible drinking is often considered to be okay even if you are taking antibiotics like cefdinir. However, it must be remembered that moderate is a relative term and varies from one to the other. For some, a drink a day may be okay, for others it can be 2 or 3. The quantity of the drink will obviously depend on the alcohol that you are drinking as well as a variety of other physical and physiological factors. As such, it is best to consult a doctor what amount of alcohol will be good for you while you are on a cefdinir prescription.

Conclusion

If your body is under a bacterial attack and your doctor has recommended a course of cefdinir, it would be best that you try and stay away from alcohol till you complete the course. Since most antibiotics need to be taken usually for 5-7 days, abstinence shouldn’t be that hard. In case, you just cannot stay away from alcohol, it would be best that you talk with your doctor and know the exact amount of alcohol you can consume safely without causing any unnecessary stress on your body. This will save you from severe side-effects and also help heal quickly.

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