TABLE 1.
Comparison of alcohol warnings from various retail pharmaciesa
| Antimicrobial | Alcohol warning from: |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreen’s | Rite Aid | CVS | |
| Cefprozil | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No warning |
| Minocycline | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No warning |
| Tetracycline | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No warning |
| Metronidazole | Avoid alcohol and products that have alcohol or propylene glycol in them while taking this drug and for at least 72 h after your last dose. Drinking alcohol may cause cramps, upset stomach, headaches, and flushing. | Avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing propylene glycol while taking this medication and for at least 3 days after finishing this medicine because severe stomach upset/cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, and flushing may occur. | Do not take this medication with alcohol or any product that contains alcohol. Metronidazole can cause an unpleasant reaction when taken with alcohol. The reaction includes flushing, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and increased thirst. The reaction can last from 30 min to several hours. |
| Tinidazole | Avoid alcohol and products that have alcohol or propylene glycol in them while taking this drug and for at least 72 h after your last dose. Drinking alcohol may cause cramps, upset stomach, headaches, and flushing. | Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking this medication and for at least 3 days after finishing this medicine because severe stomach upset/cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, and flushing may occur. | Do not take this medication with alcohol or any product that contains alcohol. Avoid alcoholic drinks while you are taking this medicine and for 3 days afterward. Alcohol may make you feel dizzy, sick, or flushed. |
| Secnidazole | No data | No data | No data |
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | No warning | Before taking this medication, tell your healthcare provider if you frequently drink alcohol-containing drinks. |
| Linezolid | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No warning |
| Tedizolid | No warning | No warning | No data |
| Ciprofloxacin | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No warning |
| Levofloxacin | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No data |
| Moxifloxacin | No warning | Limit alcoholic beverages. | No warning |
| Fluconazole | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | Limit alcoholic beverages. | Alcohol can increase possible damage to your liver. Avoid alcoholic drinks. |
| Ketoconazole | Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug. | Do not drink alcoholic beverages while taking ketoconazole because alcohol increases the risk of serious liver problems. Avoiding alcoholic beverages will also decrease the risk of a rare reaction with ketoconazole that may result in flushing, headache, and nausea. | This medication may interact with alcohol or any product that contains alcohol. Avoid alcohol while taking this medication. Alcohol can increase the risk of liver damage. |
| Griseofulvin | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | Avoid alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol during treatment with this drug could result in a fast heartbeat and flushing of the skin. | No warning |
| Rifampin | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | Limit alcoholic beverages. | Before taking this medication, your healthcare provider needs to know if you often drink alcohol. |
| Isoniazid | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | The risk of liver disease is increased in people who are 35 years and older, who use alcohol or illegal injection drugs, or who currently have long-term liver problems. Alcohol may increase the risk of liver disease. Avoid alcoholic beverages while using this medication. | This medication may interact with alcohol. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medication. Avoid alcoholic drinks. |
| Ethambutol | No warning | Alcohol may increase the risk of liver disease. Avoid alcoholic beverages while using this medication. | No warning |
| Ethionamide | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | Alcohol may increase the risk of liver disease or mental/mood changes. Avoid alcoholic beverages while using this medication. | Alcohol may interact with this medicine. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medication. Avoid alcoholic drinks. |
| Pyrazinamide | Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol. | Alcohol may increase the risk of liver disease. Avoid alcoholic beverages while using this medication. | Before taking this medication, your healthcare provider needs to know if you frequently drink alcohol-containing drinks. |
| Cycloserine | Not listed | Avoid alcoholic beverages. | Alcohol may interact with this medication. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medication. Avoid alcoholic drinks. |
a
Antibiotics for which there are no warnings from Walgreen’s, Rite Aid, or CVS: cephalexin, cefdinir, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, azithromycin, erythromycin, penicillin, and amoxicillin.