Penicillin
Antibiotics can sometimes interact with other medicines or substances. This means it can have an effect that is different to what you expected.
Some of the more common interactions are listed below, but this isn't a complete list.
If you want to check that your medicines are safe to take with your antibiotics, ask your GP or local pharmacist.
Some antibiotics need to be taken with food, while others need to be taken on an empty stomach. You should always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
You should completely avoid alcohol while taking the antibiotics metronidazole or tinidazole, and for 48 hours afterwards, as this combination can cause very unpleasant side effects, such as:
It's recommended that you don't drink alcohol while taking antibiotics. However, as long as you drink in moderation, alcohol is unlikely to interact significantly with your medication.
Some antibiotics, such asrifampicin and rifabutin, can reduce the effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill.
If you're prescribed rifampicin or rifabutin, you may need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, while taking antibiotics. Speak to yourGP, nurse or pharmacist for advice.
Some of the medications you may need to avoid, or seek advice on, while taking a specific class of antibiotic are outlined below.
It's usually recommended that you avoid taking penicillin at the same time as methotrexate, which is used to treat Psoriasis , rheumatoid arthritis and some forms of cancer. This is because combining the two medications can cause a range of unpleasant and sometimes serious side effects.
However, some forms of penicillin, such as amoxicillin, can be used in combination with methotrexate.
You may experience a skin rash if you take penicillin and allopurinol, which is used to treat gout.
Cephalosporins may increase the chance of bleeding if you're taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) such as heparin and warfarin .
If you need treatment with cephalosporins, you may need to have your dose of anticoagulants changed or additional blood monitoring.
The risk of damage to your kidneys and hearing is increased if you're taking one or more of the following medications:
The risk of kidney and hearing damage has to be balanced against the benefits of using aminoglycosides to treat life-threatening conditions such as septicaemia.
In hospital, blood levels are carefully monitored to ensure the antibiotic is only present in the blood in safe amounts. If aminoglycosides are used properly in topical preparations, such as ear drops, these side effects don't occur.
You should check with your GP or pharmacist before taking a tetracycline if you're currently taking any of the following:
It's highly recommended that you don't combine a macrolide with any of the following medications unless directly instructed to by your GP, as the combination could cause heart problems:
You should check with your GP or pharmacist before taking a fluoroquinolone if you're currently taking any of the following:
Some fluoroquinolones can intensify the effects of caffeine (a stimulant found in coffee, tea and cola), which could make you feel irritable, restless and cause problems falling asleep (insomnia).
You may need toavoid taking medication that contains high levels of minerals or iron, as this can block the beneficial effects of fluoroquinolones. This includes:
Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection. They work by killing bacteria or preventing them from reproducing and spreading.
Read about the uses of antibiotics, including treating or preventing some types of bacterial infections
Read about things to consider when taking the six main classes of antibiotics.
The most common side effects of antibiotics affect the digestive system. These occur in around 1 in 10 people.
Antibiotics can sometimes interact with other medicines or substances. This means it can have an effect that is different to what you expected.