Metronidazole and alcohol: Challenging the biggest antibiotic myth
A sexual health specialist reviews medical literature to challenge the common belief that combining metronidazole with alcohol causes a dangerous disulfiram-like reaction. The article suggests that the long-standing warning may lack sufficient clinical evidence.
Why it matters
Correcting medical myths is essential for patient compliance and reducing unnecessary anxiety regarding common antibiotic prescriptions.
Sexual health specialist Massimo Giola reviews the (lack of) evidence behind the long-standing warning to abstain from alcohol when taking metronidazole
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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1. Williams CS, Woodcock KR. Do ethanol and metronidazole interact to produce a disulfiram-like reaction ? Ann Pharmacother 2000;34(2):255–57.
2. Fjeld H, Raknes G. Er det virkelig farlig å kombinere metronidazol og alkohol? [ Is combining metronidazole and alcohol really hazardous ?]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 2014;134(17):1661–63.
3. Visapää JP, Tillonen JS, Kaihovaara PS, Salaspuro MP. Lack of disulfiram-like reaction with metronidazole and ethanol . Ann Pharmacother 2002;36(6):971–74.
4. Feldman R, Jaszczenski R. Can metronidazole cause a disulfiram-like reaction? A case-control study propensity matched by age, sex, and ethanol concentration . WMJ 2023;122(3):171–77.
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