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
This could lead to a shift in clinical advice for patients prescribed antibiotics, potentially reducing unnecessary restrictions on lifestyle choices.
This article is republished from New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa .
Sexual health specialist Massimo Giola reviews the (lack of) evidence behind the long-standing warning to abstain from alcohol when taking metronidazole
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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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