About William J. Walker, Pharm.D. Expertise Homeopathic, alternative, herbal, natural, adverse drug reactions, side effects, risks, outcomes, research, medication, rational therapeutics, infectious diseases, cardiology, pain management, nutrition, psychopharmacology, oncology, pediatrics, sleep disorders, tropical diseases, HIV, drug interactions, substance abuse, illicit drugs of abuse, geriatrics
Experience
Past/Present clients State of California Department of Youth Authority
State of California Department of Mental Health
County of San Luis Obispo Public Defenders Office
County of San Luis Obispo District Attorney Office
TenetHealth Corporation
Boy Scouts of America
Better Life Institute
Campus Crusade for Christ
Volunteers in Medical Evangelism
His Healing Hands, Inc.
AskMe.com
Kiwanis International
Question I am going on vacation but have just been put on two weeks of strong Augmentin to kill an infection caused by Penacillin use for strep-throat, or the Penacillin's reaction with Avonex. I intended on drinking(a good amount) while on vacation, will there be any adverse reactions if I have a few cocktails and how serious of an impact will alcohol have on the effectiveness of the drugs? Should I have NO alcohol, limited or can I just go and spend the week as I intended to?
Answer What sort of infection is this? And what are the other medications that you are currently taking?
Drinking alcohol along with medications is almost always a potential risk. Mainly because alcohol will reduce your own defense system and cause stress to your body when it is otherwise already stressed. But it is also an obvious depressant so it complicates things by causing increased sedation and reduced mentation. Many medications also contribute to this effect and the result can be additive. Finally, alcohol is metabolized through the liver and can be rather harsh on that organs ability to handle the metabolism of any other substances. In some cases this can be very significant.
All things considered, the Augmentin alone represents a fairly low risk factor in each of these situations. Provided that you are not also taking any other medications. Provided that your infection is not severe enough to have reduced your strength and vitality. Provided that you are not one of the rare few who become sedated by Augmentin.
If you are young, vital, and otherwise healthy and you have nothing else to offer in response to my other questions then you can reasonably proceed with your intended plans. Just be careful. No driving.
