Alcohol and Metronidazole

presents with trichomoniasis. She also reports drinking 2 glasses of wine most nights

Your student asks if she should still be prescribed metronidazole given alcohol use.

How did others respond?

Reveal the answer

Best Answer:

Yes give metronidazole

Explanation: Labeling for metronidazole recommends avoiding alcohol within 72 hours of taking metronidazole due to risk of disulfiram reaction.

This is based on a theoretical chemical reaction, but does it really happen?

Small case series observed NO CASES of vomiting AND detected NO METABOLITES suggestive of the disulfiram-like reaction when metronidazole was given with alcohol

Patients may benefit from alcohol cessation during acute illness or for overall health, but alcohol is not a contraindication to metronidazole therapy