Cut back on drinking to quit smoking

Q: My friend said she had to quit drinking so she could quit smoking. I don’t understand what she’s talking about. Is there science there, or is it all in her head? — Beth C., Armonk, New York

A: There’s a scientific link between alcohol and nicotine metabolism. Your friend is smart to do whatever it takes to help her quit.

As you may know, Dr. Mike and his Wellness Center folks dedicate a lot of time to helping people breathe free (quitting inhaled nicotine products, including cigarettes and e-cigs) because it’s so difficult to quit once you’re hooked.

We know that people with higher nicotine metabolism ratios (the faster you metabolize nicotine, the faster you’ll crave another cigarette) are likely to smoke more and have a harder time quitting, even after using patches and other smoking-cessation techniques.

Well, it turns out that drinking alcohol speeds up nicotine metabolism, making you want to smoke more. Reduce alcohol intake, and you tamp down your urge to smoke.

e researchers explain it this way: “The reduction in alcohol use and nicotine metabolic rate (NMR) in men provides indirect support for alcohol [intake] increasing NMR.”

Q: I had a urinary tract infection about a year ago and went to the emergency room to get treated.

They gave me Cipro, which cleared it up, but I had stomach problems afterward. Then I heard it’s toxic for the liver, nerves and the heart. Why would they give this to you in the ER? — Mary D., Tucson, Arizona

A: If you find yourself in the emergency department with a respiratory or urinary tract infection, the first-line antibiotic that doctors or nurse practitioners probably will dispense is ciprofloxacin (Cipro). It’s the most popular antibiotic in the class of fluoroquinolones, and docs choose those in situations where they don’t know exactly what bacteria is causing the problem.

Unfortunately, they’ve been known to cause serious problems. Six years ago, the Food and Drug Administration warned that fluoroquinolones may cause sudden, serious and potentially permanent nerve damage. Add to that a National Institutes of Health warning of toxic liver damage if they’re taken for one to four weeks.

If you’re presented with Cipro in the emergency room, ask about effective antibiotics that are not fluoroquinolones. You even could ask for a second opinion from an infectious disease specialist.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.