Daily Record

Everythin we really want to a about ou medicine

- CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE I’M TAKING IT? WILL IT MAKE ME DROWSY? WHAT ABOUT ANY OTHER SIDE EFFECTS? HOW AND WH I TAKE IT?

It’s often assumed drinking alcohol is off limits on any antibiotic­s but this isn’t the case – so check with your GP which ones are safe.

The antibiotic metronidaz­ole is a classic example of a medicine that will make you feel very sick if you drink alcohol while taking it.

If you have a party you can’t avoid and having a night off the drink is out of the question, you could ask your doctor for a different antibiotic.

Other medicines such as sedatives, antidepres­sants and antihistam­ines can make you sleepy, so avoid alcohol with them.

On the whole, a small amount can be OK to take with your medication but always read the label and if it mentions alcohol or drowsiness, be careful. weeks, so it varies enormously Your doctor will tell you how long you should wait for a drug to kick in, and when to get in touch if your problem seems to be getting worse, not better.

We all want a quick solution but some things are better taken slowly and gently. If a medication is going to make you drowsy, it should say so in the patient informatio­n leaflet.

If your work involves heavy machinery or driving, it is essential you try the medication safely at home before doing anything that may put you at risk. Even simple hayfever tablets and painkiller­s can make you unexpected­ly sleepy, so always ask your pharmacist for advice.

Antidepres­sants that make you drowsy are better taken at night. That way they will help you to sleep and you’ll avoid drowsiness in the day. All tablets have potential side effects and the patient informatio­n leaflet in the pack will say which are common and which are rare.

The leaflets can be a bit scary, whereas in reality all medicines are very carefully checked for safety and side effe uncommon.

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