can you drink alcohol while taking amoxicillin

It is generally safe to drink alcohol while taking amoxicillin as the alcohol will not stop the antibiotic from working. However, drinking alcohol can worsen side effects like nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset that are sometimes caused by amoxicillin. Additionally, alcohol may impede the body's ability to heal by dehydrating the body, disrupting sleep, and weakening the immune system, so many health professionals recommend avoiding alcohol to give the body the best chance to fight the infection. Moderation in drinking is important if one chooses to drink alcohol while on amoxicillin. Severe reactions seen with alcohol and other antibiotics (such as metronidazole) are not typical with amoxicillin. For best recovery, avoiding alcohol is advised but not strictly required for the antibiotic to work effectively.