Ethyl Alcohol/Fexinidazole;Metronidazole;Tinidazole Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Very Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Fexinidazole, metronidazole, and tinidazole cause an intolerance to alcohol by altering how the body breaks down alcohol. Many medicines (prescription and nonprescription), mouthwashes, and aftershaves contain alcohol. Even a small amount of alcohol (e.g. 15 ml or one tablespoon) can trigger the effects.
What might happen:
Ingesting alcohol or using topical preparations that contain alcohol may result in throbbing in the head and neck, irregular heart beat, rapid heart beat, low blood pressure, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. This interaction may last from 30 to 60 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed.
What you should do about this interaction:
If you are taking fexinidazole, avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing alcohol while you are taking fexinidazole and for at least 48 hours after you finish taking fexinidazole.If possible, avoid the use of medicines that contain alcohol when using metronidazole. Use of topical products such as creams or lotions that contain alcohol may also cause this interaction. The amount of alcohol required to cause this interaction varies with individuals.If you are using metronidazole with a product that contains alcohol, or if you notice signs or symptoms of this interaction, contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist). Your doctor may want to do blood tests or make changes to your medicines.If you are taking tinidazole, avoid alcoholic beverages and products containing alcohol while you are taking tinidazole and for 3 days after you finish taking tinidazole.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.Gupta NK, Woodley CL, Fried R. Effect of metronidazole on liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Biochem Pharmacol 1970 Oct;19(10):2805-8.
- 2.Kitson TM. The disulfiram--ethanol reaction: a review. J Stud Alcohol 1977 Jan;38(1):96-113.
- 3.Edwards JA, Price J. Metronidazole and atypical human alcohol dehydrogenase. Biochem Pharmacol 1967 Oct;16(10):2026-7.
- 4.Fried R, Fried LW. The effect of Flagyl on xanthine oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenase. Biochem Pharmacol 1966;15:1890-94.
- 5.Paltrinieri E. Inhibitory action of hydroxy-2-ethyl-1-methyl-2-nitro-5-imidazole on alcohol-dehydrogenase. Farmaco Sci 1967 Dec;22(12):1054-6.
- 6.Fexinidazole US prescribing information. Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC July, 2021.
- 7.Tinidazole US prescribing information. Rising Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. October 12, 2017.
- 8.Penick SB, Carrier RN, Sheldon JB. Metronidazole in the treatment of alcoholism. Am J Psychiatry 1969 Feb;125(8):1063-6.
- 9.Taylor JA. Metronidazole--a new agent for combined somatic and psychic therapy of alcoholism. A case study and preliminary report. Bull Los Angel Neuro Soc 1964 Sep;29:158-62.
- 10.Lehmann HE, Ban TA, Naltchayan E. Metronidazole in the treatment of the alcoholic. Psychiatr Neurol (Basel) 1966;152(6):395-401.
- 11.Alexander I. 'Alcohol-antabuse' syndrome in patients receiving metronidazole during gynaecological treatment. Br J Clin Pract 1985 Jul; 39(7):292-3.
- 12.Giannini AJ, DeFrance DT. Metronidazole and alcohol--potential for combinative abuse. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1983 Jul;20(5):509-15.
- 13.Edwards DL, Fink PC, Van Dyke PO. Disulfiram-like reaction associated with intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and metronidazole. Clin Pharm 1986 Dec;5(12):999-1000.
- 14.Plosker GL. Possible interaction between ethanol and vaginally administered metronidazole. Clin Pharm 1987 Mar;6(3):189, 192-3.
- 15.Gelder MG, Edwards G. Metronidazole in the treatment of alcohol addiction. A controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 1968 Apr;114(509):473-5.
- 16.Goodwin DW. Metronidazole in the treatment of alcoholism: a negative report. Am J Psychiatry 1967 Apr;123(10):1276-8.
- 17.Egan WP, Goetz R. Effect of metronidazole on drinking by alcoholics. Q J Stud Alcohol 1968 Dec;29(4):899-902.
- 18.Gallant DM, Bishop MP, Camp E, Tisdale C. A six-month controlled evaluation of metronidazole (Flagyl) in chronic alcoholic patients. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp 1968 Feb;10(2):82-7.
- 19.Platz A, Panepinto WC, Kissin B, Charnoff SM. Metronidazole and alcoholism. (An evaluation of specific and non specific factors in drug treatment). Dis Nerv Syst 1970 Sep;31(9):631-6.
- 20.Strassman HD, Adams B, Pearson AW. Metronidazole effect on social drinkers. Q J Stud Alcohol 1970 Jun;31(2):394-8.
- 21.Lowenstam I. Metronidazole and placebo in the treatment of chronic alcoholism. A comparative study. Psychosomatics 1969 May-Jun;10(3):43-5.
- 22.USFood and Drug Administration (FDA). Docetaxel: Drug Safety Communication - May Cause Symptoms of Alcohol Intoxication. available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-co mmunication-fda-warns-cancer-drug-docetaxel-may-cause-symptoms-alcohol June 20, 2014.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.
CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.