What is the treatment for cephalosporin-alcohol intoxication?
May 16, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Shuwen
Introduction
After experiencing cephalosporin-alcohol poisoning, if symptoms are not particularly severe, one may take concentrated sugar water or honey water orally to help detoxify, as sugar can increase the body's osmotic pressure and promote diuresis. Alternatively, medications such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection or furosemide injection may be administered. If symptoms are more severe, including chest pain, immediate measures such as induced vomiting and gastric lavage should be performed.
After experiencing poisoning from taking cephalosporin antibiotics and drinking alcohol, one may drink concentrated sugar water orally, take oral medications, or go to the hospital for gastric lavage. The specific approaches are as follows:
1. Oral intake of concentrated sugar water
If poisoning occurs after taking cephalosporins and consuming alcohol, drinking concentrated sugar water or honey water can help detoxify. Sugar increases the body's osmotic pressure and has a diuretic effect, promoting the excretion of alcohol from the body through urination.
2. Taking medication orally
If symptoms are not particularly severe and only include nausea and vomiting, it is necessary to go to the hospital and receive injections under medical supervision, such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate injection or furosemide injection, for treatment.
3. Gastric lavage
If the patient develops severe symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, shock, laryngeal edema, or coma, they should immediately go to the emergency center of a local hospital. Doctors will induce vomiting and perform gastric lavage based on the patient’s condition to rapidly remove the mixture of drugs and alcohol from the stomach and reduce physical discomfort.
Cephalosporins are a class of antibiotic drugs. After using cephalosporin medications, alcohol must be strictly avoided. It is generally recommended to abstain from alcohol for at least one week to prevent disulfiram-like reactions.
