Can I drink fruit beer while taking cephalosporins?
Nov 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Lei
Introduction
In general, you should not drink fruit beer while taking cephalosporins. During treatment with cephalosporins and for one week after stopping the medication, all alcoholic beverages and foods containing alcohol should be avoided, including fruit beer, rice wine, fermented tofu, drunken crab, and others. It is advisable to eat light, easily digestible meals and drink plenty of warm water to help your body metabolize the drug. If discomfort occurs after accidentally consuming fruit beer, stop taking the medication immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Generally, it is not recommended to drink fruit beer while taking cephalosporin antibiotics. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Although fruit beer has a sweet taste, it essentially contains alcohol. After entering the body, cephalosporin drugs inhibit the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver—an enzyme critical for breaking down acetaldehyde, an intermediate product formed during alcohol metabolism. When the enzyme's activity is suppressed, acetaldehyde cannot be effectively converted into harmless substances and accumulates in the body, triggering a disulfiram-like reaction. Common symptoms include facial flushing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases, life-threatening conditions such as laryngeal edema and sudden drop in blood pressure.
During treatment with cephalosporins and for one week after discontinuation, all alcoholic beverages and foods containing alcohol should be avoided, including rice wine, fermented tofu, drunken crab, and others. A light and easily digestible diet is recommended, along with increased intake of warm water to support metabolic elimination. If discomfort occurs after accidentally consuming fruit beer, stop taking the medication immediately and seek medical attention promptly. Always inform your doctor about your health status before starting any medication, strictly follow medical instructions, and never adjust dosage or frequency without professional guidance.
