What happens if you drink cephalosporin and red wine together?
Nov 18, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Shuwen
Introduction
Combining cephalosporins with red wine can easily trigger a disulfiram-like reaction. Mild cases may result in symptoms such as generalized skin redness, itching, dermatitis, papules, and urticaria. Severe cases may lead to cardiovascular symptoms, including chest tightness, shortness of breath, and significant respiratory difficulty. In the most serious instances, patients may experience dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness, and anaphylactic shock.
Consuming cephalosporins together with red wine can easily trigger a disulfiram-like reaction, leading to symptoms such as skin itching, difficulty breathing, and anaphylactic shock.
Disulfiram, also known as Antabuse, is a medication used in treating alcohol dependence. After ingestion, even small amounts of alcohol can cause dizziness, drowsiness, facial flushing, and itching—symptoms medically referred to as a disulfiram-like reaction. When patients take cephalosporin antibiotics or nitroimidazole antimicrobial agents and then consume alcohol-containing products, a disulfiram-like reaction may occur.
Mild cases may present with generalized skin redness, itching, dermatitis, papules, or urticaria. More severe reactions can involve cardiovascular symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and significant respiratory distress. In the most serious cases, patients may experience dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness, and anaphylactic shock.
Once a disulfiram-like reaction occurs, immediate emergency medical treatment at a hospital is necessary to prevent life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
