Question
Can I drink alcohol with ARVs?
9 September 2014. Related: All topics, Drug interactions, Recreational drugs.
I have started ART a month ago. Before that I used to drink alcohol quite often.
Since I started ART, I try to not drink. But, I still want to.
Can I drink alcohol?
Answer
In general, one or two drink is likely to be fine, if this is something you enjoy. There are no interactions between alcohol and ARVs.
More heavy drinking however can lead to missing doses of your ARVs. This can cause your treatment to fail. This means that if you have a drink, make sure you find a way to not miss any of your meds. Moderation is important.
Two other concerns are important for people living with HIV:
- Alcohol can also make efavirenz side effects worse, in particular feeling dizzy, so be careful about this.
- Alcohol can make hepatitis or other liver complications progress more quickly. Alcohol is not recommended if you have hepatitis. See this information from the guide to HIV and hepatitis C:
https://i-base.info/guides/hepc/alcohol
The NHS website has a lot of information about alcohol. This is important whether you are HIV positive or HIV negative. See:
http://www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx, and
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Effectsofalcohol.aspx
In the UK, the NHS recommendations for alcohol are:
- Men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day. This is only 1-2 pints of lager – ie one strong drink.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/alcohol-units.aspx - Women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day
- If you’ve had a heavy drinking session, avoid alcohol for 48 hours.
“Regularly” means drinking this amount every day or most days of the week.
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This question from 2008 was updated in September 2014.
Hi I just found out last year on October that am hiv positive and started my treatment on November last year and I drink alcohol almost every weekend and sometimes have unprotected sex with my partner will it affects my health and he’s health because he’s hiv negative ?
Hi Thapelo,
There’s no interaction between Tribuss and alcohol. Alcohol itself doesn’t affect your treatment, it still works. It’s great that you remembered to take your meds!
Hi guys… i have just started taking tribuss treatment 2 weeks ago and had a day were i got drunk with friends but never missed my meds.
Could i be at risk of the treatment failing?
Hi Ayanda,
Some ARVs can make you feel a little dizzy when you first start them, though this should go in a few weeks. What meds are you due to take?
Hi I want to know if if the treatment make you feel dizy how long does it happen?
Hi Anonymous,
Please see here: http://i-base.info/qa/678
Hi
I’ve been diagnosed with HIV in May 2017, I’m on Tribuss medication (1 pill per night) my concern is that ever since I started medication my sperms are now waterlike substance ain’t thick anymore like the time I was negative. I asked the nurse about this and she said I have nothing to worry about. How true is this and doesn’t it affect my sperm count? My viral load is below detable.
Hi Deepee,
It’s okay to drink milk and eat dairy produce with your ARVs.
Hi, is it okay that i drink Milk before drinking my ARV?
Hi Lebo,
Initial side effects usually get better within a few weeks. If you’re still having problems you should talk to your doctor.