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.
I am sorry but we cannot help with this question. As with most symptoms, this is something to talk to your doctor about
Hi Zena
Thanks for your message – and you talk about a lot of things.
One is about finding a partner and getting married but HIV should not stop any of the things you want to do in life.
You can still find a partner and get married – and have children to if you want.
It is true that finding the right person can be tricky but this is always true anyway. The tricky thing with HIV is finding someone who is also cool about HIV. Treatment will also protect your partners if they are negative, or you might meet someone who is also HIV positive.
You also mentioned drinking a lot.
If this is more than you are happy with, then finding a way to cut down or even stop might make you happier.
If you are drinking a lot, then if might be important to cut down or stop before you start HIV meds. In some countires this is needed before you can start treatment.
Please write back if you have more informaiton or questions.
I really want to get married but am afraid that it will be hard for me cos am HIV positive i even fear to be in relationship tell me what can i do cos i even drink alot
Hi,
Alcohol and HIV meds do not have any interactions. This means you can take them together – this is fine as long as you remember to take them!
2016/04/15 at 7:23 pm
Can i drink alcohol while im taking treatment?
HI,
There is rarely any interaction between Septrin and alcohol. Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol while taking Septrin should be ok. You can find information about being newly diagnosed here: http://i-base.info/just-found-out/
I tested postive 3 days back, and was told to start on Septrin as they wait to test for my CD4.
how can manage Septrin with alcohol because i drink alot and cannot stop instantly but i will gradually?
Hi
I am sorry that you are going through a difficult time. Also that your mother is also causing you to worry so much.
This is difficult for me to help with because I am in a different country but is there anyone that you can talk to? Perhaps you could talk to the health workers at your mothers clinic.
Contacting a local HIV support groups might be good for both you and your mother.
It is very difficult when someone you love has behaviours that is not good for their health. Your mother is lucky to have you looking out for her but are you ecery able to talk about this with your mother? Is there anyone else in the family that could help?
i have a with my mother shes drinking everyday nd shes on pillz i tried to tlk to her bt she doesnt listen to me…shes not even taking her medication i tried bt i failed
Hi,
Drinking alcohol will not affect your HIV medication, as long as you remember to take your pills!