If you are planning to travel to certain countries in South America, Africa, or Asia, it is recommended that you start taking malaria prophylaxis drugs before your trip. These drugs can help prevent malaria even before you come in contact with the disease. Can you safely consume alcohol while taking malaria prophylaxis drugs?
Alcohol and Malaria Prophylaxis
Two of the common malaria prophylaxis medications are atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) and doxycycline. These drugs are antibiotics that help protect you before you come in contact with malaria. The absorption of both of these medications is not affected by alcohol. However, these and other malaria prophylaxis drugs can be toxic to the liver if taken in grandiose amounts. Alcohol is also toxic to the liver. So it’s very important to drink in moderation to avoid causing harm to your liver.
Alcohol and Other Medications
We often hear that we need to avoid alcohol while on certain medications. This is very true. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, slowing most of your body processes down, including your breathing and heart rate. That’s why we feel so relaxed after a nice drink.
Some medications also depress the central nervous system. Think of medications that calm you down or help you sleep. Even some allergy medications depress the central nervous system. So make sure to avoid alcohol while on medications like these. For example, the popular allergy medication diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and the well-known anti-anxiety medication alprazolam (Xanax) can result in respiratory depression when taken with alcohol. This means that your breathing could slow down to a point where the results could be fatal. Malaria prophylaxis drugs do not depress the central nervous system. This is why they’re often safe to take while drinking alcohol in moderation.
Things to Remember While on Malaria Prophylaxis Drugs
Like most medications, malaria prophylaxis drugs might interact with other substances in the body and may cause serious adverse effects. As mentioned before, these drugs are also damaging to the liver if taken in huge amounts. Malaria prophylaxis drugs, however, are prescribed in safe dosages so liver toxicity in healthy individuals is very rare. These medications should not be taken if pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s often best to take oral tablets on an empty stomach with 8 ounces of water for the best absorption. However, gastrointestinal discomfort could result such as nausea or stomach pain, so food can be taken with the medications to lessen gastric distress.
Alcohol makes for a fun time with family and friends. You can continue to drink alcohol as you usually do when on malaria prophylaxis medications. It’s important to remember, though, that alcohol is only fun when consumed responsibly and in moderation. Make the best of your upcoming trip by adhering to your malaria prophylaxis medication schedule before you travel. And why not pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate before you go?
With the right tools and vaccines, you can prevent yourself from contracting a mosquito-borne illness. Make sure you are prepared with Passport Health. Call 937-306-7541 or book online to schedule your appointment today.
Ese Agboh is a student nurse who wants to specialize in pediatric nursing and wound care. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing articles related to medicine and the pathophysiology of communicable diseases. Ese currently lives and studies on the east coast of the United States.
