Can you drink coffee while on antibiotics?

Whether it’s coffee, tea, or energy drinks, many people consume caffeine on a regular basis. But what you may not know is that the caffeine found in your favorite drinks may interact with common medications, including antibiotics.

You may not need to give up coffee completely while on antibiotics, but experts may advise you to cut back for the course of your treatment.

What is the effect of caffeine on antibiotics?

A specific class of antibiotics, known as quinolones, can interact with caffeine. Examples of quinolones include ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin).

Quinolones are broken down by the same pathway in the body as caffeine. Taking these antibiotics together with caffeine may increase the side effects of caffeine as they stop it from being broken down in the body. You might experience jitteriness, headaches, increased heart rate, and other side effects.

Some 2021 animal research suggested that coffee consumption may affect how the body’s microbiome reacts to amoxicillin, although the researchers found that the effect was small. They recommended further research into the topic as caffeine and antibiotics are very commonly consumed.

Some research suggests that caffeine should never be combined with antibiotics as this can lead to the medication not working. It may even lead to drug toxicity, where there is too much of the medication in your bloodstream.

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What kind of effect does caffeine have on the body in general?

Caffeine is commonly known to give us more energy and make us feel more alert. It’s found naturally, but it can also be found in synthetic (human-made) form.

When you eat or drink something that contains caffeine, it enters your bloodstream. It then travels to your brain and central nervous system, where it acts as a stimulant. That means it can boost your energy and mood and make your brain more alert.

Some research even finds that caffeine can promote weight loss.

But caffeine can cause some negative side effects, too, particularly in children and adolescents. These include an increased heart rate, headaches, insomnia, and depression.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine a day is the amount that’s generally thought of as safe for a healthy adult. That’s about 4 cups of coffee or 8 cups of green tea.

What are some other medications that interact poorly with caffeine?

The medications that can interact with caffeine come from three main classes: antibiotics, estrogen-containing medications, and medications that slow blood clotting, such as anticoagulants and antiplatelets.

Birth control

Oral contraceptive pills like Apri or Azurette can interact with caffeine. Specifically, research suggests that oral contraceptives may make caffeine stay in your system for longer than usual, which is what increases the side effects of caffeine.

Birth control pills and other medications that add the hormone estrogen to your body can affect caffeine, too. That’s because estrogen hampers the breakdown of caffeine. So it can cause increased side effects associated with too much caffeine — namely insomnia, anxiousness, nausea, and headaches.

Blood clotting medications

Some common medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis).

These medications are often prescribed after a person has had a heart attack or blood clot or if they have experienced a prolonged irregular heartbeat (called arrhythmia).

Caffeine itself can slow blood clotting. So if you’re taking any of these medications, it may increase the chance that you’ll experience serious bleeding or bruising.

Do I have to give up caffeine and coffee completely?

Unless a doctor recommends it, you likely won’t need to cut out caffeine completely. It may be beneficial to try to cut back on your consumption.

And if you really can’t go without your daily coffee, you can try decaf options, too.

What about medications that contain caffeine?

Some medications themselves contain caffeine. You might be concerned about whether you can still drink coffee while taking them.

Caffeine is most often found in medications to treat headaches and migraine. It may be combined with other medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), aspirin, magnesium hydroxide, and salicylamide.

If you’re taking any medication that contains caffeine, aim to be cautious. Consider limiting your caffeine intake to compensate, and look out for signs and symptoms that indicate you may have taken too much.

If you have any concerns, remember you can talk with a doctor who will be able to advise you about your medication and caffeine consumption.

Summary

Although caffeine is incredibly common, with many people worldwide opting to start their day with a cup of tea or coffee, it can interact negatively with certain medications, including antibiotics.

Taking antibiotics with caffeine may increase the side effects of both.

Speak with a doctor if you have any concerns. You might not need to cut caffeine out completely, but you may need to reduce your consumption while you’re taking antibiotics.

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