The Real Reason Why You Should NOT Drink Alcohol While Taking An…
Q&A with Organizational Pro Peter Walsh + Dermatologist Shares A…
Actor Hank Azaria + Freezer Meals + Artichokes 2 Ways with Rach
See Inside Barbara Corcoran's Stunning NY Apartment + It's Steak…
How to Make Chicken and Lobster Piccata | Richard Blais
Donnie Wahlberg Spills Details About NKOTB's First Ever Conventi…
Donnie Wahlberg + Jenny McCarthy Say Rach Is Such a "Joy" + Look…
The Best Moments From 17 Seasons of the Show Will Make You Laugh…
How to Make Crabby Carbonara | Rachael Ray
Rach Chats "Firsts" In Flashback From Our First Episode Ever In …
How to Make Apple-Cider Braised Pork Chop Sandwiches with Onion …
Rach's Chef Pals Say Goodbye to Show in Surprise Video Message
How to Make Sesame Cookies | Buddy Valastro
How to Make Tortilla with Potatoes, Piquillo Peppers and Mancheg…
How to Make Shrimp Burgers | Jacques Pepin
How to Make Spanakopipasta | Rachael Ray
Andrew McCarthy Chokes Up Discussing Emotional Trip to Spain wit…
Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …
Celebrity Guests Send Farewell Messages After 17 Seasons of the …
Andrew McCarthy Teases Upcoming "Brat Pack" Reunion Special
Michelle Obama Toasts Rach's 17 Years on the Air With a Heartfel…
Pharmacist Dr. Stacia Woodcock stopped by the show to talk about some common medicine myths. To make healthy living more fun, she challenged the studio audience to a round of "true or false?" — and Rach played along, too!
Dr. Stacia's first question is about whether or not drinking alcohol while on an antibiotic decreases its effectiveness.
True or False? Alcohol makes antibiotics less effective.
The answer? False, according to Dr. Stacia.
"You should not drink alcohol when you're on antibiotics," Dr. Stacia says, but it typically "has nothing to do with effectiveness."
Wait, what?!
Dr. Stacia says the main reason why you shouldn't mix antibiotics and alcohol is because drinking alcohol causes dehydration and suppresses your immune system, which is already compromised when you have an infection. Also, she explains that the combination of alcohol and antibiotics can cause stomach upset.
In fact, there are certain antibiotics that, if you drink while you're on them, will make you really sick, the doc warns. This is due to an interaction called a disulfiram reaction, Dr. Stacia says, that causes nausea and vomiting. She explains that's where the effectiveness "myth" came from, but that the issue is not really effectiveness-based for most antibiotics.