In order to avoid toxic reactions, many people know that "do not take medicine after drinking alcohol, and do not drink alcohol after taking cephalosporin." However, recently there has been a saying circulating on online platforms that "after three days of taking cephalosporin, it is safe to drink alcohol with peace of mind. Is there any scientific basis for this statement? What are the dangers of "cephalosporin alcohol"? How long after stopping medication can one drink alcohol? Experts say that the clearance of cephalosporin drugs in the body does not stop instantly like turning off a faucet. Their metabolic cycle varies from person to person and is influenced by various factors such as drug type, dosage, course of treatment, personal age, and liver and kidney function status. Some cephalosporin drugs, especially those containing the "methimazole side chain" structure, such as cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, and their metabolites, can inhibit aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver for a long time. Once the enzyme is inhibited, acetaldehyde will accumulate in large quantities in the body, triggering a toxic reaction known as the "disulfiram like reaction". Chang Yufei, Director of the Emergency Department at Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, said that "disulfiram like reaction" is relatively dangerous because it is also classified as mild, moderate, and severe, just like heatstroke and hypothermia. The mild "disulfiram like reaction" is theoretically very similar to the symptoms of alcohol overdose, such as flushing, palpitations, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, which are common related symptoms after drinking alcohol. Moderate chest pain may occur, and some people may even have consciousness disorders and low blood pressure. Severe cases can be very serious and may trigger acute myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmia, and even ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation requires defibrillation; Severe hypotension can lead to shock and even cardiac and respiratory arrest. Experts emphasize that the symptoms of "disulfiram like reaction" usually appear within 10 to 40 minutes after drinking alcohol, ranging from as short as 5 minutes to as long as several hours. Due to the rapid progression of the condition and the difficulty of self-healing, medical attention should be sought immediately once relevant symptoms appear. The most effective way to deal with it is strict prevention: during high-risk cephalosporin use and for at least 7 days after discontinuation, contact with any alcoholic substances should be avoided. Special populations can set a safety period of 7 to 10 days. Experts say that there is no "safety line" for the dosage of cephalosporin and alcohol, and it is also dangerous to reduce the dosage without a minimum reaction dose. For cephalosporin dosage, the therapeutic dose may cause disease, and even the standard therapeutic dose is sufficient to inhibit aldehyde dehydrogenase in sensitive individuals, leading to reactions upon exposure to alcohol. At present, there is no clear "minimum cephalosporin reaction dose", and attempting to reduce the dosage to avoid risks is not feasible and dangerous. For alcohol dosage, a small intake may exceed the limit. Studies have shown that even after consuming 2 to 20 grams of ethanol, a "disulfiram like reaction" may occur. Some alcoholic foods and drugs may pose risks when taken together with cephalosporins. Experts also suggest that in addition to common alcoholic beverages, alcohol may also be hidden in some common foods and drugs, making it easy to overlook. During the use of cephalosporin drugs, there are also risks associated with consuming these alcoholic foods and medications. Food: cooking wine, Fermented bean curd, wine chocolate, drunk crab/drunk shrimp, some fermented food, some fruit vinegar. Medications: Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, Partial Tinctures, Oral Liquids, Injections with Ethanol as a Solvent. Daily necessities: alcoholic mouthwash, breath freshener, etc. Therefore, during the use of cephalosporins, in addition to avoiding alcohol consumption, it is also necessary to carefully check the ingredient lists of food, drugs, and daily necessities to prevent indirect alcohol intake. For some special groups, the interval time should be longer. Chang Yufei, director of the emergency department of Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, said that those who had serious hypertension, diabetes, including heart disease, had done stenting, bypass surgery, or had a history of serious arrhythmia must be high-risk groups. The second category is elderly people, whose liver and kidney function, as well as metabolic capacity, may decrease. The third category is people who have fatty liver, alcoholic liver, viral liver injury, or kidney function problems themselves. If you want to drink alcohol, be sure to pay attention to whether you have used cephalosporin antibiotics in the past 7 to 10 days. Experts suggest that taking some drugs together with alcohol also poses safety risks. In addition to cephalosporin drugs, taking some drugs together with alcohol may not cause a "disulfiram like reaction", but there are still safety risks that must be treated with caution. Ma Zhijie, Director of the Pharmacy Department at Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University: In addition to cephalosporins, there are also some anti infective drugs such as nitroimidazole and nitrofuran, which cannot be taken with alcohol because they can also cause "disulfiram like reactions" and are also high-risk drugs. The second type of very important drug is disulfiram itself, which inhibits acetaldehyde metabolism and should never be taken with alcohol. Moreover, its safety risk period is relatively long, reaching more than two weeks. According to experts, there are also some drugs that, although taken together with alcohol, do not cause a "disulfiram like reaction", but can increase the risk of medication. Taking central inhibitory drugs, anti anxiety drugs, and alcohol together can increase the risk of drowsiness, central inhibition, and even death. In addition, some antihypertensive drugs, hypoglycemic drugs, and anti tuberculosis drugs should also be avoided from being taken with alcohol. What should we do if a "disulfiram like reaction" occurs? So, what should we do if a "disulfiram like reaction" occurs? Firstly, immediately stop drinking alcohol or consuming alcoholic products; Secondly, sit or lie flat on the spot with your head tilted to one side to prevent secondary injuries caused by vomiting or dizziness and falling; Thirdly, immediately dial the emergency number 120 or have someone else escort you to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. Do not drive by yourself; Finally, upon arrival at the hospital, it is essential to promptly and accurately inform the doctor of your recent history of cephalosporin use and alcohol consumption. (New Society)