A small amount of alcohol is usually OK with the common strep antibiotics: the NHS says you can drink alcohol with amoxicillin and with azithromycin, and asks you to limit it on penicillin V. The bigger problem is the illness. Alcohol makes your body release water, and you need fluids while you have a fever and a sore throat. Wait until your fever is gone, keep it to 1 or 2 drinks, and take every dose of your antibiotic.
Which antibiotic are you on?
The CDC says penicillin or amoxicillin is the antibiotic of choice for strep throat. People with a penicillin allergy may get cephalexin, cefadroxil, clindamycin, azithromycin or clarithromycin instead. Check the label on your bottle, because the alcohol advice differs a little from drug to drug.
Here is what the NHS says about alcohol for the 3 you are most likely to get. If you are on a different antibiotic, ask your pharmacist.
- Amoxicillin: the NHS says yes, you can drink alcohol while taking it, and you can eat and drink normally.
- Penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin): the NHS says to try to limit alcohol, because it can increase the risk of side effects.
- Azithromycin (Z-Pak): the NHS says yes, you can drink alcohol, but if azithromycin makes you dizzy, do not drink, as it will make you feel worse.
Why does strep itself make drinking a bad idea?
MedlinePlus lists fever and pain when swallowing as common strep symptoms. When it hurts to swallow, it can be hard to drink enough. MedlinePlus also says alcohol does not add to your body's water, because it is a diuretic: it makes your body release water.
Put those together and a night out can tip you toward dehydration. The NHS lists peeing less than usual or dark, strong-smelling pee as signs of dehydration that need an urgent appointment when you have a sore throat.
If a drink stings your throat or makes you feel worse, stop. Warm drinks like tea with honey, cold drinks and ice pops are what MedlinePlus suggests for a strep throat.
What about fever and pain medicine?
Many people with strep take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen for pain and fever. MedlinePlus says not to take acetaminophen if you drink 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, and to talk to your doctor about safe alcohol use while you take it.
A practical rule: if you still need medicine to keep your fever down, you are still too sick to drink. Wait until you are fever-free without it.
If I drink, do I still finish my antibiotics?
Yes. A drink is not a reason to skip or stop a dose. The CDC lists a 10-day course for penicillin V and amoxicillin, and a 5-day course for azithromycin. MedlinePlus says antibiotics for strep should be taken for 10 days even though symptoms often go away within a few days.
The NHS says to keep taking amoxicillin and azithromycin until the course is finished, even if you feel better, to help stop the infection coming back. For penicillin V, it says to keep taking it for as long as prescribed. MedlinePlus says untreated strep can lead to complications such as rheumatic fever, kidney disease and an abscess near the tonsils.
Drinking can make it easier to forget a dose, so set a phone reminder before you go out.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Get care the same day if you have a very high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery, signs of dehydration such as peeing less or dark, strong-smelling pee, severe or bloody diarrhea, a rash with a high temperature, a fast or irregular heartbeat on azithromycin, or yellow skin or eyes. Also contact your doctor if you are not improving 24 to 48 hours after starting treatment, or you are worried about your symptoms.
Call 911 if you have trouble breathing, cannot swallow, are drooling, make a high-pitched sound when you breathe, have chest pain, your lips, mouth, tongue or throat suddenly swell, or your symptoms are severe and getting worse quickly.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›Should I go out at all?
The CDC says people with strep should stay home until they have no fever and at least 12 to 24 hours have passed since starting the right antibiotic. Bars and parties mean shared cups and close contact, so wait at least until you are past that point.
If you do go, do not share drinks, cans, straws or vapes. Those all move saliva, which is how strep spreads.
- Not yet: you still have a fever, or you started antibiotics less than 12 hours ago.
- Probably OK: no fever, 24 hours or more on antibiotics, drinking water too, keeping it to 1 or 2 drinks.
- Skip it: you are dizzy on azithromycin, you have diarrhea, or you are not keeping fluids down.
Common questions
Can I drink alcohol with strep throat?
Usually a small amount is OK, but it depends on your antibiotic and how sick you are. The NHS says alcohol is fine with amoxicillin and azithromycin, and to limit it on penicillin V. Wait until your fever is gone, drink water too, and keep it to 1 or 2 drinks.
Does alcohol stop my strep antibiotic from working?
The NHS pages for amoxicillin and azithromycin do not say alcohol stops them from working, and both say you can drink. The bigger risk is forgetting a dose or stopping early. Keep taking every dose until the course is done.
Can I drink on a Z-Pak for strep?
The NHS says you can drink alcohol with azithromycin. If it makes you feel dizzy, do not drink, because alcohol will make the dizziness worse. Get help right away if you notice a fast or irregular heartbeat.
Will alcohol kill the strep bacteria in my throat?
No. Antibiotics are what treat strep, and none of the sources we checked say alcohol helps. MedlinePlus suggests warm salt water gargles, warm or cold drinks and pain relievers to ease the pain.
Can drinking make me contagious for longer?
None of the sources we checked say that. What spreads strep is saliva, so shared cups and close contact at a party matter more. The CDC says to stay home until you have no fever and have had at least 12 to 24 hours of antibiotics.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.