An occasional drink or two while taking doxycycline is usually fine, but people who drink heavily may require changes to dosing or a different antibiotic. Heavy drinking could make doxycycline less effective.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections, including respiratory and skin infections. It’s also used to prevent malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite.

There are different types of antibiotics, known as classes.

Doxycycline is in the tetracycline class, which interferes with bacteria’s ability to make proteins. This prevents bacteria from growing and thriving.

Alcohol can interact with several antibiotics, including doxycycline, making the medication less effective.

Keep reading to learn about how alcohol interacts with doxycycline, the effects of combining the two, and what else to avoid while taking this antibiotic.

Doxycycline can interact with alcohol in people with a history of chronic drinking or heavy alcohol use.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), this condition is defined as:

  • For males: consuming five or more drinks on any day or 15 or more per week
  • For females: consuming four or more drinks on any day or eight or more drinks per week

Doxycycline can also interact with alcohol in people who have liver disease. A pattern of heavy alcohol use can increase your risk of liver disease.

If you have a liver disease or have a pattern of heavy alcohol use, drinking alcohol while taking doxycycline can make the antibiotic less effective.

A 2020 review of research suggests that people with alcohol use disorder may require twice-daily dosing of doxycycline. The researchers noted that doxycycline’s half-life (the amount of time it takes for it to decrease by half in the body) was significantly shorter, by about 4 hours, in 6 people with alcohol use disorder compared to 6 people without it.

If you engage in heavy alcohol use and a doctor prescribes doxycycline, it’s best to discuss your alcohol use with them. That way, a doctor can determine your most effective dosing or whether another medication would be better.

Do not make changes to your medication or dosing on your own without talking with the healthcare professional who prescribed it.

If you’re taking doxycycline and don’t have these risks, it should be fine to have a drink or two without reducing the effectiveness of the antibiotic.

Having one or two alcoholic drinks while taking doxycycline is unlikely to cause serious side effects that may happen with other antibiotics.

But if you’re still getting over an infection, it’s best to avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol, especially heavily, is linked to decreased functioning of your immune system.

Research suggests that the use of doxycycline with alcohol results in reduced blood levels of doxycycline and may affect the efficacy of doxycycline. The effects can last for days after discontinuing alcohol.

It may be best to wait a few hours, or longer, after taking doxycycline before drinking alcohol. This gives the body time to absorb the medication.

A 2020 review of research that analyzed the findings of multiple older studies suggests that involving 6 participants, drinking whiskey or “cheap” red wine, did not affect the therapeutic levels of doxycycline. However, the red wine delayed the absorption of the medication.

If you’re taking doxycycline and have been drinking, it’s best to avoid having any more drinks, especially if you notice:

  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • upset stomach

Mixing doxycycline and alcohol won’t cause any serious health issues. But drinking enough alcohol to get to the point of feeling drunk can affect your recovery from the bacterial infection.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, getting drunk can slow your body’s immune response for up to 24 hours.

It’s also important to note that intoxication from alcohol may increase fall risks, which could lead to bleeding, especially in people who are on blood thinners or who are older.

You should always inform your doctor about any medications or supplements you’re taking, including over-the-counter or herbal products.

While taking doxycycline, also be sure to ask your doctor before taking:

Tetracycline antibiotics, including doxycycline, can also make you more sensitive to sunlight. Make sure to wear protective clothing and apply plenty of sunscreen when going outside to avoid getting sunburned.

Doxycycline may not be safe for pregnant people or children under age 8. It may cause teeth discoloration in children under 8. However, it is usually safe for use while nursing.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic used to treat a range of bacterial infections.

While drinking alcohol while taking certain antibiotics can cause negative side effects, it’s generally safe to occasionally consume alcohol while taking doxycycline.

However, if a person is a chronic drinker, has a liver condition, or is taking multiple medications, alcohol should be avoided while taking doxycycline.

Keep in mind that alcohol can slow down your body’s immune response. If you do choose to drink while taking doxycycline, you may be adding another day onto your recovery from the underlying infection.