Drug interactions
Ethanol + Isoniazid
Severity: Major
Ethanol and Isoniazid: major interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Regular alcohol intake increases the risk of isoniazid hepatotoxicity and also of peripheral neuropathy. Alcohol may also reduce adherence, and both can impair liver function.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ethanol and Isoniazid can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive hepatotoxicity, with alcohol-induced CYP2E1 increasing formation of toxic isoniazid metabolites.
What to do
Advise abstinence or minimal alcohol intake during isoniazid therapy. Monitor liver enzymes closely in patients who drink and stop isoniazid if hepatitis develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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Other interactions of Isoniazid
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ethanol with Isoniazid?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Ethanol and Isoniazid can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Regular alcohol intake increases the risk of isoniazid hepatotoxicity and also of peripheral neuropathy. Alcohol may also reduce adherence, and both can impair liver function.
How serious is the interaction between Ethanol and Isoniazid?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise abstinence or minimal alcohol intake during isoniazid therapy. Monitor liver enzymes closely in patients who drink and stop isoniazid if hepatitis develops.
What other medicines interact with Isoniazid?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Isoniazid with, for example, Bacillus calmette-guerin substrain tice, Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen, Carbamazepine. The full list is on the Isoniazid page.
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