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Prohibition of alcohol use in
people being treated for infections is a recognised
historical fact and may have punitive origins.'
Have you ever asked "Can I drink
with these tablets ?" and the answer from the
miserable physician or nurse has been an abrupt "No
!"
With Christmas just around the
corner this is a bit hard.
You may wish to consider why you
have been denied the opportunity to cheer yourself
up in the face of your illness as in fact there is
only one anti-biotic where such wretched advice is
correct.
It is a little like so many other medical myths that
have little or no foundation. The explanation for
this particular myth was heard from the late
Brigadier Sir Ian Fraser.
In the second World War penicillin
was being trialled for infected gunshot and shrapnel
wounds
Because it was in short supply, it
had to be recovered from the urine of recipients for
reuse later. Many soldiers convalescing in field
hospitals were allowed beer as a comfort.
This increased the volume of the
urine and made the process of recovering the
penicillin lengthier, so the commanding officer
banned these troops from drinking beer and this led
to the belief that alcohol should not be consumed
with anti-biotics.
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