Is It Okay to Drink Coffee With Antibiotics?
Diet & NutritionFood Safety

What Is Wrong With Drinking Caffeine While Taking Antibiotics?

What Is Wrong With Drinking Caffeine While Taking Antibiotics?
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Updated on October 23, 2025
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Certain medications may not mix well with other substances like caffeine. In fact, mixing coffee and antibiotics can lead to side effects or influence how well your medicine works.

So, can you drink coffee with antibiotics? Here's everything you need to know about combining caffeine and antibiotics.

If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, your morning cup of coffee or energy drink could influence its effectiveness. In some cases, it can increase the potency; in others, it may decrease it. Or it may not affect the antibiotic at all. In other cases, the antibiotic may increase the side effects of the caffeine.

Antibiotics Affecting Caffeine

Antibiotics are a type of medicine used to treat bacterial infections, according to MedlinePlus. But some of these medications can influence how caffeine affects your body.

For instance, certain antibiotics can actually stop your body from efficiently breaking down caffeine, which may enhance the potency of caffeine's effects.

According to MedlinePlus, mixing caffeine and antibiotics may lead to symptoms like jitters, racing heart, and trouble sleeping.

When in doubt, talk to your doctor. They'll let you know if you can drink coffee while taking antibiotics, if it would be better to reduce your caffeine intake, or if you should take your meds at a different time than your daily dose of caffeine.

Fluoroquinolones and Caffeine

Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, and they're best taken without caffeine because they can intensify caffeine's side effects, according to the National Health Service.

This includes different types of fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and gemifloxacin.

Taking ciprofloxacin puts you at risk for tendon problems and potentially lasting nerve damage, according to MedlinePlus. Only take it if your doctor prescribes it and follow their instructions to the letter — including avoiding caffeine — to minimize your chance of side effects.

Caffeine Affecting Antibiotics

If you drink a lot of coffee, tea, or energy drinks, or take caffeine pills, talk to your doctor about how your intake can affect your antibiotics' effectiveness.

That's because caffeine can potentially mess with the way your medication works. Research shows that caffeine can affect antibiotic potency.

Your best bet? If you're prescribed antibiotics, talk to your doctor about whether or not you should temporarily limit or quit caffeine to make sure you're taking your meds safely.

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