Does Alcohol Thin Your Blood? Know The Risks
7th September of 2021

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Alcohol should be limited while using Effient, especially among older adults. Some alcohol use may still be permissible; blood thinners and alcohol however, consultation with a doctor is essential to determine the risks for specific situations. Alyssa who is the National Director of Digital Marketing, joined the Banyan team in 2016, bringing her five-plus years of experience.

Can drinking alcohol cause bleeding?

Drinking too much alcohol can wreak havoc on the digestive tract. It tears away at the tissue, causing it to become very sensitive. So sensitive, that the tissue can tear. The tears are called Mallory-Weiss tears, and they can create a substantial amount of bleeding.

Drinking alcohol is also not recommended before surgery because of its blood-thinning effects. You could possibly bleed more during surgery if you were to drink 24 hours before. Ignoring this medical advice could cause complications during the procedure. It first reduces the number of platelets in the blood by getting in the way of blood cell production. It then makes the platelets less sticky so it’s harder for them to stick together and form clots. If you struggle with controlling your alcohol use, disclose this to your physician before they prescribe a blood thinner.

How to Thicken Your Blood if Alcohol Has Thinned It

You should limit your alcohol intake if you are taking blood thinners. One drink on occasion is not likely to cause problems, but moderate to heavy drinking with anticoagulant medications is dangerous. It increases the risk of bleeding-type strokes as well as blood loss from what would otherwise be a small injury. The blood clotting process involves a range of different components such as platelets and clotting factors, these factors are named and numbered and all play an important role. The blood clotting process is essential when you’re injured. Sometimes, however, a blood clot can appear in an artery that supplies your heart, brain, or lungs or a deep vein in the lower leg.

If your doctor does give you the okay to drink alcohol while taking blood thinners, do so in moderation. And even then, it’s best to avoid drinking while taking any medications. Alcohol also makes the platelets you do have especially sticky, increasing the likelihood that they’ll clump together or clot. While drinking a glass of wine or two a day may not present any risks, having more than three alcoholic drinks daily could increase your risk for a stroke caused by hemorrhaging. Always consult your physician before drinking alcohol if you are currently taking blood thinners.

Do alcohol and amlodipine mix?

However, the information provided by Alcohol Rehab Help is not a substitute for professional treatment advice. The risk of acute major upper gastrointestinal bleeding among users of aspirin and ibuprofen at various levels of alcohol consumption. All unique content created by the Addiction Group team is sourced from current scientific research and fact-checked by an addiction counseling expert before publication. However, the information provided by Addiction Group is not a substitute for professional treatment advice.

Categories