Table of Contents
- What Is a Concussion?
- Can You Drink Alcohol After a Concussion?
- How Long After a Concussion Can You Drink?
- Why Alcohol Can Make a Concussion Worse
- What Happens If You Drink Alcohol With a Concussion?
- What Should You Drink Instead?
- Can You Have Caffeine With a Concussion?
- Tips for Recovering From a Concussion
- Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles, CA
- References
One drink of alcohol post concussion, and the risks are just not worth it. Alcohol can affect balance, reaction time, judgment, sleep, memory and coordination, all of which could already be affected after a brain injury.
So can you have alcohol with a concussion? No is the safest answer. The medical advice is to stay away from alcohol until you are completely healed and your doctor has given you the all-clear to drink again. Drinking could make a concussion worse, slow the recovery process, make it harder to recognize warning signs and increase the risk of another concussion. Alcohol can also create a separate medical emergency. Severe intoxication may progress to alcohol poisoning, while symptoms such as vomiting, confusion, poor coordination, and difficulty waking can overlap with signs of a worsening brain injury.
This article explains what happens when alcohol and concussion overlap, how long you may need to avoid drinking, what to drink instead, and when symptoms require emergency medical attention․
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a form of mild traumatic brain injury, or mild TBI. Blow, bump, fall or sudden movement of the head that causes the brain to move inside the skull. This movement can produce chemical changes in the brain and may stretch or damage brain cells. Although concussions are often described as “mild,” their symptoms can interfere significantly with physical function, thinking, mood, and sleep.
Common concussion symptoms include:
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Feeling mentally slowed down or “foggy”
- Irritability, anxiety, or sadness
- Changes in sleep
Some symptoms begin immediately, while others may not appear until hours or days after the injury. Most people improve within days or several weeks, but recovery varies from person to person.
Concussions are also common locally. Los Angeles County public-health data previously estimated that more than 26 residents per day were treated in emergency departments or hospitals for concussions, illustrating how frequently these injuries affect the region.
Can You Drink Alcohol After a Concussion?
You should not drink alcohol while you are experiencing concussion symptoms or before a healthcare professional determines that you have recovered. MedlinePlus, a service of the United States National Library of Medicine, specifically advises against drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs until a person is completely recovered. Alcohol can inhibit recovery, impair decision making and increase the risk of another injury.
When people ask, “Can you drink alcohol with a concussion?”, they may assume that one drink is unlikely to matter. However, there is no established safe amount of alcohol during active concussion recovery.
Even a small quantity may worsen:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Poor concentration
- Balance problems
- Sleep disruption
- Emotional symptoms
Alcohol can also make it difficult for family members or clinicians to distinguish intoxication from neurological deterioration. For example, confusion, slurred speech, poor coordination, vomiting, and excessive sleepiness can occur with alcohol intoxication, but they can also indicate a serious complication after a head injury.
How Long After a Concussion Can You Drink?
There is no universal number of days that applies to everyone.
The safest recommendation is to wait until:
- All concussion symptoms have resolved
- You have returned to normal daily activities without symptoms
- You are no longer taking medications that interact with alcohol
- Your balance, concentration, sleep, and judgment have returned to normal
- A healthcare provider has confirmed that drinking is medically appropriate
Why Alcohol Can Make a Concussion Worse
Alcohol can intensify concussion symptoms because both affect many of the same neurological functions involved in thinking, movement, balance, and sleep.
Alcohol Affects the Same Functions as a Concussion
Both drinking with a concussion and alcohol intoxication can affect:
- Coordination
- Balance
- Memory
- Reaction time
- Judgment
- Concentration
- Mood
- Sleep
Because their effects overlap, alcohol can amplify symptoms and make recovery more difficult to monitor. A person may believe that dizziness or confusion is “just the alcohol,” when the symptoms could indicate worsening brain injury.
Alcohol Can Increase the Risk of Another Head Injury
Alcohol reduces coordination and slows reaction time. This puts you at greater risk for falls, car accidents, fights and other accidents. The brain is most vulnerable during recovery. Sustaining a second head injury before the first concussion has healed can lead to worse symptoms or a longer recovery.
Research reviewed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism describes a close two-way relationship between alcohol use and traumatic brain injury. Alcohol intoxication is a major predictor of TBI, and brain injury may also increase vulnerability to hazardous drinking in some individuals.
Alcohol Can Disrupt Restorative Sleep
Sleep is important during concussion recovery. However, alcohol can fragment sleep, reduce sleep quality, and contribute to early awakening. Alcohol can initially make a person feel sleepy, but it does not produce normal restorative sleep. Poor sleep can make headaches, fatigue, mood changes and trouble concentrating worse.
Alcohol May Interact With Medication
A person recovering from a concussion may take medication for pain, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, or sleep. These medicines may interact with alcohol, causing increased sedation, poor coordination, stomach irritation, liver damage or other unwanted effects. Always consult your health care provider or pharmacist before combining medication and alcohol.
Alcohol Can Cause Dehydration
Dehydration may worsen headache, fatigue, dizziness, and poor concentration. These symptoms can already occur after a concussion, making hydration particularly important during recovery.
What Happens If You Drink Alcohol With a Concussion?
How drinking and being concussed affects you will depend on how much you drink, how bad the injury is, what your symptoms are and your general health.
Possible effects include:
- Stronger headaches
- Increased dizziness or nausea
- Worsened balance and coordination
- Slower thinking and reaction time
- Poorer memory
- Increased irritability or mood changes
- More disrupted sleep
- Delayed recognition of emergency symptoms
- Increased risk of falls or another head injury
- Slower or more complicated recovery
This is why alcohol and concussion are considered an unsafe combination.
Anyone who has drunk alcohol after a head injury should not be left alone if symptoms are present. If there are any danger signs, a sober adult should stay with the person and call for emergency care. Do not assume vomiting, confusion, unusual behaviour or difficulty waking is due only to alcohol.
Can Alcohol Increase the Risk of Long-Term Problems?
Potential, particularly if drinking is heavy, repeated, or continues during recovery. Most people with mild TBI recover but some continue to have persistent symptoms including headaches, trouble concentrating, dizziness, sleep, anxiety or mood issues. The CDC notes that symptoms lasting months may be described as post-concussive syndrome, particularly in people with previous concussions or pre-existing conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Research also suggests that traumatic brain injury and hazardous alcohol use can interact through changes involving inflammation, executive function, reward processing, and brain signaling. That does not mean that one drink will automatically cause permanent brain damage. However, alcohol adds avoidable risk during a period when the brain is recovering.
People who already have difficulty controlling their alcohol intake may find it challenging to stop after an injury. Understanding the 4 stages of alcoholism can help you determine if drinking has crossed the threshold of occasional use.
What Should You Drink Instead?
Fluids help the body to recover generally and can alleviate symptoms that are worsened by dehydration.
Better options include:
- Water
- Oral electrolyte drinks
- Non-caffeinated tea
- Low-sugar beverages
- Broth or soup when nausea affects appetite
- Smoothies or other nutritious drinks, if tolerated
Avoid using energy drinks as a substitute for rest. Large amounts of caffeine can worsen anxiety, sleep disruption, headaches, shakiness, or rapid heart rate.
Can You Have Caffeine With a Concussion?
Most people can handle some caffeine, but it is contingent upon symptoms and usual caffeine amount. Withdrawal headaches are common when someone who consumes caffeine daily suddenly stops. In contrast, too much caffeine can worsen insomnia, dizziness, irritability, anxiety or headaches.
Ask your healthcare provider whether caffeine is appropriate for you. If permitted, use a modest amount and avoid caffeine late in the day.
Tips for Recovering From a Concussion
Every concussion is different. Follow the discharge instructions given by your emergency physician, primary-care provider, neurologist, or concussion specialist. The CDC recommends relative rest during the first one or two days, followed by a gradual return to light activities that do not significantly worsen symptoms. Prolonged, complete rest is usually not necessary in uncomplicated concussion recovery. A short walk may be appropriate, but stop or reduce activity if symptoms increase.
Avoid Another Head Injury
Do not return to contact sports, risky physical work, cycling, driving, or activities with a fall risk until medically cleared.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Regularly
Drink water throughout the day and consume balanced meals. Skipping meals and becoming dehydrated can worsen headache, nausea, weakness, and fatigueKeep a regular bedtime, reduce screens and loud music before sleep, and sleep in a quiet, dark room. The CDC also recommends limiting activities that worsen symptoms.
Avoid Alcohol and Recreational Drugs
Do not resume drinking simply because symptoms seem slightly better. Full recovery means you can perform your usual activities without concussion symptoms. Also avoid combining alcohol with cannabis. Becoming cross faded may cause even greater impairment in coordination, judgment, memory, and reaction time.
Ask Before Taking Medication
Medication that is appropriate for one person may be unsafe for another. Ask your clinician which pain relievers and other medicines are suitable after your injury.
Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles, CA
Alcohol and Concussion: FAQ
How Long After a Head Injury Can You Drink Alcohol?
What Not to Do During a Concussion?
What Is the 4 Hour Rule for Concussions?
Can You Die if You Drink With a Concussion?
Is It Bad to Drink With a Concussion if Symptoms Are Mild?
Can You Drink With Post-Concussion Syndrome?
Can One Drink Make a Concussion Worse?
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion. Signs and Symptoms.
https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/signs-symptoms/index.html - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What to Do After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion.
https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/response/index.html - MedlinePlus. Concussion. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
https://medlineplus.gov/concussion.html - MedlinePlus. Concussion in Adults – Discharge Instructions.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000126.htm - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol and Traumatic Brain Injury.
https://arcr.niaaa.nih.gov/ - Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Concussion Prevention and Surveillance Report.
https://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Benefits of Quitting Smoking.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/about/benefits-of-quitting.html - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cigarettes, Smoking, and Cancer.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/about/cigarettes-and-cancer.html - National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Smoking Cessation.
https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=3&id=1468 - American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Tobacco Cessation and Control Resources.
https://www.asco.org/news-initiatives/current-initiatives/cancer-care-initiatives/prevention-survivorship/tobacco-cessation-control - European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). Survivorship Patient Guide – Smoking Cessation.
https://www.esmo.org/ - National Cancer Institute (NCI). Quitting Smoking After Lung Cancer Diagnosis Improves Survival.
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2021/lung-cancer-quitting-smoking-improves-survival - World Health Organization (WHO). Tobacco Fact Sheet.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco
