# Can I Take Aspirin And Alcohol Together? | Sierra Recovery > Aspirin and alcohol together are not a good match. Learn why taking aspirin while drinking alcohol for pain relief can cause potential risks to health. [Home](/) / [Blog](/blog/) / Alcohol Alcohol # Can I Take Aspirin and Alcohol Together? Aspirin and alcohol together are not a good match. Learn why taking aspirin while drinking alcohol for pain relief can cause potential risks to health. Written byKristel Mae DavidClinical Editor Clinically reviewed by[Lucy Britton](/clinical-team/)Clinical Therapist Last checked for clinical accuracy on 10 April 2025. This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice about your own situation. Taking aspirin and alcohol together is not advisable. Both irritate the stomach lining, so combining them raises the risk of gastritis, ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Alcohol also increases how much aspirin is absorbed from the gut and raises its concentration in organs including the brain, which can lead to toxicity. The risk is higher for anyone with a bleeding disorder, existing stomach problems or liver disease, or who takes other blood thinners. ## Before you go further, a safety note If you are physically dependent on alcohol or on benzodiazepines such as diazepam or alprazolam, do not stop taking them suddenly. Sudden withdrawal from either can cause seizures and can be life threatening. A medically supervised withdrawal is the safe route, and your GP can arrange one. In an emergency call 999 in the UK, or 112 anywhere in Europe. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, NHS 111 is available in England around the clock. Clinical sign-off required before publication. This article describes how a prescription medicine interacts with alcohol. It must not go live until a named clinician has reviewed it and the review date is recorded. Aspirin is one of the most common over-the-counter medications widely used for various conditions ranging from fever to inflammatory and heart diseases. As with any medication, it does not come without side effects and these can lead to extreme discomfort or even harm to those who are taking it- especially when consumed together with alcohol. This article will take a closer look at the potential risks of taking these substances together. ## Understanding Aspirin Aspirin is classified as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat a wide spectrum of diseases. Like other NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, aspirin can be bought without a prescription from your provider. However, being an over-the-counter drug does not guarantee safety because self-medication with it can be harmful to your health. ### What is Aspirin? Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA), more commonly known as aspirin, is derived from the bark of willow trees and has been used for pain management for centuries. It is a salicylate that underwent its first clinical trial in the 18th century as a treatment for fever. About a hundred years later, it was studied for arthritic conditions and has expanded its use since then. It wasn't until the 1970s that the actual mode of action was discovered. Now, the medication is used for a gamut of diseases and its off-label uses are still expanding. ### How Does Aspirin Work in the Body? The perception of pain is mediated by substances in the body called prostaglandins. A different type of prostaglandin also causes fever. In a nutshell, prostaglandins are responsible for pain, swelling and fever and aspirin exerts its therapeutic effects on these chemicals by preventing conversion into their active forms. ### What are the Common Uses of Aspirin? Aspirin is particularly helpful in reducing swelling in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and pain control even for mild to moderate pain in muscle aches and toothaches. On top of its use in pain management, it also lends itself well to heart conditions as a blood thinner to prevent the incidence of heart attack or stroke. Moreover, aspirin has been used as a fever reducer for decades. Combining alcohol with medication is one of the risks the pre-travel assessment checks for. ## The Effects of Alcohol on the Body Alcohol has been known to affect different systems of the body and the intensity of these effects depend on the amount and the strength of alcohol consumed. In the short or long term, most of these are proved to be detrimental to your overall health. ### What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Alcohol? When alcohol enters your system, the alcohol is absorbed in the gut and directly enters the blood stream. It then enters the brain by crossing the blood-brain barrier and directly affects the central nervous system. Once in the brain, alcohol slows down brain activity which results in decreased alertness, reflexes, response time and coordination. Loss of inhibition can also occur leading to rash behaviours such as impulsiveness and engaging in carelessness. This substance is metabolised in the liver; in essence, the liver breaks down alcohol and processes it until it is eliminated from the body. Over time, the repeated exposure to the byproducts of alcohol, liver damage occurs which results from inflammation and direct injury to liver cells and could eventually lead to end-stage liver disease or cirrhosis. Kidney health suffers as well as this substance causes decline in kidney function. Moreover, heavy alcohol drinking can directly impact heart health. The incidence of hypertension or elevated blood pressure is closely linked with alcohol intake and this eventually increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Chronic alcohol consumption is also associated with an increased the risk of dementia, stomach bleeding and cancers of the breast, colon and stomach. ### How Does Alcohol Affect Blood Thinning? Alcohol interacts with blood thinning by its direct effect on the platelets in the blood which are primarily involved in blood clotting. Mild to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with decreased platelet activation which can increase the risk of bleeding. According to studies, alcohol reduces the formation of clots by its direct effects on the clotting factors that are in the blood. This is the reason why it is important to avoid intake of alcohol while you're on blood thinners such as aspirin or if you have issues related to bleeding. ## Is it Safe to Take Aspirin With Alcohol? Drinking alcohol while on any medication is generally not recommended, especially when on aspirin therapy. Taking both substances together can cause life-threatening complications. This is one of the things that you should consider when you plan on drinking on this medication because the risks of complications may be multiplied. ### The Risks Of Mixing Aspirin And Alcohol Alcohol may not influence the metabolism of aspirin but it enhances the drug's absorption from the gut. Alcohol also increases the concentration of aspirin in the different organs of the body, especially in the brain, which may lead to toxicity. Hence, it is dangerous to ingest alcohol and aspirin at the same time, as this may exacerbate the side effects of aspirin ### Can Aspirin Increase The Effects Of Alcohol? Yes. Both of these substances are known to be irritant to the stomach and they can increase the chances of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and stomach ulcers. This is the reason why aspirin should always be taken with food. In severe cases, these ulcers may perforate and cause bleeding. Hence, the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding or stomach bleeding increases with concomitant aspirin and alcohol consumption. ### Are There Specific Health Conditions Where This Combination is More Dangerous? The combination of alcohol and aspirin is more dangerous in people at risk for bleeding such as those with familial bleeding disorders and advanced liver disease. ## When Should You Avoid Mixing Aspirin and Alcohol? If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions in the past: bleeding disorder, gastrointestinal problems (gastritis, ulcer), liver disease, or if you're on other blood thinners, it is best to avoid drinking alcohol. These potential complications can be life-threatening and should not be taken lightly. ### What Symptoms Should Prompt You to Seek Medical Advice? If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible: - abdominal pain - dark stools - vomiting - nausea - dizziness - lethargy - increased rate of breathing These signs and symptoms may indicate toxicity or poisoning from aspirin or active bleeding inside the body. Hence prompt medical attention is necessary. ### Can You Manage Pain Without Mixing These Substances? It is definitely possible to manage pain without taking the risk of mixing alcohol and aspirin. It is just a matter of choosing the appropriate alternatives such as other over-the-counter pain medications. In addition to this, a lot of non-pharmacologic approaches can alleviate pain such as exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, physical therapy, acupuncture etc. These are safer options that takes out the risk of exposing yourself to unwanted side effects brought about by taking alcohol and aspirin at the same time. ### Is someone you love drinking too much? Families are usually the first to see it and the last to be asked. Talk to a clinician about what you are seeing, in confidence and with no obligation. [Take the self-assessment](/self-assessment/) [+44 1202 653136](tel:+441202653136) ## Alternatives to Aspirin for Pain Relief There are other options available as an alternative to aspirin for pain relief. Most of these are over-the counter medications such as Acetaminophen and NSAIDS like Ibuprofen and Naproxen Sodium. These medications have fewer side effects and are lesser known to cause stomach irritation and bleeding. Acetaminophen is a good choice if you can't take NSAIDs, however unlike NSAIDs it does not have anti-inflammatory properties. You can also take Ibuprofen or Naproxen but would still need to take these with food as they can still cause gastric disturbances. It is best to talk to your doctor regarding the medication that is right for you. ### Can Alternatives Produce Interactions with Alcohol Consumption? Yes, these alternatives can still interact with alcohol. That is why, it is never safe to consume any amount of alcohol with any medication. More importantly, it is always recommended to seek medical advice before utilising any of these alternatives for pain relief so that your doctor can develop a personalised treatment plan for you. ## Help for Alcohol Use Disorder Here at Sierra Recovery, we are dedicated in providing the best care for those who choose to break free from addiction. Our healthcare professionals are experts in their field and we specialise in employing evidence-based strategies that will help you with your recovery. We are here to support you in overcoming the challenges you may face in your recovery and help you achieve sobriety. Take the first step to sobriety today Last reviewed 2026-07-25. Next review 2027-07-25. ### Talk to a clinician today You will speak to our admissions team, all of them clinicians. Confidential, no obligation, and we will tell you honestly whether our programme fits. [See how admission works](/admissions/) [+44 1202 653136](tel:+441202653136) ## Questions people actually ask Can aspirin be used to reduce the effects of hangover caused by alcohol? Yes. Aspirin can help treat headache caused by hangovers but it is safer choose other medications that pose lesser risks. Stay hydrated and talk to your doctor for safer remedies. How many hours should I wait after taking aspirin before I can drink alcohol? As a general rule of thumb, it is safer to wait at least 72 hours from your last intake of aspirin before you can drink again. Does the type of alcohol consumed affect the interaction with aspirin? Regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage, ethanol, which is the main type of alcohol in alcoholic beverages, will always interact with aspirin. Which symptoms should prompt me to seek medical advice? Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have abdominal pain, dark stools, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, lethargy or an increased rate of breathing. These signs can indicate toxicity or poisoning from aspirin, or active bleeding inside the body, and both need prompt assessment. In an emergency call 999 in the UK, or 112 anywhere in Europe. Why does alcohol affect bleeding risk? Alcohol acts directly on the platelets in your blood, which are central to clotting. Mild to moderate drinking is associated with decreased platelet activation, which can increase the risk of bleeding, and alcohol also reduces clot formation through its effects on clotting factors. That is why drinking is best avoided while taking blood thinners such as aspirin, or if you already have bleeding problems. Who is most at risk from mixing aspirin and alcohol? The combination is more dangerous for people at risk of bleeding, including those with familial bleeding disorders or advanced liver disease. If you have been diagnosed with a bleeding disorder, gastritis or an ulcer, or liver disease, or you take other blood thinners, it is best to avoid alcohol. These complications can be life threatening and should not be taken lightly. What are the alternatives to aspirin for pain relief? Other over-the-counter options include acetaminophen and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, which are less associated with stomach irritation and bleeding. Acetaminophen suits people who cannot take NSAIDs, although it has no anti-inflammatory action. Ibuprofen and naproxen still need to be taken with food. All of these can still interact with alcohol, so ask your doctor which is right for you. Can I manage pain without mixing the two? Yes. Alongside other over-the-counter pain medications, there are non-drug approaches that can ease pain, including exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, physical therapy and acupuncture. These avoid the added risk that comes with combining alcohol and aspirin. If pain is persistent, a doctor can put together a plan that suits your health and any other medicines you take. + ## Talk to a clinician today You will speak to our admissions team, English-speaking clinicians who know the programme and the people in it. Callback within 24 hours. Step 1 of 3 Confidential, and no obligation Registered health centre. 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