Risks of drinking alcohol after brain injury

Is this booklet for you? What is a brain injury?

Brain injuries include any damage to the brain.

This could be from a:

• Physical head injury
• Stroke
• Bleed in the brain
• Infection

Your doctor should be able to tell you if you or someone you care for has experienced a brain injury.

Drinking alcohol can cause negative effects in everyone if they drink too much. Alcohol can affect your:

• Memory
• Information processing
• Decision making
• Mobility
• Attention
• Sleep
• Coordination
• Vision

It can make people more likely to fall or injure themselves.

The areas affected by alcohol may already be affected in people with brain injuries. Those with a brain injury may be less able to compensate for the effects of alcohol.

Small amounts of alcohol can have a bigger effect due to changes in the brain after a brain injury.

People with brain injuries may feel ‘drunk’ faster. This can happen even when drinking the same amount or less than before their brain injury.

A seizure, also know as a fit, is an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

It may cause:

• Shaking
• Stiffness
• Confusion

Seizures can be dangerous and sometimes life threatening.

Alcohol can cause seizures in anyone, but it can greatly increase the risk in people with a brain injury.

If you have had a seizure before, even small amounts can trigger another one.

Your doctor may tell you to stop drinking alcohol completely.

Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety are more common after brain injury.

This is due to the direct changes in your brain following injury. Your mood may also be affected if the brain injury has had a big impact on your life, work, relationships or mobility.

Some people use alcohol as a coping strategy for their low mood or anxiety. This is because it can have a temporary relaxing effect.

Evidence shows us that alcohol can actually trigger or make mood disorders worse. It should not be used as a coping strategy.

Talk to your doctor or check the support services at the back of this booklet if you are using alcohol in this way.

Alcohol can interact with lots of medications including:

• Pain medications
• Anti-seizure drugs
• Antidepressants

Possible effects of mixing alcohol and medication are:

• Drowsiness
• Breathing problems
• Liver damage
• Bleeding
• Heart issues

Alcohol can also affect how medications work or are broken down in the body. You might not get the correct dose.

Ask your doctor if your medication is affected.

• Alcohol affects the brain in ways that make thinking and doing things harder.
• After brain injury, the same or less alcohol may make you feel more drunk.
• Alcohol increases seizure risk especially if you have had a seizure before.
• Alcohol can trigger or make mood disorders worse.
• Alcohol can interact with medications commonly used after a brain injury.

For these reasons, many people with brain injury will stop drinking alcohol completely. Especially in the early stages of recovery.

The risks will change as your recovery progresses. This will be different for everyone.

Speak to your doctor if you have questions about alcohol.

Resources to help you stop drinking alcohol are in the next section.

Speak to your doctor before stopping alcohol suddenly.

Most people can stop drinking without problems. But, sudden withdrawal can be dangerous for those who are dependent.

You may be at risk if:

• You’ve drunk large amounts for months or years
• You drink daily
• You’ve had withdrawal symptoms before

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal:

• Hand tremors (the shakes)
• Sweating
• Fast heart rate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Irritability, anxiety, depression
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not real)

Speak to your doctor if you are having any of these symptoms.

Headway – support for people with brain injury
Telephone: 0808 800 2244
[email protected]
www.headway.org.uk/supporting-org

WithYou – drug and alcohol service
www.wearewithyou.org.uk
Online chat available 7 days a week

Alcoholics Anonymous
Helpline: 0800 917 7650
[email protected]
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Stroke Association
Helpline: 0303 3033 100
[email protected]

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this booklet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, BSL, easy read or other languages). Please telephone the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2025 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/940/1125 November 2025 V1
Review date: 2028

Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk