There are health concerns about mixing chemo and alcohol.
Chemotherapy medications can interact with alcohol, worsening some of the side effects of drinking.
Some of these interactions are minor, while others may be severe.
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Interactions With Chemo Drugs
Drugs used to treat cancer are processed by the liver.
These include:
How Much Alcohol Can You Drink on Chemo?
The safest answer is “none.”
Ask your healthcare provider, but it’s probably best to avoid drinking alcohol during cancer treatment.
Summary
Drinking alcohol while undergoing chemotherapy could causeliver inflammationwhich can interfere with the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
Alcohol can indirectly affect chemotherapy by worsening its side effects, including mouth sores, nausea, and vomiting.
It can also increase the risk of depression.
American Cancer Society.Alcohol use and cancer.
National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH).Procarbazine.
Cancer Research UK.Lomustine (CCNU).
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Harmful interactions: Mixing alcohol with medicines.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Alcohol’s Effects on the Body.
American Cancer Society.Chemotherapy Side Effects.
American Cancer Society.Alcohol Use and Cancer.
