Why Can’t You Have Alcohol After a Colonoscopy?

Since sedative are administered for a colonoscopy alcohol should not be consumed in the hours after the procedure, state HealthTap contributors. Alcohol interferes with the necessary sedation effects that reduce anxiety, diminish memory and relieve pain; it should not be consumed for at least 24 hours after the procedure.

Alcohol must also be avoided in the five to seven days prior to undergoing a colonoscopy, cites HealthTap contributor Dr. Kristel Hunt. This is because of the ability of alcohol to rev up the liver and make sedation more difficult.

Because of the sedative effects, patients should also avoid: operating motor vehicles or other machinery, taking non-prescribed medications, being the lone person responsible for watching children and making financial decisions or sign legal documents, according to Gastronet.

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