Is it really effective to take liver-protecting tablets after drinking alcohol?

Whether taking liver-protective tablets after drinking alcohol is effective depends on the amount of alcohol consumed.

Liver-protective tablets are a type of traditional Chinese medicine primarily used to promote liver function, regulate qi, strengthen the spleen, and aid digestion. They also help lower transaminase levels and are commonly used for chronic hepatitis and early-stage liver cirrhosis. Since alcohol consumption leads to significant metabolism of alcohol in the liver, it can cause liver damage. Taking liver-protective tablets after light drinking may help reduce liver injury to some extent and promote faster metabolism of alcohol, thereby offering protective effects on the liver.

However, if a person habitually consumes large amounts of alcohol over a long period, leading to severe liver damage—such as elevated transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels, or even increased bilirubin causing jaundice—taking liver-protective tablets after drinking will generally not provide protective benefits. In such cases, prompt medical evaluation and treatment at a hospital are necessary to prevent disease progression and severe liver damage, which would complicate recovery.