Can patients with duodenal ulcers drink alcohol?
Disease description:
I usually enjoy drinking alcohol and have two glasses before each meal. Recently, I’ve been experiencing persistent abdominal discomfort, so I went to the hospital for a checkup; the doctor diagnosed me with duodenal ulcer. Is it safe to drink alcohol if I have a duodenal ulcer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Patients with duodenal ulcers must abstain from alcohol. Drinking alcohol during treatment for a duodenal ulcer may disrupt the body’s natural defense balance against gastric acid and pepsin. When gastric acid and pepsin overwhelm mucosal defenses and cause autodigestion of the mucosa, persistent mucosal erosion can occur—potentially progressing to gastric cancer. Therefore, alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited during duodenal ulcer treatment.
