Advertisement

Can I take alcohol if I have duodenal ulcer?

Ms Arunima Saha
Nutrition Counsellor,
Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals,
Kolkata

Q: Recently an endoscopy examination has indicated that I have a D1 duodenal ulcer (1 cm x 1 cm). There is no bleeding and it looks like red rashes on the intestinal wall. I am taking medication for H. pylori. Is consumption of alcohol strictly prohibited for patients with duodenal ulcer? Can I take moderate level of alcohol? I generally take one peg for one hour. Some times I feel nauseated and alcohol helps me to overcome this. Please advise.

A:Alcohol intake may irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa / wall. Any intake, whether small or large, is not recommended in a case of ulceration. Nausea and relief on intake of alcohol is purely psychosomatic and should be stopped.