What happens to your body when you stop drinking alcohol?

Key takeaways

• Regular heavy drinkers may go through withdrawal in the first days, which can be dangerous; get medical advice before stopping.
• An alcohol-related fatty liver can usually recover after you stop; cirrhosis damage usually cannot be reversed.
• Cutting back lowers blood pressure in people who drank more than two drinks a day.
• Stopping is linked to lower risk of some cancers, though it may take years for risk to fall to that of never-drinkers.
• Sleep and mood can improve, but some sleep, mood and energy changes may linger for months after withdrawal.

What happens in the first days after you stop drinking?

If you drink regularly, the first change may be withdrawal. The more often you drink, the more likely you are to have withdrawal symptoms when you stop. The NHS says symptoms begin within 6 to 12 hours of your last drink and usually last 3 to 7 days, and MedlinePlus says they tend to peak by 24 to 72 hours.

NIAAA lists withdrawal symptoms such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, feeling low, or a seizure. Because stopping suddenly can be very dangerous for people who are dependent on alcohol, the NHS advises getting medical help before you try to stop.

Can your liver recover after you stop drinking?

Often, yes, depending on how much damage has already happened. The NHS says that if you stop drinking, your liver can often recover, and describes three stages of alcohol-related liver disease:

• Fatty liver: the liver can usually recover if you stop drinking.
• Alcohol-related hepatitis: the liver may be able to recover from some of the damage.
• Cirrhosis: the liver is badly damaged and scarred, and this damage usually cannot be reversed.

Does your blood pressure go down when you stop drinking?

For heavier drinkers, the evidence says yes. A 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis in The Lancet Public Health pooled 36 trials with 2,865 participants. In people who drank more than two drinks a day, cutting back was associated with lower blood pressure; in people who drank two or fewer, it was not associated with a significant change. The biggest drops, about 5.5 mm Hg systolic and 4 mm Hg diastolic, were in people who drank six or more drinks a day and roughly halved their intake.

Will you sleep better and feel better?

Health agencies say you may, though these are general statements rather than precise timelines. The NHS notes that alcohol can help some people fall asleep quickly but disrupts sleep patterns and deep sleep, so cutting down should help you feel more rested when you wake up. It also points to a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, and says cutting down may put you in a better mood generally. NIAAA says mild depression or anxiety may go away when you cut down or stop; see a doctor or mental health professional if those symptoms persist or get worse.

Recovery isn't always a straight line. MedlinePlus notes that symptoms such as sleep changes, rapid changes in mood and fatigue may last for months after withdrawal. The NHS doesn't give a set day-by-day timeline for these changes, so be cautious with charts that promise specific organ changes on specific days.

Does quitting alcohol lower your cancer risk?

Over time, yes. WHO says alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including bowel cancer and female breast cancer. The U.S. National Cancer Institute says stopping drinking is associated with lower risks of mouth and esophageal cancers, and possibly throat, breast and colorectal cancers. It may take years for cancer risk to return to that of people who never drank, but NCI says it is never too late to stop drinking and reduce the risks.