New to Alcohol-Related Liver Disease? Start Here
Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
Liver damage caused by sustained alcohol intake, from fatty change through hepatitis to cirrhosis.
Key takeaways
- UK weekly guideline: 14 units, spread over 3 or more days
- Early disease: usually causes no symptoms
- Most useful single change: Reduce or stop alcohol; this is the single determining factor.
- Commonest mistake: Stopping abruptly without advice if you drink heavily daily.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
Early stages are reversible and silent, and by the time symptoms appear the damage is often advanced.
Start here
Start with two. Add the rest once those have stopped taking effort.
- Reduce or stop alcohol; this is the single determining factor
- Ask for a fibrosis assessment rather than relying on liver blood tests
Then add these
The next additions, when you are ready for them.
- Seek support rather than attempting abrupt withdrawal alone
- Have hepatitis A and B vaccination if advised
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| UK weekly guideline | 14 units, spread over 3 or more days |
| Early disease | usually causes no symptoms |
| Fatty change | largely reversible with abstinence |
| Cirrhosis | not reversible, but progression can be halted |
| Drinkline | 0300 123 1110 |
Common early mistakes
- Stopping abruptly without advice if you drink heavily daily
- Paracetamol above the stated dose, particularly with regular alcohol
- Assuming normal blood tests mean no damage
Where to go next
- Understanding Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: A Plain-English Explainer
- Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: What to Do, in Order
- Alcohol-Related Liver Disease — the reference entry
- The Evidence on Liver Function Tests, Without the Hype
- Hepatitis B and C: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Do not stop suddenly without medical advice if you drink heavily every day — withdrawal can cause seizures and can be life-threatening. Seek urgent help for yellowing of the skin or eyes, vomiting blood, black tarry stools, abdominal swelling, or confusion and drowsiness.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Cirrhosis in over 16s: assessment and management
- British Liver Trust — alcohol and liver
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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