Blog · Published 29 October 2026 · By Sober Counter · How we write these posts

Constipation after quitting alcohol: why it happens, how long it lasts and what helps

Why your bowels can slow down after you stop drinking, how long it usually lasts, what helps, and when constipation after quitting alcohol needs a doctor.

Quick answer

Alcohol speeds up the gut, and loose stools are common in people who drink heavily. When you stop, your bowels can slow down to a pace that feels like constipation. Changes that often come with quitting add to it: eating more sugar and less fibre, drinking less fluid overall, a new daily routine and stress. More fibre, plenty of water and a daily walk usually help within a few days to a few weeks. See a GP if it does not improve, keeps coming back, or comes with blood in your poo, weight loss or tummy pain.

Why quitting alcohol can make you constipated

No study has measured constipation in people who have just stopped drinking, so nobody can give you a figure for how common it is. But what we know about alcohol and the gut, and the NHS's list of common causes, explain why it happens to many people.

Your gut was running fast. Alcohol affects the muscles that move food through the intestines. Reviews of the research describe faster movement through the gut after drinking, less water absorbed, and diarrhoea as a common complaint in people who drink heavily. When the alcohol stops, your bowels may settle to a slower pace than you are used to, and that change can feel like constipation.

Your diet changes. The NHS lists "not eating enough fibre" and "changing your diet or daily routine" among the common causes of constipation. Many people crave sugar after they stop drinking, and sweets, biscuits and white bread fill the gap that drinks left, with very little fibre. Our guide to sugar cravings after quitting alcohol explains why.

You may be drinking less fluid. "Not drinking enough fluids" is also on the NHS's list. If a few pints or a bottle of wine used to make up a big part of what you drank each day, you may now be drinking much less liquid overall without noticing.

Stress and your routine. The NHS also lists "stress, anxiety or depression" as a cause. The first weeks without alcohol often bring both a new routine and more anxiety. Our guide to anxiety after quitting alcohol covers that side.

Medicines. Constipation can be a side effect of medicine. If you were prescribed anything when you stopped drinking, check the leaflet, and speak to your GP before you stop taking it.

How long does it last?

There is no study that tracks this after quitting alcohol. The NHS says that with changes to diet and lifestyle, "you may notice a difference within a few days. Sometimes it takes a few weeks before your symptoms improve."

So if your bowels feel slow in the first week or two, that is not unusual. If nothing has improved after a few weeks of the steps below, or it keeps coming back, see a GP.

The NHS describes constipation as not pooing as often or finding it hard to poo, and says it is likely if you have not had a poo at least 3 times in the last week.

What helps

The NHS advice for constipation:

More fibre, gradually. Fruit, vegetables and cereals. Adding some wheat bran, oats or linseed to your food helps too. Increase it slowly over a few days.
Plenty of water and other fluids. Keep a glass or bottle within reach, especially at the time you used to drink.
Move every day. The NHS says "a daily walk or run can help you poo more regularly".
A regular toilet routine. Keep to a regular time and place, and do not delay when you feel the urge.
A pharmacist can suggest a laxative if diet and lifestyle changes are not helping. Most work within 3 days and are meant for a short time only.

Going back to drinking will not fix it. The NHS advice is to drink plenty of water and other fluids and avoid alcohol.

If your gut feels unsettled in other ways, our timeline of what happens when you stop drinking shows what else changes in the first days and weeks, and our guide to 30 days without alcohol covers the first month.

When to get help

If you drink heavily every day, speak to a doctor or a local alcohol service before you stop. Stopping suddenly when you are dependent on alcohol can be dangerous.

See a GP if you:

are constipated and it is not getting better with treatment
are regularly constipated or regularly bloated
have blood in your poo
have lost weight without trying
are constipated and feel tired all the time
notice a sudden change in your bowel habits
have tummy pain

Questions

Is constipation normal after quitting alcohol?

It is common. Alcohol speeds up the gut, so when you stop, your bowels can slow down. Eating more sugar and less fibre, drinking less fluid overall, stress and a new routine, all common when you quit, are on the NHS's list of causes.

How long does constipation last after quitting alcohol?

No study has measured it. The NHS says that with more fibre, more fluids and exercise, you may notice a difference within a few days, though it sometimes takes a few weeks. If it does not improve, see a GP.

Why am I constipated after I stopped drinking?

Most likely a mix of things: your gut no longer being sped up by alcohol, less fibre (often because of sugar cravings), less fluid than before, and stress. A medicine you were given when you stopped can also be the cause.

What helps constipation after quitting alcohol?

Gradually add fibre from fruit, vegetables, oats or linseed, drink plenty of water, walk every day and keep a regular toilet routine. A pharmacist can suggest a laxative for a short time if that is not enough.

Sources

Need support right now?

In the UK, the NHS lists free alcohol support services: NHS alcohol support. In the US, the SAMHSA National Helpline is free, confidential and open all day, every day. Elsewhere, your local health service can point you to help near you.

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