Can You Drink Alcohol Before a Stress Test?
The MedlinePlus pages we checked give no alcohol rule for stress tests, so ask the clinic that booked yours. They do say to avoid caffeine for 24 hours before a nuclear stress test and to fast as told. Your appointment instructions come first.
Free download
Standard Drinks Cheat Sheet (PDF): How many US standard drinks and UK units are in beer, wine, spirits and liqueurs, by can, glass and bottle. 33 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.In this article
What MedlinePlus says
For a nuclear stress test, MedlinePlus says: “You will need to avoid caffeine for 24 hours before the test.” That covers tea, coffee, all sodas (even those labeled caffeine-free), chocolate and pain relievers that contain caffeine.
You may be told to fast starting at midnight, with a few sips of water allowed for medicines. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes with non-skid soles.
Other stress tests
The MedlinePlus page on stress tests says you will usually need to fast (not eat or drink) and stop smoking for at least a few hours before the test, and you may need to avoid caffeine for longer. Your provider gives other instructions.
Alcohol and medicines
- Neither MedlinePlus page mentions alcohol, so we cannot give an official rule. Ask the clinic when you book.
- MedlinePlus says your provider will tell you if you need to stop any medicines. Do not stop or change medicines on your own.
- Our advice: because tests often require fasting, it is simplest to skip alcohol until you have asked.
See our standard drink calculator to work out how much you have had.
Can I drink alcohol, wine or beer the night before a nuclear stress test?
We found no official rule either way. The MedlinePlus pages we read do not mention alcohol, and the label for Lexiscan (regadenoson), a drug used for chemical stress tests, does not mention it either. That covers a glass of wine, beer or a shot of whiskey the day before, or 12 or 24 hours before your test. Ask the clinic that booked your test. It may have its own instruction, and the same answer applies to PET/CT, thallium, echo and Lexiscan scans.
Does alcohol affect stress test results or cause a false positive or negative?
We found no official source that says alcohol causes a false positive or false negative, so we will not claim it. What the Lexiscan label does warn about is caffeine: avoid methylxanthine-containing products for at least 12 hours before the scan, because they can interfere with the drug. MedlinePlus gives 24 hours for a nuclear test. Follow the longer time your clinic gives.
What if I already drank alcohol before my stress test?
- Do not hide it. Tell the staff what you drank and when.
- Ask whether to keep the appointment or move it.
- If you take heart medicines, do not stop them yourself.
Can a stress test detect alcohol?
We found no official page saying a stress test, including a lung (pulmonary) one, measures alcohol.
People also ask
Can I drink alcohol before a nuclear stress test?
MedlinePlus does not mention alcohol. Ask the clinic that scheduled your test.
Can I drink wine the day before a stress test?
We found no official rule. Ask your provider. The documented rule is no caffeine for 24 hours before a nuclear test.
What should I avoid before a nuclear stress test?
MedlinePlus says avoid caffeine for 24 hours, including tea, coffee, all sodas, chocolate and some painkillers, and fast as told.
Can I drink alcohol the night before a nuclear stress test?
We found no official rule. MedlinePlus and the Lexiscan label do not mention alcohol, so ask the clinic that booked your test.
Can you have wine or a glass of wine before a stress test?
We found no official page that allows or forbids it. Neither MedlinePlus nor the Lexiscan label mentions alcohol; ask your clinic.
Does alcohol affect stress test results?
We found no official source saying so, including a false positive or negative. Caffeine is the documented problem: at least 12 hours off for a Lexiscan scan per its label, 24 hours for a nuclear test per MedlinePlus.
Sources
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
