Can you drink alcohol after a tetanus shot?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on June 14, 2025
00:00
00:00

Tetanus shots are not recommended with alcohol consumption. Because tetanus shots are divided into tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test and is relatively cheap, and tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test and is quite expensive. The majority of outpatient and emergency departments use tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test treatment. Patients who are allergic to the skin test are prohibited from using it. Drinking alcohol causes dilation of the capillaries throughout the body and skin flushing, which can affect the results of the skin test, bringing risks to the treatment, and also increasing the cost of treatment. It is generally recommended that the tetanus shot be administered within 24 hours of injury, especially for patients with deep wounds, heavily contaminated wounds, contamination with soil or rust, or large open fractures.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
41sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for tetanus?

Tetanus is a special type of infection that should be treated through routine surgery or emergency surgery. It is caused by the tetanus bacillus, an anaerobic bacterium typically found in feces. Tetanus is easily contracted after an injury, especially in deep wounds. Clinically, tetanus manifests initially with difficulty in opening the mouth, followed by a grimacing smile, convulsions, and respiratory difficulties later on. Preventive measures include going to the hospital immediately after an injury to have the wound cleaned at the department of general surgery or emergency surgery and concurrently receiving a tetanus serum injection.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
45sec home-news-image

Is it necessary to get a tetanus shot?

This depends on the condition of the wound. If the wound is deep and small, and there is insufficient oxygen, then treatment for tetanus is necessary. In cases of open fractures or blast injuries with heavy contamination, such as contamination with soil or rust, treatment for tetanus is mandatory. This is because tetanus is caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani into human mucous membranes, producing a toxin that causes muscle spasms in the body, particularly affecting the jaw and respiratory muscles, leading to oxygen deprivation and asphyxiation. Therefore, if the wound requires treatment with a tetanus shot, treatment for tetanus is essential.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
48sec home-news-image

Where is the tetanus shot given?

Tetanus injections require administration into the muscle, typically in the deltoid or gluteus maximus, which is below the patient's shoulder or on the buttocks. Before administering a tetanus shot, a skin test is usually performed. The test takes place on the inner side of the forearm, where 0.1ml of the solution is injected. Patients might experience some pain during the tetanus shot, but most can tolerate it. The tetanus shot effectively prevents tetanus infections, especially in cases where the wound is deep with a small surface area that can create anaerobic conditions conducive to the colonization and proliferation of Clostridium tetani, leading to tetanus infection. Vaccination can effectively prevent some serious diseases.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
38sec home-news-image

Can tetanus be cured?

Tetanus is a curable disease. It is usually caused by an infection with the tetanus bacillus, which produces a specific infection in the human body. Clinically, it is mainly manifested as muscle tension and rigidity, with the primary symptoms being difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, neck stiffness, and opisthotonos. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory confusion, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest. Therefore, patients with tetanus should go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. With standardized and systematic treatment, the vast majority of patients can be cured.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
1min 20sec home-news-image

What should I do if I am allergic to tetanus shots?

The full name of the tetanus shot is tetanus antitoxin serum, which is mainly made from horse serum and has certain allergenic properties. If a patient is allergic to tetanus antitoxin serum, desensitization injections can be used, which involves gradually injecting one milliliter of the tetanus antitoxin serum into the body in four or more sessions, with each injection spaced about twenty to thirty minutes apart. After each injection, it is important to closely observe the patient's reaction, including checking for signs of itching in the nose, hives throughout the body, or difficulty breathing. If any of these symptoms occur, emergency treatment should be administered. If the injections of tetanus antitoxin serum cannot be completed multiple times, or if the patient is unwilling to accept this method of injection, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered instead of tetanus antitoxin serum. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a sensitivity test and can be directly injected into the body without causing an allergic reaction, although it is more expensive.