How Medications and Alcohol Can Affect Your Massage Experience

Suzan D. Walker LMT 104331
Nov 25
4 min read

Person selects medication box from pharmacy shelf, holding blister packs of blue and white capsules. Shelves lined with medicine boxes.

Many clients are surprised to learn that certain medications, especially opioids and nerve-related prescriptions such as gabapentin and amitriptyline, can change the way the body feels pressure during massage therapy. These medications work by reducing pain signals or altering the way nerves communicate. While this can help with chronic pain, it can also decrease your ability to sense touch and pressure during your session.

When the body becomes desensitized, the pressure may feel lighter than it actually is. This often leads clients to request more pressure without realizing that the deeper the pressure, the greater the risk for tissue irritation or injury. Your safety always comes first, so understanding how these medications affect your sensory awareness is important.

Alcohol Can Also Desensitize Your Body

Alcohol is another factor that can significantly numb sensation. Even small amounts can impair your ability to feel pressure, discomfort, or pain, which means your body cannot accurately communicate what is safe or too much. Alcohol also affects balance, judgment, circulation, and reaction times. All of these impacts create a high-risk situation during a massage session.

Because of this, I do not allow alcohol consumption before or during your appointment. This applies even if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or any special event. A massage office is a professional environment and the liability is too high for both of us.

Alcohol impairment puts your safety at risk and it also becomes a liability for me as your therapist.

Why This Matters During Your Massage

When medications or alcohol reduce sensitivity, you may not feel normal pressure levels. You may think you need more pressure, even when your muscles are already receiving the maximum safe amount. You may not notice discomfort or strain until your tissues have already been overstimulated. This is why pressure requests must be approached with care, and why your intake and assessment guide every session.

Cannabis and Sensory Impairment

Cannabis is often overlooked, but it can strongly affect how the body interprets pressure. Depending on the strain and dosage, cannabis can either heighten or dull sensations. Many clients report feeling “floaty,” numb, hypersensitive, or unable to accurately communicate what feels safe. Cannabis also changes reaction time, pain perception, and overall body awareness. Arriving to your session under the influence can make it difficult for you to sense when pressure is too much or when something doesn't feel right, which increases the risk of injury.

For your safety, please avoid cannabis use before your appointment. Even if you feel relaxed or functional, your sensory system may not be able to respond normally during massage therapy.

Why This Matters During Your Massage

When medications, alcohol, or cannabis reduce sensitivity, you may not feel normal pressure levels. You may think you need more pressure even when your tissues are already receiving the maximum safe amount. You may not feel discomfort until the body is overstimulated. This is why your intake, assessment, and health history guide every session.

What You Can Do Before Your Session

Here are a few guidelines to help you get the most out of your massage safely.

Avoid taking pain-modulating medications right before your massage if medically appropriate.

If your healthcare provider allows you to adjust timing, consider taking these medications after your session rather than beforehand. This helps your body feel pressure more accurately.

Do not drink alcohol before your appointment.

Alcohol desensitizes nerve responses, increases liability, and creates unsafe conditions for hands-on work. Please arrive fully sober so I am able to provide a safe and effective session.

Communicate all medications you are currently taking.

This includes opioid pain medications, gabapentin, amitriptyline, nerve-related drugs, muscle relaxers, sleep aids, and anything that alters sensation. Knowing this allows me to adjust your session safely.

Notify me if you have neuropathy or reduced sensation.

Neuropathy can make pressure feel dull or completely absent. This information helps me determine what techniques are safe and what areas require extra caution.

Let the assessment guide the session.

Your health history and sensory feedback determine what I can and cannot do. This ensures your massage remains therapeutic and safe at all times.

Important Safety Notice: No Deep Pressure

For your well-being, I do not perform deep pressure on clients who have diabetes, neurological disorders, a history of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, neuropathy, or any condition that affects sensation or circulation. Deep pressure is also not provided in general. My goal is to protect your body, your tissues, and your long-term health. If you are wondering why your session does not include deeper pressure, it is because your medical history, medication use, or current sensory abilities indicate that it is unsafe.

Your Safety Is Always the Priority

Massage therapy should support your health, not compromise it. By communicating openly about medications, avoiding alcohol or drugs before your session, and allowing the assessment to guide the treatment, we can create a safe, effective, and relaxing experience together. If you ever have questions about pressure, safety, or what to expect during your session, I am always here to help.

With care and support,

Suzan (Susan) Walker LMT

Massage therapy is not a substitution for medical treatment. The massage therapist cannot diagnose, treat or prevent disease. The therapist can only recommend products and services. Please consult a medical physician for further treatment.