What Is Sudden Onset Alcohol Intolerance? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Many hangover symptoms arise due to detoxification, the physical process of ridding the body of toxic chemicals caused by alcohol consumption. Enzymes, mainly in the liver, metabolize (break down) alcohol, releasing a poisonous byproduct called acetaldehyde. This causes oxidative stress (an imbalance between helpful antioxidants and harmful free radicals that can lead to disease), marked by excess toxins in the body. It’s common for people who drink alcohol to wake up the next day alcohol intolerance with a distinct sense of worry, panic, unease, or fear. Along with headache and nausea, anxiety can be a symptom of alcohol withdrawal or hangover.

What Is Sudden Onset Alcohol Intolerance? Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Mocktails, crafted from fresh juices and aromatic herbs, can be just as enjoyable as their alcoholic counterparts. It’s important to note that not everyone with these gene mutations will have the same symptoms—some may have severe reactions after drinking, while others might only notice mild effects. Essentially, it all comes down to how these mutations impact alcohol metabolism and how each person’s body responds to increased acetaldehyde levels.

• Symptoms of cirrhosis include jaundice, abdominal pain, swelling, and fatigue.
• Histamines are chemicals that your immune system produces, and they’re found in almost every tissue in your body.
• This causes oxidative stress (an imbalance between helpful antioxidants and harmful free radicals that can lead to disease), marked by excess toxins in the body.
• An alcohol allergy and an alcohol intolerance can look very similar, but it is important to understand how the two are fundamentally different.

Alcohol intolerance is still normally uncommon in people with these types of conditions. The symptoms of alcohol intolerance are unpleasant but rarely dangerous and will eventually go away on their own. However, if asthma symptoms occur with alcohol intolerance, it is good to see your doctor and ensure you manage your asthma correctly. Otherwise, you should see a doctor if you need help managing other symptoms of alcohol intolerance. The acetaldehyde that builds up and causes alcohol intolerance is a major contributing factor in hangovers. While hangovers are often not exclusively due to high acetaldehyde levels, they play a large role.

Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and SMART Recovery offer peer support and accountability, enhancing recovery outcomes. “While we drink, the liver can become inflamed or undergo dehydration, which can exacerbate hangover symptoms the following day,” says Dr Grant. Alcohol intolerance can lead to severe reactions, including anaphylaxis in some cases. If you or someone you love struggles with alcohol abuse or addiction, you are not alone. Contact the intake team at Archstone Recovery to learn about our programs or to schedule an intake appointment. Alcohol abuse and addiction can make every aspect of your life more challenging.

Delayed Symptoms

• By steering clear of these beverages, you can reduce the risk of uncomfortable symptoms.
• As scientists continue to explore these pathways, the possibility of developing interventions or lifestyle modifications to better manage these sensitivities becomes more attainable.
• Having asthma or hay fever, allergies to grains or other foods, and conditions like Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Quitting alcohol can prevent anxiety and give you the space to develop healthy means of managing your condition.

While both can make enjoying certain drinks a challenge, they stem from different causes and come with different symptoms. When we think about our favourite drinks, it’s easy to focus on how they taste, but it’s worth considering what goes into them. Additives and flavourings in alcoholic beverages can sometimes be a sneaky source of discomfort for certain people.

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms

The late stage of alcohol addiction, also known as end-stage addiction or chronic alcohol abuse, is characterized by severe, irreversible physical and cognitive effects. During this phase, individuals commonly experience extensive organ damage, particularly to the liver, heart, and brain, leading to conditions such as cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, and alcohol-related dementia. Cognitive decline becomes evident, with memory loss, confusion, and impaired judgment being prominent symptoms. The middle stage of alcohol addiction is marked by heightened alcohol dependence and the emergence of physical cravings. During this phase, individuals experience withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, such as irritability, anxiety, or tremors.

• One study of 948 individuals found that 7.2% self-reported wine intolerance.
• In addition, researchers found people who score high on measures of shyness to be particularly susceptible to hangover anxiety.
• Symptoms of alcohol intolerance can appear almost immediately after you begin to drink alcohol.
• Similarly, beer and cider can pose problems due to their high sulfite content and grain derivatives.
• If you’ve ever experienced the unpleasant aftermath of consuming a gluten-rich beer or spirit, you’re certainly not alone.

Since alcohol intolerance has no cure, effectively managing this condition involves making adjustments to lifestyle and drinking habits. However, some people find they can cope with mild symptoms by limiting their alcohol intake. That flushed face you have isn’t necessarily because you’ve had a few drinks, however, it could mean you have an alcohol intolerance. This is when uncomfortable but non-life-threatening symptoms are presented as the body cannot breakdown the alcohol or another component of the alcoholic drink. But by taking precautions, individuals with alcohol intolerance can largely avoid symptoms and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

Why have I suddenly become intolerant to alcohol after drinking for years?

If you or someone you love is struggling with new or worsening alcohol intolerance, consider reaching out to a medical professional to uncover the root cause and discuss the best next steps. Selecting beverages with lower alcohol content, avoiding drinks with known trigger ingredients like sulfites or histamines, and eating a substantial meal before drinking can reduce symptom severity. Some people find success with antihistamines before drinking, though this should only be done under medical supervision. Staying hydrated and pacing alcohol intake also proves helpful in managing mild intolerance symptoms. During the middle stage, medical detoxification is necessary to manage withdrawal symptoms safely, followed by structured therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to prevent relapse. The behaviors indicated at the early stage of alcohol abuse include drinking to relieve stress, increased tolerance, and hiding alcohol use.

Specific Guides

If you think you might have alcohol intolerance, getting professional advice is a great next step. A healthcare provider can offer guidance and may suggest further tests to help you pinpoint what’s going on. If you’ve identified that you have alcohol intolerance or are simply sensitive to certain beverages, the good news is that there are effective ways to manage your experience. With a few thoughtful choices, you can enjoy social gatherings without sacrificing your well-being. You might find that certain beverages trigger discomfort while others don’t bother you at all. This insight can be incredibly valuable, helping you understand which drinks to enjoy in moderation and which ones to avoid altogether.

Experiencing a condition like alcohol intolerance may feel isolating or make you feel different from others. But it is important to remember that while an issue like alcohol intolerance may set you apart, you are not alone in this experience, and you can still lead a happy, healthy life with the right lifestyle changes. Individuals with alcohol intolerance may react more strongly to beverages high in histamines like red wine or those containing sulfites. Symptoms of alcohol intolerance include flushing, hives, nausea, headache, and rapid heartbeat. At Archstone Behavioral Health our mission is to offer readers the most precise and up-to-date information on addiction and behavioral health as possible. Our licensed medical reviewers, specializing in mental health and addiction medicine, are devoted to assisting readers and potential clients in making informed decisions about their treatment.