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What Causes Dizziness,lethargy, Nausea And Headache After Alcohol Consumption?
Question: Hi,
I am a 53 yr old male. 20 years ago I started to have a problem with drinking alcohol. I use to drink on some weekends but after one particularly heavy session I developed what seemed like an allergy. Following that time I noticed some pleasant side affects through drinking, that lasted for around a week. It has not mattered if I have a few sips or several drinks as the same reaction occurs. I am usually fine next day, a bit fuzzy headed, but increasingly an unpleasant poisoned feeling comes over me peaking at 3-4 days later.
Symptoms:
Lethargy, Nausea, Mild headache, Itchy eyes, Aching limbs, Feeling Fuzzy headed, Mentally lethargic. Wanting to go to sleep and at times feeling just very unwell. I use to have some aching in my back but that has stopped now. It feels generally like a mild hangover. If I have one drink on Saturday the blanket lifts around the following Friday as if someone has switched the lights back on.
I avoid drinking much of the time but it is difficult at celebrations throughout the year. On the odd occasion I have not had the reaction, but only on very few occasions.
The feelings are not as severe now but I don't believe that it is psychosomatic as some friends have suggested
Thank you, XXXXXXX
I am a 53 yr old male. 20 years ago I started to have a problem with drinking alcohol. I use to drink on some weekends but after one particularly heavy session I developed what seemed like an allergy. Following that time I noticed some pleasant side affects through drinking, that lasted for around a week. It has not mattered if I have a few sips or several drinks as the same reaction occurs. I am usually fine next day, a bit fuzzy headed, but increasingly an unpleasant poisoned feeling comes over me peaking at 3-4 days later.
Symptoms:
Lethargy, Nausea, Mild headache, Itchy eyes, Aching limbs, Feeling Fuzzy headed, Mentally lethargic. Wanting to go to sleep and at times feeling just very unwell. I use to have some aching in my back but that has stopped now. It feels generally like a mild hangover. If I have one drink on Saturday the blanket lifts around the following Friday as if someone has switched the lights back on.
I avoid drinking much of the time but it is difficult at celebrations throughout the year. On the odd occasion I have not had the reaction, but only on very few occasions.
The feelings are not as severe now but I don't believe that it is psychosomatic as some friends have suggested
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
You are likely to be a slow metabolizer of alcohol
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
It could be that the effects that you are facing, perhaps have some organic basis rather than being purely psychosomatic. The alcohol that we drink, contains Ethanol which is metabolized in a complex process, generating acetaldehyde in the process. This substance is responsible for what we commonly refer to as hang-over on the following day. The rate of alcohol metabolism is known to vary between individuals. Some people are fast metabolizers while others are slow metabolizers. It could be that you are metabolizing alcohol at a slower rate and hence the acetaldehyde is not getting entirely removed from your body. The prolonged presence of acetaldehyde is likely to be the cause of the symptoms lasting from 3-4 days to a week. The symptoms you have described, typically fit in with what acetaldehyde produces.
I would insist you to go through the following article so that you understand the process better:
http://www.hamsnetwork.org/metabolism/
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
You are likely to be a slow metabolizer of alcohol
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
It could be that the effects that you are facing, perhaps have some organic basis rather than being purely psychosomatic. The alcohol that we drink, contains Ethanol which is metabolized in a complex process, generating acetaldehyde in the process. This substance is responsible for what we commonly refer to as hang-over on the following day. The rate of alcohol metabolism is known to vary between individuals. Some people are fast metabolizers while others are slow metabolizers. It could be that you are metabolizing alcohol at a slower rate and hence the acetaldehyde is not getting entirely removed from your body. The prolonged presence of acetaldehyde is likely to be the cause of the symptoms lasting from 3-4 days to a week. The symptoms you have described, typically fit in with what acetaldehyde produces.
I would insist you to go through the following article so that you understand the process better:
http://www.hamsnetwork.org/metabolism/
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Dr. XXXXXXX Saha,
Thank you for your reply and link.
I have had a read through the alcohol metabolism process and find it very interesting and helpful.
I see that aldehyde dehydrogenase breaks the acetaldehyde down to produce an acetic acid radical and that acetaldehyde is to blame for the unpleasant side effects of alcohol.
Could it be possible that I am lacking in aldehyde dehydrogenase, although I don't become intoxicated more easily?
The perplexing part of this is how only a small amount of alcohol (small glass of beer) can trigger this effect and how it builds up over several days - is there any way that the body can produce acetaldehyde or enzymes as an allergic reaction to the presence of alcohol which could become toxic to the body?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Thank you for your reply and link.
I have had a read through the alcohol metabolism process and find it very interesting and helpful.
I see that aldehyde dehydrogenase breaks the acetaldehyde down to produce an acetic acid radical and that acetaldehyde is to blame for the unpleasant side effects of alcohol.
Could it be possible that I am lacking in aldehyde dehydrogenase, although I don't become intoxicated more easily?
The perplexing part of this is how only a small amount of alcohol (small glass of beer) can trigger this effect and how it builds up over several days - is there any way that the body can produce acetaldehyde or enzymes as an allergic reaction to the presence of alcohol which could become toxic to the body?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Not an allergic reaction but an alteration in the metabolism of alcohol
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Rather than going into the technicalities, I would insist you just to take an overview of the metabolism process. There are many minor variants of the same. The amount of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase are known to be present in different amounts in different individuals. It is possible that you have lower amounts of these. There could be other enzymes involved as well. Just remember that the intermediate product acetaldehyde is the likely offending agent.
An allergic reaction is basically a reaction to something that should otherwise have been considered normal. It is not relevant here. It is not an allergic reaction to alcohol, it is just a defect (or deviation) in the metabolism of alcohol. So, it would be better if you avoid alcohol as you are more prone to alcohol toxicity.
Hope that helps.
In case you found my answer to be useful, please leave a positive review and a 5 star rating for the answer.
Wish you health.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Not an allergic reaction but an alteration in the metabolism of alcohol
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Rather than going into the technicalities, I would insist you just to take an overview of the metabolism process. There are many minor variants of the same. The amount of alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase are known to be present in different amounts in different individuals. It is possible that you have lower amounts of these. There could be other enzymes involved as well. Just remember that the intermediate product acetaldehyde is the likely offending agent.
An allergic reaction is basically a reaction to something that should otherwise have been considered normal. It is not relevant here. It is not an allergic reaction to alcohol, it is just a defect (or deviation) in the metabolism of alcohol. So, it would be better if you avoid alcohol as you are more prone to alcohol toxicity.
Hope that helps.
In case you found my answer to be useful, please leave a positive review and a 5 star rating for the answer.
Wish you health.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Thank you again Dr. XXXXXXX Saha,
Why do I get the same severity of unpleasant side effects, that last a similar period of time, when I have only consumed a small amount of alcohol?
Also why would there be a build up of acetaldehyde over several days?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Why do I get the same severity of unpleasant side effects, that last a similar period of time, when I have only consumed a small amount of alcohol?
Also why would there be a build up of acetaldehyde over several days?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
The enzyme simply takes more time to clear acetaldehyde from your body
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Even if you take a little amount of alcohol, it needs to be metabolized. The metabolized intermediate product of acetaldehyde. It perhaps so happens, that a certain amount of acetaldehyde remains uncleared from your blood stream. It does not build up but does not get cleared fast either. In your case, the full clearance takes about a week or so. I am not going into the enzyme dynamics but your enzyme perhaps requires a longer period to achieve the same effect and hence the acetaldehyde remains, producing the symptoms.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
The enzyme simply takes more time to clear acetaldehyde from your body
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
Even if you take a little amount of alcohol, it needs to be metabolized. The metabolized intermediate product of acetaldehyde. It perhaps so happens, that a certain amount of acetaldehyde remains uncleared from your blood stream. It does not build up but does not get cleared fast either. In your case, the full clearance takes about a week or so. I am not going into the enzyme dynamics but your enzyme perhaps requires a longer period to achieve the same effect and hence the acetaldehyde remains, producing the symptoms.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Dr. XXXXXXX Saha,
Thank you very much for your help again.
I may think of a couple of more questions at a later stage but just two more for now.
Am I damaging my body though this prolonged metabolisation process even if the alcohol consumption was very low?
I exercise through regular running and eat well, don't smoke and have no weight issues. Are there any vitamin supplements or foods that would help shorten this process?
Kind regards, XXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your help again.
I may think of a couple of more questions at a later stage but just two more for now.
Am I damaging my body though this prolonged metabolisation process even if the alcohol consumption was very low?
I exercise through regular running and eat well, don't smoke and have no weight issues. Are there any vitamin supplements or foods that would help shorten this process?
Kind regards, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Alcohol is known to cause liver damage.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking back.
Whether you are a fast or slow metabolizer, does not really matter. The fact is that if you are taking alcohol or any substance that needs to be metabolized, creates additional taxation on the liver, thus paving the way to its damage. Alcohol is known to cause damage to the liver on long term basis.
It is good that you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Capsules of Vitamin B complex may be taken for a few days after your alcohol intake, since alcohol creates a deficiency of certain B vitamins. But it is not likely to help in shortening the metabolizing time.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Alcohol is known to cause liver damage.
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking back.
Whether you are a fast or slow metabolizer, does not really matter. The fact is that if you are taking alcohol or any substance that needs to be metabolized, creates additional taxation on the liver, thus paving the way to its damage. Alcohol is known to cause damage to the liver on long term basis.
It is good that you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Capsules of Vitamin B complex may be taken for a few days after your alcohol intake, since alcohol creates a deficiency of certain B vitamins. But it is not likely to help in shortening the metabolizing time.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX Saha,
Thank you very much for your very helpful diagnosis, advice and expertise.
It has helped me to understand much better what has been happening over the past years.
I think that I will just avoid alcohol as much as possible and forgo these symptoms.
Kind regards, XXXXXXX
Thank you very much for your very helpful diagnosis, advice and expertise.
It has helped me to understand much better what has been happening over the past years.
I think that I will just avoid alcohol as much as possible and forgo these symptoms.
Kind regards, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Glad to be of help
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I am glad that you found my answers useful and gained from them. I would just insist you to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you are already doing, and to avoid alcohol as much as you can, and things would be fine.
In case you liked my answers, I would request you to close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Wish you health.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Glad to be of help
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
I am glad that you found my answers useful and gained from them. I would just insist you to maintain a healthy lifestyle as you are already doing, and to avoid alcohol as much as you can, and things would be fine.
In case you liked my answers, I would request you to close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Wish you health.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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