Am I alergic to alcohol?

Hi all. This is what happened to me – few days ago, after drinking a few ciders on a not quite empty stomach, I suffered hyperventilation, shaking and eventually I yakked! At first, I did not know what to thing about it, but when I gave it a more thought I concluded that could’ve been an alergic reaction. Is it possible that I am really alergic to alcohol??

I'm not sure what really happened to you but it sure does not sound like an "allergic" reaction of any kind. How many times so far did you drink?? And how many times did you experience throat swelling, hives, hyperventilation, etc??? You see, if you did not develop hives, or throat swelling but only a toxic reaction from too much it is not likely that you have allergy. Next time you decide to try alcohol, do it with a meal, and small amounts. Also, be sure to have other people around you, if you may need any help.

ok check it out. every time i drink beer, the next day my chest and back are covered in blotches or spots. It doesn't itch or anything but it's there and whats up with that?

Guest wrote:

ok check it out. every time i drink beer, the next day my chest and back are covered in blotches or spots. It doesn't itch or anything but it's there and whats up with that?

I’ve had the same thing happening for the last year and has became really annoying that after having a crazy night out, I would break in red blotches over my face the following day.
I had no idea what was causing this especially because it started happening after years of recreational alcohol drinking.
Then I decided to do some research online and try to figure out what was going on.

It seems as if this was not an allergic reaction to alcohol itself but to some things used in alcohol production and possibly with inability to break down alcohol completely. The latter seems to be more common to people of Asian background but I have a feeling that the same thing is happening to me. I feel as if some things are not broken down completely and that accumulation of certain toxins occurs in the blood and that they cause my flushing. I may be wrong but it appears to be so because I have the same reactions to beer, schnapps and liquor.

Other explanation lies in the ingredients used in the alcohol production. Different ingredients like “grape, yeast, hop, barley or wheat-derived substances, natural food chemicals (eg. salicylates), wood and fruit-derived substances (eg. Histamine, tyramine in chianti), added enzymes (like papain) and preservatives (like sulphites)” may be used in alcohol production.

If we are sensitive or have allergic reactions to proteins within grapes, yeast, hops, barley and wheat, we are most likely to experience side effects from drinking alcohol.

Hi! I have always jokingly said that I was allergic to alcohol. I have weird things that happen when I drink. When I first drink my first drink, it does not matter what kind of drink even NiQuil (sorry about the spelling) you know the night time cold med. I can feel the alcohol move through my veins - it is a burning sensation moving through out my body. Since I have had babies, the feeling moves through out my body and then to my uterus and it hurts. I only feel it on the first one after that it is gone. If anyone knows anything about this let me know!! Also I swell alot. thanks

Hey, ever since i was 14 i have experienced weird side effects to drinking alcohol. Whether is be just one drink or a whole box, my shoulders tense up and have a huge, undescribable pain which makes me need to lie down and i can't stand for at least half an hour. With this pain it is like a major cramp or something, but a million times worse. This happens with any sort of alcoholic drink i consume. Anything. It is really weird, and i have no idea what it is. I have had to result in not drinking anymore, because i get older (i am now 20) the pain seems to hit quicker and harder than ever. I can not describe to you the immense pain i deal with. It's enough for me to burst into tears, and squirming around is all i can do while in this 'mode' of agony. Please help me understand what this is all about. Any type of alcohol gives me this side effect, and the pain gets worse as time goes on. I don't bother with alcohol anymore, because the pain i go through is not worth ruining a good night out with my friends.
Over the past year, a massive headache (0n the verge of migrain pain) begins shortly after my shoulders experience the pain. Please help me.

You should go see a doctor to eliminate the possibility that you have hodgkin disease. One of the symptoms is a weird reaction to alcohol with pain in the nodes. Hope all is well with you.

Thank you Nickle-Pickle. That is the first time I have seen someone describe the symptoms I experience when I have any alcohol. Since the age of 14 I have tried all manner of alcoholic drinks and I always experience the same: pain that starts in my neck, moves down my arms, into my back and legs. Then everything hurts and suddenly the feeling disappears. I wish I could understand what causes it; if only to explain the reason for being tee-total!

Lori wrote:

Guest wrote: ok check it out. every time i drink beer, the next day my chest and back are covered in blotches or spots. It doesn't itch or anything but it's there and whats up with that? I’ve had the same thing happening for the last year and has became really annoying that after having a crazy night out, I would break in red blotches over my face the following day. I had no idea what was causing this especially because it started happening after years of recreational alcohol drinking. Then I decided to do some research online and try to figure out what was going on. It seems as if this was not an allergic reaction to alcohol itself but to some things used in alcohol production and possibly with inability to break down alcohol completely. The latter seems to be more common to people of Asian background but I have a feeling that the same thing is happening to me. I feel as if some things are not broken down completely and that accumulation of certain toxins occurs in the blood and that they cause my flushing. I may be wrong but it appears to be so because I have the same reactions to beer, schnapps and liquor. Other explanation lies in the ingredients used in the alcohol production. Different ingredients like “grape, yeast, hop, barley or wheat-derived substances, natural food chemicals (eg. salicylates), wood and fruit-derived substances (eg. Histamine, tyramine in chianti), added enzymes (like papain) and preservatives (like sulphites)” may be used in alcohol production. If we are sensitive or have allergic reactions to proteins within grapes, yeast, hops, barley and wheat, we are most likely to experience side effects from drinking alcohol.

Hey, I'm 15 and have been drinking since I guess like 12-13 somewhere in there. Most times its with friends at parties, and most times nothing weird happens...but every once in a while, most notably after I smoke a little bit of pot then drink, I have terrible stomache cramps, and am stuck in the bathroom for a good hour and a half or more.

Just for example I'll tell you about last night. I had a party with like 15 people, and I had a joint, 3 bottles of guiness, and 2 jack and cokes, so something like 5 oz of jack. This morning i woke up, played some video games with a few of my friends who slept over, and was hit by immense stomache cramps and was in and out of my bathroom for a good two hours.

Thanks for the help.

ps. I don't know if this will help or not but I'm of asian decent. My mother is Korean. (Dad's Irish, so hopefully they'll cancel out or something ha)