Am i allergic to vodka?

I'm allergic to vodka and have been doing a lot of research on ingredients. Not a lot of vodka is made with potatoes anymore and I know I'm not allergic to them. Most are made with wheat and grains much like whiskey...but I'm not allergic to whiskey. One drink of vodka and I am keeled over I horrible pain. The only thing I can think of is cheaper vodka is made with corn and I never eat corn So no idea if I'm allergic. I decided to brace myself and try a shot of expensive vodka with no corn and no allergic reaction. Wish I had figured this out years ago.

I came here searching for information on vodka sensitivities after having what I'll admit up-front is a pretty peculiar reaction to pre-packaged vodka coolers (one was by Smirnoff, the other by Jaw Drop). I've had plenty of vodka before without noticeable effect, within the last few years I've zeroed in on Pinnacle and Russian Standard as my go-to brands the few times per year I pick up a forty-pounder of hard liquor. But even more occasionally, I'll pick up a six-pack of vodka cooler mixes.

So, I haven't noticed any redness of the face, heat, or anything everyone else is mentioned. What I experience is a substantial change in mood. I had my last Smirnoff vodka cooler thingy last summer as I was relaxing on my back deck at the start of my weekend, and not even halfway through it, I'm overtaken by a profound feeling of sorrow that actually had me sobbing on my patio furniture. I have had similar quantities of alcohol before and since without any kind of maudlin results.

I've been somewhat cautious of vodka in general, and vodka coolers in particular, ever since. But, I'm able to handle wine and whiskey a couple times a week without issue, Okanagan coolers are fine and dandy. So, yesterday I picked up a six-pack of Jaw Drop, a domestic 7% vodka cooler that I got to sample in-store, and it was beaucoup de yummy, yo. Had two cans of it over the course of the evening yesterday, and today . . . was awful. Not hung over, not even close, but was just so. Depressed. The entire day. My co-workers were worried something had happened and if I was ok. Normally, I'm energetic and upbeat at work, and today was a real departure.

The weird thing is, I've never had this experience with Palm Bay, which has vodka in it. However, after reading everyone else's experiences, I'm going to avoid the coolers and just stick with what I know works for me. I may just be unusually sensitive. Frex, I had to stop getting the value-conscious cardboardeaux, aka boxes of wine, because I can taste some nasty flavour that leaches into the wine from the bag. That was a bummer, because one of those boxes would keep me in wine for one to two months.

Hi, I am a white female, late forties. I seriously believe that I am allergic to Vodka. It was my drink of choice for many years, I was never a heavy drinker & more often than not I would drink top shelf Vodka. For whatever reason, I stopped drinking a few years ago, I just didn't have any desire for alcohol but that coincided with me getting sucked into a nightmare of a job too. I equated the not drinking with my all but non existence social life because of my highly demanding job at that time. About a year ago I got rid of that job, slowly got back to being social & starting dating an old high school classmate. When we went out my natural reaction was to order a Vodka mixer. Oh my hell, not good, I don't get red & blotchy, I get really ill. My fingers swell, go numb, every muscle in my body hurts just a horrible feeling. So after a few tries I thought, maybe that had starting happening a few years earlier & that's why I had stopped drinking. So for the past 6 months or so I have experimented with different alcohols. Nothing has produced the symptoms of Vodka & I can tolerate Tequila, whiskey & beer. However tonight, I am at a small family BBQ, we didn't bring any alcohol because my BF was driving & etc. I was planning on drinking but eh, sometimes it's just more of a pain in the ass to figure out what to drink. A couple of hours in, someone hands me a Smirnoff Ice, I thought aw, it barely has any Vodka in it, it won't hurt. WRONG!!! Tonight truly confirmed a Vodka allergy. Within 30 minutes my left ring finger was swollen, I could not straighten it out, then my fingers go numb. Within an hour of getting home it has hit almost every muscle/joint in my body & I can barely walk, I am in agony right now. I do not understand this but can say without a doubt that it is related entirely to the consumption of Vodka even in a very small amount. I will never test this again, I literally will never consume any amount of Vodka again. I am a person who likes to to understand things, analyze & overthink things, however, this will not be one of them, I know, I just know. Sorry this is probably a bit rambling but I think it affects my thinking also.

Interesting I would like to let everyone know that thinks this is some mystery as to why there favorite drink turns on them as that one guest has said is very true.We are talking about bacteria from alcohol its the yeast and a cocktail of other things the body recognizes and builds up cells each time you drink this stuff and the more you drink this c**p is the more you are abusing a very unnatural product in your body sooner or later the bacteria gets triggered like food allergy.I know a person who drank budlight for 20 years to almost die one day.I would say most of you have uncontrollable yeast bacteria in your immunes and drinking GIN or whine is WORSE.

Chou are allergic. Do not drink it!

My wife had the same concerns try Grey Goose it's the only vodka that doesn't cause those symptoms!

I appreciate your post. I too feel it's the vodka that's been causing my severe reaction. After a night of drinking vodka, the next morning my eyes are red and extremely swollen. Looking back, for a while I quit drinking vodka and stuck to wine and hadn't noticed any swelling. Recently however I'd gone back to drinking vodka and the extreme puffy and red eyes are back. I find it so unusual that my beloved vodka has turned on me, but after reading your post I'm pretty sure it's what's causing the extreme reaction. thanks for your post.

I would bet it is the cranberries causing your reaction. Personally I am allergic to every berry on earth per my allergist.

I know it's been a year ago but I mean my sister has reactions to alcohol too and we're both Asians and we've read about that 50% Asians are having reactions to alcohol, and for the other half are just fine.

Hello all. I'm not asian descent but I think I also and sadly have figured out I am allergic to vodka. I've been drinking vodka with skim milk for years but for last week I have developed red puffy face/eyes, and my whole body is covered in rash. Dr. doesnt know, but after reading all of the replies from all of you, I think vodka is off bounds for me. Wish me luck getting rid of my ugly monstrous face. lol. Cheers to all.

I get the same with cheap vodka only....so strange

I cannot seem to drink vodka. I started reading this because I thought I was crazy. I could put away whiskey like nobody's business, and not suffer. Vodka, however, even in the small doses gives me a pounding headache, and makes my blood pressure go up. I don't understand how vodka can do that, but whiskey doesn't. The only conclusion people have given me is that it must be an allergy. Any thoughts? Thank you.

I had the same thing I was drinking uV blue vodka and something started bothering me and I looked in the mirror and underneath my eyes were red and like it was spreading through my face. And iv drank before and never had this reaction it was scary so be careful

I'm a regular vodka drinker and never had a problem. Recently, I started drinking a botanical infused vodka and suffered allergy symptoms. I say try drinking a plain vodka and see if that helps.

I never knew why vodka cost me problems and almost blacking out. I wake up with a horrible cough like I’ve been smoking and I don’t smoke anything not even a vape. I did allergy testing and found out white potatoes are the problem for me I found that the Sam’s club brand is made with corn instead I just thought I would pass that information along and tell people to find a way to cut the alcohol in half they are drinking Half Shot Tito’s or use the Sam’s Club brand which is quite a bit less expensive. Bring your own tonic or cranberry juice or in my case seltzer. I make mine with a soda stream machine so the alcohol is only half as much safety first. ☝️