Fast Heart Rate After Drinking Alcohol

I know what you mean. It really has happened to me out of nowhere with alcohol, too. I've been drinking almost every evening for about 5 years and now this.

My heart doesn't pound like most of you say here, but it is beating harder. What happens to me is, the exact moment I am about to fall Into deep sleep, I wake up. It is not apnea because it can happen while I am still somewhat conscious about my surroundings. I also feel as if I am not getting enough oxygen. If it is happening badly, I feel as if hot air is coming out of my nose along with the lack of oxygen. This cycle of not sing able to "go under" to sleep lasts hours and hours. The other night I never went to sleep beyond a state of "twilight" and ended up being awake for over 24 hours. I swear the whole "anxiety" thing makes me crazy because yeah, we all have anxiety, but why only after drinking then? I can have just short of a panic attack worrying at night yet I can still go under to sleep eventually. But not with alcohol. It used to happen randomly, now it happens even with 2 Whisky and cokes. It used to happen only drinking before bed, now it happens even if drinking during the day. Could it be an allergic reaction to alcohol?

I, too, have started experimenting with magnesium. Just started yesterday so too soon to tell. But certainly have bad symptoms of lack of magnesium to begin with.

So, anyone else have the weird symptoms I get, or only the super fast heartbeat.

Please excuse any typos... I am a really bad iPad-typer.

Oh, and lately it has gotten so bad that I can already tell "it" is going to happen all night if I start feeling the weird tension and labored breathing while still awake on the couch. Oh, and why can I fall deep asleep just fine on the couch for a Couple of hours before going to real bed? And yes, it's always 2 or 3 am when I wake up with this IF I am able to go to sleep at all to begin with. I also wonder if it's a blood sugar issue. I have also noticed my digestion is going whacko a lot of times when this happens badly. I also experience blood sugar issues when it's bad. Other times I feel fine all around except for the icky heart and can't-go-under symptoms. Ugh, why. I just want a few drinks and have fun again without this huge issue now.

I registered.. my screen name will be Ijustwantadrink, fittingly so, yes?

Also, when these episodes happen, I feel a pressure behind my sinus as well. Also lots of back tension. I still think it might be some sort of allergic reaction that has manifested maybe. I can't wait to see if the Magnesium helps.

I wish these had an edit button so I could just add to my post.

I also suspect this might all be a high histamine reaction. I just took an Emergen-C fizzy packet and sometimes I get a weird reaction from it which I did today. I got tense in the neck and shoulders and my head got "woosy/seasick" feeling (swaying) and I could feel my heartrate go up and my bloodpressure go up, all the sort of same things that happen when I drink then can't sleep.

Alcohol releases histamine big time.

 

Well, I've made quite the first impression here haven't I. I am SO sorry, but I keep on coming across different pieces of the puzzle!

I just found a group of people on Amazon that are discussing a huge spike in their blood pressure/heart rate when they take Emergen-C! And yes, alcohol raises blood pressure... could this be what is happening to us??

Ok, so I've been taking high quality liquid Magnesium for about 4 days now and i have been sleeping 5-6 straight hours. This is something I haven't done in more than a decade.

Yesterday I tried having a few drinks (had a bad day) and all I can report is that "the thing" did not happen last night. I'm not celebrating just yet until I have more nights like this, but it is an amazing first try and I do have hope.

8 days and I've been drinking maybe 4 of them. Only last night did "it" happen again, and for about an hour and a half. I did have "one too many" last night on St. Patrick's Day which was a 4th whisky and coke... maybe caffeine is also a factor (seems obvious enough). I was itching a LOT, again which I notice is also a part of this usually.

Still raving with the benefits of the Magnes. though... overall could be lifechanging.

Update:

 

Ok guys, listen up. I'm starting to think the fast heart rate etc is from your iver being overwhelmed. I think this because I didn't have a drop to drink but "it" happened. I am taking Magnesium as you know, and I took extra that evening which also included Vitamin C. I happen to react to vitamin C sometimes and that night I did. I got the same exact hell reaction as if I had drank a lot! All the same reactions. So, what happens when you detox too quickly? Your liver is overwhelmed and you get reactions.

 

Just throwing all this out there. Hope it helps someone. Because Lord knows all a "doctor" will tell you is it's anxiety *roll eyes*.

LOL, it's the one woman show here! So, I'm back to keep adding to the mystery. High blood pressure might be in the mix here. Also, adding an ice pack to my spine/upper neck seems to help a LOT, hence overactive nerve endings. Keep looking for the answer, folks.

The HR pounding in the middle of the night is caused mostly by two things.  Occasionally it is a dysrhythmia, a sudden change in the normal mechanism.  These heart rhythm problems are best addressed by your doctor.  The other mechanism is a result of a drop in blood pressure.  I think that I mentioned this before.  But get a automatic blood pressure machine from your local pharmacy and check your blood pressure and heart rate during an episode.  You may find that your normal systolic BP drops from say 130 to 90 and your normal HR, say 70 increases to 90.  Alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde and then acetate.  These 3 chemicals can drop the BP.  Then the heart compensates to maintain normal perfusion by increasing  cardiac output.  Cardiac output equals heart rate X contracted volume per beat.  So you can feel the faster rate and the stronger beat.  Treating this perhaps is best by lowering the volume of alcohol you drink at any one time, increasing water intake to dilute these chemicals, and perhaps combating alcohol metabolites' acidity by alkalinizing the urine.

First time posting to this topic. I also have the exact same symptoms, fast and strong heartbeat (and very hot and sweaty overall) in the middle of the night, hours after having a few beers. At first only a few times after drinking probably too much higher alcohol beers (a few years ago). Now same effect after only having one or two standard beers, 4 hours before going to sleep, with plenty of water (2 or 3 times the water vs. beer). At the same time, I started to develop a sensitivity to caffeine. I used to be able to drink coffee for most of the day, now I start to get jittery after one cup. Caffeine sensitivity came on with the alsohal sensitivity, about 2 months ago. I am a 49 year old male in good to excellent physical condition (work out 3 to 5 times per week, combination of weight bearing and aerobic training) I also saw my doctor who just simply said to stop drinking alcohol and caffeine (after more than 30 years of essentially no issues). All blood work and one day heart monitor came back fine.

I may have discovered one main contributor - daily aspirin, which I started about 2 months ago (coinciding with my extreme sensitivity described above). My wife suggested a daily baby aspirin, as anyone approaching 50. We both thought this therapy only had potential benefits and no down side. After a little research, it is clear there is potential significant benefit for some, but should only be started after recommendation from your doctor. Low dose aspirin can have complications. I do not need it at all, since I have never had any heart issues previously, and I have no heart disease in my family. Stopping the therapy suddenly can also raise the risk of stroke, easy to find the details and other potential risks on-line.

I have a little lower blood pressure (115 over 75) and resting heart rate of 60 to 70. Daily aspirin will thin the blood and can help to lower blood pressure. The combined effect of my slightly lower natural blood pressure, with daily aspirin, alcohol, and age/stress may be causing the issue.

I stopped the daily aspirin (two weeks). I stopped all alcohol for about 10 days. I have reduced my caffeine intake considerably. One day ago, I was able to have 3 beers over a 5 hour period. No reaction or issues so far.

I mentioned the aspirin therapy to my doctor, he had no comment, other than "I do not know".

Questions:
* Could a daily aspirin routine contribute to this condition?
* How long does it take the blood to fully recover after stopping a daily aspirin routine? I understand the effect first starts to reverse after 4 days.
* Is anyone else on a daily aspirin routine with these symptoms? Would be interested to know the effect of stopping (after talking with your doctor).

Did Histame work for you?

Same exact thing happens to me - It started several years ago and only occasionally. I went to my Dr and had an EKG and Magnesium level checked - All normal. Now it happens every time I drink - no matter what or how much. I may get away with only one glass of wine but usually even then I wake up around 3AM with heart racing and pounding out of my chest, Unable to get back to sleep and extremely uncomfortable. Nothing seems to help, I guess the only solution is not to drink.

Has anyone been checked for heavy metal toxicity?? Anyone been injected with dyes for CAT scan or MRI?? I have had same problem 4 hrs after drinking even two I have racing skipping heart flushed face and feel like I'm dieing..I need answers!! Its scary.. My holistic Dr said I have an aluminium toxicity but didn't say if it could be causing my alcohol intolerance..

You have alchohol intolerance due to your underactive thyroid. I have it too