Can you have alcohol intolerance? Yes, you can. Even though this country appears to be built on visits to the local bar and work drinks on a Friday night, for some people a sip of wine or beer can cause severe consequences–not just a bad hangover. Your flushed face could mean you have an alcohol intolerance.

A sudden intolerance to alcohol is possible if you begin taking a medication that causes it or develop a disease that causes it. The majority of cases of suddenly developed alcohol intolerance are due to the beginning of a new medicine. Developing a sudden intolerance to alcohol can happen and there are several reasons why including:

Some people are genetically inclined to develop an intolerance. You have a greater chance of developing alcohol intolerance if someone in your family has it.

Medications such as antifungals, antibiotics, and disulfiram (used to treat alcohol use disorder) can lead to a sudden intolerance to alcohol.

Some medical problems can account for a sudden alcohol intolerance.

If you have alcohol use disorder (AUD), your liver may not be able to break down alcohol without difficulty.

Because alcohol and other fermented products contain histamine, you may have worse symptoms after consuming alcohol if you have a histamine intolerance.

Alcohol drinks can contain allergens (such as egg proteins or wheat) that can cause symptoms.

What is Alcohol Intolerance?

When your body doesn’t have the correct enzymes to metabolize (break down) the toxins in alcohol, alcohol intolerance happens. Alcohol intolerance can bring on immediate, uncomfortable reactions after you consume alcohol. The only way to stop the uncomfortable reaction is to avoid alcohol.

Other common ingredients found in alcoholic beverages, particularly wine or beer, can lead to intolerance reactions. These ingredients include:

  • Preservatives such as sulfite
  • Grains, chemicals, and other ingredients
  • Histamine–a byproduct of fermentation

Occasionally, reactions can be brought on by a true allergy to a grain such as wheat, corn, rye, or another substance in beverages that contain alcohol.

What Are Some Risk Factors?

Risk factors for being alcohol intolerant include:

  • Being of Asian heritage
  • Having hay fever or asthma (allergic rhinitis)
  • Having an allergy to grains or another food
  • Having Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (very rare)

Are Alcohol Intolerance and Intoxication the Same?

Alcohol intolerance is not the same as alcohol intoxication. Intolerance doesn’t mean you get drunk quicker or after drinking less alcohol. Also, intolerance doesn’t increase your blood alcohol level either. Typically, individuals with alcohol intolerance drink less because the symptoms are so bad.

What’s the Difference Between Alcohol Intolerance and Alcohol Allergy?

pair of hands turning down glass of alcoholAlcohol intolerance and alcohol allergy are commonly considered two different conditions that lead to similar symptoms. The basic differences between the two are:

Alcohol Allergy

Alcohol allergies are relatively rare and a lot of people who have an allergic reaction to alcohol are actually allergic to other components in the drink like barley, wheat, grapes, or yeast. Alcohol allergy is categorized as an immune system response.

  • An alcohol allergy isn’t a usual allergic reaction. It’s a condition where alcohol intensifies the immune system’s response to invaders that can cause an allergic reaction.
  • The allergic response to alcohol is not directly caused by the alcohol itself but is a result of drinking the alcohol or the ingredients in the drink.
  • Although alcohol-related allergies are generally uncommon, they can be fatally serious.
  • People with alcohol-related allergies may experience a negative reaction after as little as a sip of beer or wine, about ⅓ of an ounce.

If you have a severe alcohol allergy, you should have an emergency plan in place with your healthcare provider due to the potentially life-threatening reactions.

What are the Symptoms of an Alcohol Allergy?

The symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may include:

  • Skin rash or hives
  • Itching
  • Breathing difficulty or wheezing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
  • Lips, tongue, or throat swelling
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
  • Anaphylaxis ( also known as anaphylactic shock or allergic shock, is a life-threatening, severe, allergic reaction that can affect your entire body)

Alcohol Intolerance

Alcohol intolerance is a disorder of the digestive system and is often caused by genetic traits.

  • Alcohol intolerance happens when your body doesn’t have the proper enzymes to metabolize alcohol.
  • Intolerance is usually caused by genetic traits usually found in people with an Asian heritage.
  • Ingredients typically found in alcoholic beverages can also lead to intolerance reactions.
  • Research has shown that red wine is more likely to cause a negative reaction compared to other alcoholic drinks.

What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance?

The most frequent signs and symptoms of alcohol intolerance include:

  • Alcohol flushing syndrome is a main symptom of alcohol intolerance–your chest, neck, and face feel warm and turn pink or red soon after you consume alcohol
  • Hives
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Heart palpitations or tachycardia
  • Hypotension
  • Pounding headache or light-headedness
  • Fatigue and other hangover-like symptoms
  • Stuffed-up nose or runny nose
  • Diarrhea
  • Breathing difficulty or worsening asthma

Managing Alcohol Intolerance and Alcohol Allergy

Alcohol intolerance and alcohol allergy both can have notable impacts on a person’s daily life. For people with alcohol intolerance, the discomfort of alcohol intolerance symptoms may lead them to limit or avoid alcohol completely, which can affect their social life. People with alcohol allergies may need to avoid drinks and foods that contain alcohol which can limit their choices when going to social events or dining out. In addition, severe allergic reactions can be life-threatening and need immediate medical attention.

Fortunately, several strategies can help you manage symptoms and improve your overall comfort:

Recognize triggers and make the necessary lifestyle changes

Besides abstaining from alcohol, it’s important to identify other triggers that could make symptoms worse. Certain foods, such as ones that contain sulfites or histamines can trigger a reaction in people with alcohol allergy or intolerance. Additionally, environmental factors, including stress, can promote symptoms.

To manage intolerance, you can:

  • limit or avoid consuming alcohol
  • take antihistamines
  • treat symptoms like headaches and nausea

To manage an alcohol allergy, the most effective treatment is:

  • completely avoiding alcohol (including foods that contain alcohol)
  • taking antihistamines

Look for medical advice and treatment

If you experience negative reactions after drinking alcohol, medical advice can help determine the underlying causes. It’s important to get medical treatment if the symptoms of intolerance or allergy persist or become severe such as breathing problems or anaphylaxis. Don’t hesitate to get help and take control of your health.

Talk to others to help ensure your safety

If you’re struggling with alcohol intolerance or allergy, you should inform your friends, family, and healthcare providers about your condition. Carefully reading labels and asking about food and drink ingredients can help avoid accidental exposure.

It’s vital to understand the differences between alcohol allergy and intolerance to take the necessary steps and avoid inaccurate diagnoses. People with alcohol intolerance can experience uncomfortable symptoms even with a small consumption of alcohol. And those with alcohol allergies can suffer severe, life-threatening reactions after consuming alcohol.

Can I Still Drink if I Have Alcohol Intolerance?

Alcohol intolerance is a lifelong condition and can’t be cured. If you keep consuming alcohol, particularly in large quantities, it may cause certain complications because when you continue to drink alcohol, acetaldehyde accumulates in your body over time and can be toxic, increasing the risk of developing cancer.

If you are suffering from this condition, drinking will not only cause unpleasant symptoms. It may also put you at a greater risk for other diseases. Other complications for individuals with alcohol intolerance who still drink alcohol regularly are:

  • Throat and mouth cancer
  • Liver disease (cirrhosis)
  • Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • High blood pressure

Prevention

Unfortunately, nothing can prevent reactions to alcohol or ingredients in alcoholic beverages. To avoid a reaction, avoid alcohol or the particular substance that causes your reaction. Read beverage labels to see whether they contain ingredients or additives you know will cause a reaction, such as sulfites or certain grains. Be aware, however, that labels might not list all ingredients.

Treatment for Sudden Alcohol Intolerance

Sadly, there isn’t any cure for sudden alcohol intolerance. The most practical treatment is avoiding alcohol or alcohol-based food completely. You may be able to substitute some nonalcoholic choices for your preferred beverage.

Medicines such as antihistamines and antacids are sometimes prescribed to hide or reduce the symptoms. But these medications don’t treat the condition. You might end up drinking more, which only makes the condition worse.

Other things you might need to avoid include:

  • Smoking or other tobacco consumption. Smoking can increase the level of acetaldehyde in your body which makes the symptoms worse and increases the cancer risk. It’s also better to avoid passive smoking.
  • The use of alcohol when taking certain medications. Some medicines like metronidazole (used to treat certain infections) can worsen alcohol intolerance symptoms or show similar symptoms when combined with alcohol.

What Treatment Programs Does Westwind Recovery® Offer?

man smiling in therapy for alcohol addiction

It might seem unfair that an inherited condition can keep you from enjoying an occasional glass of beer or wine with friends. Still, staying away from alcohol can set you free from the uncomfortable skin-flushing and digestive problems that result from alcohol intolerance.

In addition, avoiding alcohol reduces your risk of cancer and other significant diseases. If you have alcohol intolerance but are still drinking excessively in spite of the pain and discomfort, you need to talk to a healthcare professional. Westwind Recovery® has programs to treat alcohol use disorder.

Programs

Located in Los Angeles, Westwind Recovery® has a range of treatment programs to help you win your struggle against alcohol use disorder. We are a client-centered rehab that provides individualized, comprehensive programs designed to meet your needs and requirements. Our programs include:

Partial Hospitalization Programs are technically an outpatient program but comparable to residential or inpatient programs in intensity. However, you can go home in the evening instead of living at the treatment facility.

Intensive Outpatient Programs require less time at the treatment facility, typically a few days per week for several hours.

A true outpatient program, Outpatient Programs require treatment sessions once or twice each week. This makes an OP a good step-down program after completing a higher level of care.

If you don’t have a stable alcohol-free place to reside, we have several sober living homes to help you ease your way back into normal life.

Therapy

Westwind has licensed, compassionate counselors experienced in evidence-based behavioral therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help you un-learn the harmful behaviors you’ve learned. In addition, our therapists are experts in group therapy and individual therapy methods.

Westwind Recovery® Can Help You Stop Suffering in California

You don’t have to live with this suffering. Help yourself or your loved one by contacting us today. We are happy to answer all your questions.