Ask your doctor if you need to carry emergency epinephrine (adrenaline) in the form of an autoinjector (EpiPen, Auvi-Q). This prescription device has a concealed needle that injects a single dose of epinephrine when you press it against your thigh. Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Hodgkin lymphoma. The enzyme diamine oxidase breaks down histamine that people consume from foods and beverages.
Difference from alcohol allergy
“Analysis and update of the human aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) gene family.” Human Genomics. One study of 948 individuals found that 7.2% self-reported wine intolerance. An inherited metabolic disorder means you got this condition from your parents — they each passed down a mutated (changed) gene that resulted in this disorder.
- People with the ALDH2 deficiency are at higher risk for certain types of cancer, including liver cancer.
- An allergy or intolerance to alcohol is not always responsible for symptoms occurring after drinking alcohol.
- Alcohol is toxic and must be converted by the body into non-toxic substances.
- Research shows that older females are more sensitive than males to the effects of alcohol.
- Genetic testing may also be an option, providing a more definitive answer.
When to see a doctor
Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group. This disorder also involves having to drink more to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms when you rapidly decrease or stop drinking. Alcohol use disorder includes a level of drinking that’s sometimes called alcoholism. The nickname “Asian glow” comes from the prevalence of alcohol intolerance among East Asians. Approximately 30 to 50 percent of people in this region have an ALDH2 deficiency and are more likely to experience symptoms such as flushing.
Treatment
Our bodies are full of enzymes, proteins that help break down food. Alcohol intolerance is a problem with the specific enzyme that helps your body metabolize alcohol. Even drinking a small amount of alcohol (ethanol) causes unpleasant symptoms. You may notice that even after drinking a small amount of alcohol, you don’t feel great.
They often have a gene that is affected that is passed down in the family. Over time, a person’s tolerance may also change due to changes in metabolism, body mass, and bodily functions as they age. Alcohol intolerances are usually genetic but may also occur without a known cause.
Are you allergic or intolerant to alcohol?
Finally, it examines how alcohol tolerance changes over time and offers support and guidance on alcohol use. The cause of alcohol-related sickness may develop for various medical reasons, such as an intolerance to alcohol or another ingredient present in the beverage. If a person is allergic to a particular ingredient found in some drinks, they could switch to drinks that do not contain it.
Alcohol Intolerance: What It Is, and How To Prevent It
Some people take medicines like the antihistamines diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or famotidine (Pepcid) about 30 minutes before drinking alcohol. This may be harmful because it alcohol intolerance can mask severe symptoms that could be brewing like shortness of breath. If you do choose to drink, limit how much you drink and stop drinking at the first sign of symptoms. You can treat symptoms, like headache, with certain over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Alcohol intolerance is also known as alcohol flushing syndrome, alcohol rash, or aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 deficiency. The condition is often inherited from your parents and common in people of East Asian descent.
- Our board-certified providers can perform an exam, evaluate your symptoms, and test you for allergies to create a personalized treatment plan.
- An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help.
- Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) is an enzyme that your body uses to digest alcohol.
- Allergy tests such as skin prick or blood tests may also be conducted to identify specific allergens.
- It’s very difficult for consumers to know whether an alcoholic drink contains allergens or ingredients they’re intolerant to.
- Without sufficient ALDH2, a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism known as acetaldehyde builds up and causes unpleasant reactions.
This questionnaire will summarize your specific allergy symptoms to share with your healthcare provider and learn more about your testing options. In some cases, they might use an oral challenge test to diagnose an allergy or intolerance. In this procedure, they will ask you to consume a sample of your suspected trigger. Normally your body produces an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO) to break histamine down. If your body doesn’t produce enough active DAO, you may react to histamine in foods and beverages.