Allergy to alcohol

[Hazel]

My friend tells me she is allergic to alcohol and gets very hyperactive when she drinks, but over the weekend she drank beer had went completly mental for no reason. She was completly erational and violent. I thought an allergy was more of a physical thing. Is it possible for an allergy to affect your behaviour in this way or is there more to it?

[tom to Hazel]

I'll let the doctors (wherever they are) explain the medical condition you're friend is in. But I can tell you that I have heard of people who react this way to alcohol. Allergy probably isn't the right word for it. But it does happen. Obviously, your friend should stay away from the booze.

[Dr. Bob]

Alcohol affects different people in different ways. Some people with bi-polar disorder have this type of reaction to alcohol. Does she have large mood swings normally?

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Many people react violently while on alcohol. It is not necessarily that the alcohol is making them violent but it is simply bringing out repressed feelings of unexpressed anger.

Alcohol is known to reduce your sense of social behaviour and causes some to be so called "loose" if that's what's really deep down inside them, others become calm or tired, they may be overworked or stressed and the booze relaxes them. Others get violent. There are many violent crimes related directly to intoxication.

One time I was so drunk I cussed out a cop in my own driveway while asking him to remove my violent and beligerent boyfriend because he did not want to seem to help me because we were both drunk. I even told him I wanted him to die! That's not usually my attitude while in a disagreement.

The cop commented to his buddies that I probably would not remember it the next day. I don't have blackouts so I did rememeber it embarrassingly enough and called the precinct the next day to apologize.

That was minor compared to fights I almost got into just due to drunken hostility.

Hazel, your friend is not allergic to alcohol in my opinion. only repressing old anger from way back deep in her subconscious and the booze allows it to come out.

[Doug M.]

In reference to your question on alcohol allergy, I have learned that it is possible to have an "allergy" to alcohol ... we call it alcoholism and it is a physical/pyscological/social disorder that can seldom be remedied after a certain point in it's progression. I am a recovering alcoholic and drank heavily for 25 years before coming to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, where I have remained sober for 10 months, a record for me, and feeling stronger every day. I would recommend that you attend an open meeting and listen to what they have to say, and then you are free to make your own decision ... but you will find years of experience and likely find many similarities with this group .. good luck my friend ... //doug//

[Doug M.]

In reference to your question on alcohol allergy, I have learned that it is possible to have an "allergy" to alcohol ... we call it alcoholism and it is a physical/pyscological/social disorder that can seldom be remedied after a certain point in it's progression. I am a recovering alcoholic and drank heavily for 25 years before coming to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, where I have remained sober for 10 months, a record for me, and feeling stronger every day. I would recommend that you attend an open meeting and listen to what they have to say, and then you are free to make your own decision ... but you will find years of experience and likely find many similarities with this group .. good luck my friend ... //doug//

[Doug M.]

In reference to your question on alcohol allergy, I have learned that it is possible to have an "allergy" to alcohol ... we call it alcoholism and it is a physical/pyscological/social disorder that can seldom be remedied after a certain point in it's progression. I am a recovering alcoholic and drank heavily for 25 years before coming to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, where I have remained sober for 10 months, a record for me, and feeling stronger every day. I would recommend that you attend an open meeting and listen to what they have to say, and then you are free to make your own decision ... but you will find years of experience and likely find many similarities with this group .. good luck my friend ... //doug//

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Doug, well said! Even though alcohlism is not exactly an allergy so to speak it is the main problem described and your solutions are the answers to it.

I am almost at 90 days, not much, but a record for me too!

[Linda H.]

Yes, it is possible to have an allergy to alcohol.  The women in my family break out in hives when we drink a large quantity of alcohol (more than 2 glasses).  Sometimes, we react to the alcohol added to the products we use such as lotion or gel.  Other times, we have to watch what types of dishes have wine added to them for flavoring.  One year, I drank a little too much at a cousin's wedding and I had hives for 3 months.  Suffice it to say, I haven't drank that much since.