Re: Alcohol and persistent dizziness

Posted By HVM R.N.,C.S. - Deb S on December 31, 1998 at 15:28:41:

In Reply to: Alcohol and persistent dizziness posted by P. on December 30, 1998 at 20:34:17:






I am a 28 year old male. I never drank regularly until 3 1/2 years ago. Since then, I would get buzzed or drunk 2 to 4 times a month. For the last year I have had periods of dizziness, usually lasting at least a week, beginning the day after drinking. Not every drinking session brings on the symptoms, but they stay away if I don't drink. The symptoms are a sense of imbalance when I turn my head, plus headache (like my head is in a clamp) and nausea. Once recent dizzy period preceded a week and a half of fairly intense nausea. Up until 3 months ago I was on prozac (20mg/day) and doxepin (50 mg/day) for over 6 years; beginning in the summer I gradually got off the doxepin and reduced the prozac to 10mg/day, but no change of symptoms has been noted. I do have high cholesterol, irritable bowel and occasional gastritis. Doctors have checked my blood pressure and done a blood test for liver problems- all normal. Zantac has helped slightly. Other than this the doctors have recommended abstaining from alcohol. This is really bothering me not only because I very much enjoy having drinks, but also because the doctors don't seem to understand what is causing the problem. Is it possibile to have an allergy to alcohol? If so, can anything be done outside of abstinence? Could it be an interaction with the antidepressants? Or something more serious? I haven't been able to find any answers on the net or in the library. Thanks.
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[auntmom]

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