Strange Symptoms: Allergic to Beer?

[parmenides]

I am a 24 year old male, and I've always loved to have an occasional beer with dinner. About 8 or 10 months ago, though, I started getting ridiculous hangovers (extended vomiting, headaches, etc.), after having only 3 or 4 beer. (These symptoms would never occur, however, until around 9am the next day.) So, I switched to rum and whisky, and the sickness stopped happening. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been testing my luck again, trying one beer on occasion, and nothing happened. So, two nights ago, I shared about 3 or 4 glasses of draught with some friends, and at about noon yesterday I quickly broke out in a strange skin rash -- 100's of small red spots (like small blood blisters) from my shoulders to my knees. They are still there today, although it's not getting much worse now (I've been taking an antihistamine, and I'm awaiting the results of a blood test).

Are these normal occurences? I suspect I might be allergic to something in the beer as it digests... But, I have noticed that these weird things have only occurred when I'm drinking domestic (Canadian) beer, while imported European beers have never yet affected me like that... Any thoughts on this would be appreciated! Are there different ingredients that might be doing this? I really hope I there something I can do...

[DeDGo]

Tried for the first time, Bud Light Lime-A-Rita. Instantly started having trouble breathing, lips swelled up and face, neck and upper arms turned bright red. took a benadryl and after 2 days still feeling sick with a slight headache and stomach ache but lip swelling has finally gone down. Budweiser website doesn't have any ingredients listed and no one answers when I call their 800 #. I have wine almost daily and bottled beer on occasion and beer on tap when I'm at a restaurant. I had some cheap canned beer (Coors light) about a year ago with some redness so I'm positive it's the ingredients in the canned beer. The list of comments have really helped explain that there's an issue with canned cheap beer and Bud Light canned beer specifically. Will surely stay away from this stuff from now on; just not worth the pain.

[enigma0722]

I'm 60, and my symptoms hit when I was 19, same thing with wine. I think that rules out GMO's, even though I'm against gene splicing our food stuffs. Cross pollination is a form of altering an plants genes, but its genes within the same species, not what they are doing with plants that could never cross pollinate,  or animal to plant, etc.....

[enigma0722]

By the time I was 19, (I'm 60 now),  if I drink one beer, or 1/2 glass of wine, no matter where they were made, I get a throbbing migraine,  aurora around lights, pounding in my head, nausea and often vomiting.  The Dr.s aren't concerned, they tell me, "you are allergic to something in them, so just don't drink them." oh, and distilled spirits, ie, whiskey, bourbon,  Liqueurs, vodka, rum, etc... don't bother me at all. I don't drink much, but it would be nice to once again enjoy an iced beer after working in the yard, or glass of red vino with a meal, a champagne toast to whomever instead of grabbing a glass of water.  I try it now and again, thinking my chemistry might have changed, but pay the price for it.

[Aries1967]

You need to get an allergy test....most likey you are allergic to hops and barley that is in the beer you drink. I'm allergic to beer because of my allergies to hops and barley. My systems are itchy throat, hives on face and sneezing.

[Devsbisht]

Hii Dear,

:) You glad to know YES!! yesterday night i was out one of my friend bthday we enjoyed alot i had 4-5 draught beer same peroniee when i woke up today morning my back, chest and underarms started itching fst of all i thought its coz of amino acids which i am taking during workout but after surfing on internet i found same cases like me alot. Sad i love drinking beer but i can't take risks and this uncomfortable feeling again so i am going to stop no more peroniee. I am not sure for this before but after read your post i am think i am right.

Thanks Dev

[mandah48]

This makes sense - I just started going through crazy allergic reactions and I drink Bud Light often.  Hives head to toe, lips swell like grapefruit. Benadryl is my best friend when I drink. Thank for the info, Im switching!