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Strange Symptoms: Allergic to Beer?

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...
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Avatar universal
I am having an allergic reaction to Coors Light right now. My symptom: hives, all over my face and chest. I feel the heat on parts of my face, ears, and chest. It is nuts! My husband had it, too to Coors Light only. He switched beer and now stopped reacting. I read a few of the posts...I think this is Light beer in general, whether it be Coors, Bud....but what?!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Bu1
Started drinking $2.00 Blue Moons at the Legion 22oz. Started breaking out   in rash, I never new there was such a thing as beer allergies. I recently had my hip replaced and not drinking beer or going to the Legion. My skin came back to normal color.2 weeks ago drank to many miller lites,to many honey brown on tap. I was miserable for 3 to 4 days.Ive been going to an allergist. They said I was allergic to hops,barley, I thought they were crazy. Im allergic to beer. Bu1 Indpls.
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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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.....
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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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.
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Avatar universal
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
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Avatar universal
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!
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Avatar universal
Budweiser obviously uses genetically-modified grains in their beer.
GM foods are causing serious health problems world-wide.
This is all being covered up to protect corporate profits.
Any scientist who goes against GM foods is punished and sometimes even killed.

I have had Cancer and now have severe skin problems caused by auto-immune problems originating from RoundUp herbicide and GM foods.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I have been drinking beer for years. Around Christmas, I started getting cramps and an upset stomach every time I drank beer, and at first I thought it was an alcohol intolerance. A friend asked if I had tried wine or any other type of alcohol. I tried wine and vodka with no probem. In August I tried to drink a Corona and within minutes I was on the toilet, plus broke out in a cold sweat, felt like my skin was on fire and someone was ripping out my intestines. Had to call my husband to come get me off the toilet because I was so weak. Long story short, went to an allergist, got tested and I am highly allergic to malt. That event in August was an anaphalytic reaction and now I carry an Epi-Pen. Weird thing is, I can dri k Twisted Tea which has malt and I can eat breads and pretzels which have malt with no problem. I am convinced it is brewing malt or allergens which are created during the beer brewing process.
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Avatar universal
For me, the reaction was due to Propylene Glycol.  I have found that cheap, mass-produced beers are likely to contain it, and high-quality craft beers are not.  I am safe with Goose Island, New Belgium, and Two Brothers, and I'm sure there are many others.  Anything non-craft and domestic and I get a burning rash.  If you are not allergic to gluten or GMOs in other products, consider that it might also be propylene glycol for you.  Get it tested, both by an allergist (scratch test) and a dermatologist (patch test).  It's also in a lot of hand sanitizers, anti-perspirants, liquid soaps, etc. so if those cause any skin problems that might be why.
Good news is that now I have a valid medical reason to denigrate garbage beers like Bud and Coors and such, without coming off like a beer snob.
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Avatar universal
HI I am 43 and have been a Bud Light gal for a very very long time. But this past year I have noticed that I can not drink even a half of a bottle before I notice the red around my eyes. Does anyone know why this happens? I have tons of allergies but none to food that I am aware of. No problems breathing just the red rash around my eyes and only when I drink budlight.
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Avatar universal
Check out my latest posting. I don't think it's an allergic reaction. I think your having a poisonous reaction. Your body is able to fight any more. I'm wondering if a non GMO non poisoned beer like home made organic beer would do the same thing to you? Let me know pls!    
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Avatar universal
Educate your self on the dangers of GMO's. mostly all domestic beer are genetically modified. Australia is the leader in GMO barley. Learn more about Monsanto corp. & their round up ready crops. The BT gene's survive digestion & cultivate in your intestinal track, poking holes in it. This causes gastrointestinal upset and blood in the fecal matter. This also triggers allergy like symptoms. Needless to say Claritin and Zyrtec sales have been up for the last few years. Another ingredient being added to beers that's not labeled is ethylene glycol which is the main ingredient in anti-freeze, also being used in the toothpaste in prison.  In conclusion it is pretty evident that corporate America is trying to poison us and our best bet is to find a clean source of food (organic, non-gmo) water and beer. IMO distilling your own water is the only way to go unfortunately we cannot do anything about the air. What I mean by that is if you look up in the sky on a clear day you might notice that it looks like a checkerboard and this is thanks to our Air Force spraying chemtrails of magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate and aluminum oxide. WHY ARE THEY SPRAYING??? I don't know, I am not a chemist, but I do know that these chemicals raining down upon us CANNOT be good for us. Just Sayin!

I hope this information is helpful, please pass it on to everyone you know.

      
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Avatar universal
It is tragic, but I slowly developed this over the years. Since I was about 18 it would happen once a year, then a few times a year, then regularly unless I took benadril. Now I am 40, I eliminated this beer, then that until now I cannot drink any beer. I switched to Saki. If I try a beer by throat closes up, I break out in hives starting on my face, but extending to my toes like blood sores if I don't stop drinking and get some benadril in me fast.
What a curse!
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Avatar universal
I am a homebrewer. I have not had any problem. I make all grain, no sugar, or very little, and low percent alcohol 3.5 to 4%.
I recently bought a mix pack of Guinness, as it was half price and since then, I have been getting hives that come and go, on my torso, forearm, and bottom
My mother has celiac diesase and my father stopped drinking beer, he said, due to a skin rash. They were also eating a lot of cake and bread, however. I eat very little bread myself and no cake, or pasta, etc.
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Avatar universal
i have been getting very sick with some beers and liquors, and not sick at all with others. i just did some research, and found out that im allergic to all the beers and liquors that use GMO ingredients.
anything made by the Boston Brewing Company is now my safest bet for beers, they are all GMO free!
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Avatar universal
Hey sounds like u are developing sensitivity to something.. check the ingredients of what u drink and record it, i developed several allergies all at once to various things and i kept a diary of what i was eating/drinking. A local beer that i used to drink was the culprit. I stopped drinking it, switched to a low carb beer that doesnt have preservatives or additives and have no problems with it. Id been to several drs about it and still waiting for an appointment with a dermatologist, but have had several blood tests and all have been negative, so it really pays to be your own detective. Good luck!
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Avatar universal
I discovered my issue after much research and a doctor filling me in a bit.  You see, there is a reason many people have the issues here with cheap, American beer.  They usually contain a much higher level of sulfites/sulfates. These are used for preservation.  Many beers in Europe or "higher quality" beers don't use it as much if at all. In Germany there is actually a purity law that prohibits beer from being made with anything other than water, hopps, wheat, rye, barley, etc.
I found out I am severely allergic to these preservatives. You can easily be tested to see if you are allergic to such.  This is the same reason I mostly stick to liquor and spirits (like many have said).  
I am not saying this is the exact culprit for all here, but I'm willing to bet at least a few of you will resolve your issue by reading this post.
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Avatar universal
I grew up on beer.  Drank it for fun as a teenager in High School.  Was a normal binge dringer in college.  And continued as a weekender who liked a party in my 20's.  I got in my 30's and started to wake up with strange night sweats and needed to go to bathroom.  Heart racing as well.  Not once did I have a rash.  Symptoms then would go for about 45 min. and I could go back to sleep but I felt miserable (like I was poisoned ) for the next day and not so hot the day after.  I adjusted my consumption and now a few decades later am very picky about what I consume.  Now I find I can drink Organic wine (Daily Red) without any symptoms.  But if I drink beer it better be a good one and in small qty 1-2.  Then if I wait a week or two I might get away with another beer or two with minimal symptoms.  But if I deviate and have more frequent or more qty I get very sick for 2-3 days.  Symptoms now are go to bathroom a few times until I am empty, very hungry (regardless what I have  had to eat), feel posioned/toxic much like a hangover (even though qty of alchol does not justify).  I have not solved it but believe that while some have simple explanations (i.e. celiacs, sulfides,allergy to hops) other may have complex reactions where the kidneys or pancreas are influenced and start a chain reaction that no scientist or doctor yet understands.  
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1804028 tn?1316096142
Ok, so I tried bottled Bud Light one night and Okay.  Next I bought Great White (with Shark on label) by Lost Coast Brewery - drank one last night no problems.  I also bought gluten free Redbridge and will try that one too. have appt. with allergist next week.   For the last 2 weeks, any Bud Light in CAN or Draft is giving me hives, along upper arms and waist - so I am wondering if they treat the cans/kegs with some chemical prior to filling that isn't used in the bottles?  I called them and waiting to hear back.   I know that I have sulfa allergy, but Bud says they don't add sulfites?  but I also read that yeast puts out natural sulfites so who knows.
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1804028 tn?1316096142
I recently got reactions to Bud Light in the cans and draft-  same with the hives like you.  Budweiser says they don't use sulfite or preservatives, so I am going to allergy doctor.  tried one night of Bud light in bottles and no problem??? hmmmmm. strange.  they are going to call me back they said, still waiting
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1804028 tn?1316096142
that's odd, because Budweiser says they don't add any preservatives!  but recently I also had hives when drinking the Tap Bud Light and cans of Bud Light but not the bottles!!!  figure that one out?  I calle them and awaiting a response back after she researches for me.   been drinking Bud Light for years with no problems then boom - rash.
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Avatar universal
People who have gluten intolerance (including celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis sufferers) have a reaction to certain proteins in the grains commonly used to make beer, barley and wheat. The hordein found in barley and the gliadin found in wheat are types of gluten that can trigger symptoms in sufferers of these diseases. Gluten-free beer is part of a gluten-free diet.

Gluten can be found in many common cereal grains including barley and wheat. Even in small quantities, the glutens specifically from barley and wheat (hordein and gliadin respectively) can trigger serious symptoms in those who suffer from Celiac disease. Almost all beer contains levels of gluten that cannot be tolerated by the celiac,[citation needed] but a growing number of breweries now cater to celiacs or those who otherwise cannot tolerate the consumption of one or other of the relevant glycoproteins.
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