Addiction Alcohol Addiction Coping and Recovery What Is Alcohol Intolerance? By Toketemu Ohwovoriole Toketemu Ohwovoriole Toketemu has been multimedia storyteller for the last four years. Her expertise focuses primarily on mental wellness and women’s health topics. Learn about our editorial process Published on November 15, 2021 Learn more." data-inline-tooltip="true"> Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Akeem Marsh, MD Medically reviewed by Akeem Marsh, MD Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Westend61 / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Diagnosis Causes Treatment Coping If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Do you start to feel nauseous or sick after consuming even the most negligible amounts of alcohol? Do you feel unusually warm or notice that your skin turns pink? These might be signs that you have alcohol intolerance. Alcohol intolerance is a metabolic disorder that affects the way your body breaks down alcohol. It's typically passed down genetically and can affect you even if it doesn't affect your parents or grandparents. Alcohol intolerance is sometimes referred to as alcohol sensitivity. A person with alcohol intolerance might think that they get drunk too quickly, but in reality, their bodies are unable to break down alcohol in the same way a person without the condition would. In a small 2012 study, researchers found that about 7.2% of 4,000 participants were intolerant to wine and alcohol in general. They reported experiencing flushing and a stuffy nose. They also found it to be more common amongst women than men. Symptoms of Alcohol Intolerance If you have alcohol intolerance and consume an alcoholic beverage, the most immediate symptom you might notice is your skin going flush and feeling warm. Other symptoms of this condition include: A stuffy nose Your face, neck, and chest turn pink or red Diarrhea Rapid heartbeat Fatigue Headache Low blood pressure Worsening asthma For most people with this condition, symptoms will vary from one person to another. However, the most common symptoms to look out for are your skin flushing and feeling sick whenever you consume alcohol. Diagnosing Alcohol Intolerance Alcohol intolerance is often confused with being allergic to alcohol. While alcohol intolerance is a metabolic disorder passed down in your genes, an alcohol allergy has more to do with the way your immune system reacts to certain ingredients in alcohol. People who are allergic to alcohol are rarely allergic to ethanol (the main ingredient used in making alcoholic beverages), they are typically allergic to other ingredients like barley, yeast, sulfates, hops, wheat, and histamines. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to alcohol include nausea, hives, and cramps. An alcohol patch test can also be used to diagnose alcohol intolerance. This is done by putting a bit of alcohol on a cotton pad and taping it to your arm. The pad is left on for some minutes. When it’s removed, your skin will be checked for signs of swelling, hives, or redness. What Happens When You Drink Alcohol? This is what happens when you consume an alcoholic beverage:When you drink alcohol, your body uses an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) to break down the alcohol. Your liver then converts it to acetaldehyde which can be damaging for your body. This is where ALDH2 comes in. ALDH2 works by turning acetaldehyde into acetic acid, otherwise known as vinegar, which is safe for your body. When the ALDH2 enzyme is inactive or less active, your body doesn't do a proper job at making this final conversion, resulting in the symptoms you experience if you have alcohol intolerance. Even in people who don’t have alcohol intolerance, a build of acetaldehyde in your body is what causes you to feel sick when you’ve had too much alcohol. It can be difficult to diagnose conditions that are genetically inherited. In trying to make a diagnosis, your doctor or healthcare provider will look into your medical history and conduct a physical exam. Your doctor might also conduct lab tests. In a 2010 study, researchers found that the popularity of rice in the diet of people in Southern China might be responsible for the genetic mutation that causes aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) to be inactive. Alcohol intolerance is genetic. So, if you have this condition, someone else in your family passed down a mutated gene. Certain risk factors also make it more likely for some people to develop alcohol intolerance. They include: Being asthmatic Being Asian or of Asian descent Having a condition called Hodgkin's lymphoma Differentiating between the two gets confusing because symptoms of both alcohol intolerance and an alcohol allergy can be identical since they both tend to begin shortly after alcohol has been consumed. All of these tests will help your doctor rule out any other conditions that may be causing your adverse reaction to alcohol. It's best to find a doctor who specializes in alcohol-related conditions to get an accurate diagnosis. Causes of Alcohol Intolerance 8 Facts About Drinking Alcohol It’s a little unclear what exactly causes alcohol intolerance. Research shows that the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), an enzyme that helps break down alcohol, may be inactive or less active in people with alcohol intolerance. Treatment for Alcohol Intolerance There is currently no cure for alcohol intolerance. The most effective treatment is to avoid alcohol and alcohol-based foods altogether. If you’ve consumed an alcoholic beverage and notice mild intolerance symptoms, you might be prescribed an antihistamine to help you clear up symptoms such as a stuffy nose or a reddened face. It’s essential to remember that antihistamines don’t treat the symptoms, and you should not continue drinking if you have alcohol intolerance. Having alcohol intolerance doesn’t preclude you from struggling with alcohol addiction. What happens in such a case is that you experience even more severe consequences than the average person with alcohol addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol addiction in addition to alcohol intolerance, it’s essential to seek treatment. Enrolling in an alcohol treatment program is the first step to recovery. Press Play for Advice On Addiction Recovery Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring actor Richie Stephens, shares how to recover from alcohol addiction, manage cravings, and determine if AA is right for you. Click below to listen now. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music Coping With Alcohol Intolerance Alcohol intolerance is a metabolic disorder that has no cure. While its symptoms can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, they are typically not fatal. The condition is also genetically inherited, which means there's nothing you can do to prevent it. There are, however, tips that can help you cope with this condition: Cut out alcohol completely or restrict alcohol consumption to the barest minimum Avoid drinking alcohol while taking medication. While this is a rule of thumb, it’s especially important if you have alcohol intolerance. Taking alcohol with medicine can worsen your symptoms. Quit smoking and avoid secondhand exposure to smoke. Smoking can exacerbate symptoms of alcohol intolerance. It’s most advisable to completely quit drinking alcohol if you have alcohol intolerance. It’s a lifelong condition and won’t go away with time. Continuing to consume alcohol, especially in large quantities, could lead to complications such as: Pancreatitis Late-onset Alzheimer’s Liver disease Cancer High blood pressure The Benefits of Quitting Alcohol 7 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ärzteblatt DÄG Redaktion Deutsches. Prevalence of wine intolerance(22.06.2012). Deutsches Rzteblatt. Cleveland Clinic. Alcohol intolerance: symptoms, tests & alcohol allergy. August 24, 2020 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Alcohol Metabolism: An Update. April 2007 Peng Y, Shi H, Qi X bin, et al. The ADH1B Arg47His polymorphism in East Asian populations and expansion of rice domestication in history. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 2010;10(1):15. Vally H, Thompson P. Allergic and asthmatic reactions to alcoholic drinks. Addiction Biology. 2003;8(1):3-11. Atkinson K, Austin DE, McElwain TJ, Peckham MJ. Alcohol pain in Hodgkin’s disease. Cancer. 1976;37(2):895-899. Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD). Acute alcohol sensitivity. June 26, 2015 By Toketemu Ohwovoriole Toketemu has been multimedia storyteller for the last four years. Her expertise focuses primarily on mental wellness and women’s health topics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit