Alcohol Allergies: Symptoms, Signs, and Treatment for Reactions

One is that alcohol dilates blood vessels in the nose, which can cause irritation and lead to sneezing. Additionally, some people may experience swelling of the lips, tongue and throat. Besides wines, fruits like bananas, kiwi, melons, and grapes can also contain sulfites, though in much smaller amounts.

How does an allergic reaction to alcohol differ from a bad hangover?

• Red wines generally have higher histamine content than white wines, with levels ranging from 60 to 3,800 micrograms per litre in reds and 3 to 120 micrograms per litre in whites.
• In some people, drinking alcohol may also trigger an allergic reaction, which can cause sneezing and other symptoms.
• If you’re frequently sneezing after drinking, you must see a doctor as there may be an underlying condition that needs to be treated.
• Make sure you avoid alcohol intake with any other medications, as there can be interaction between the two.
• Some people are super sensitive to all wines and get on better with another low-tannin alcohol such as gin, vodka, rum, or tequila.

But if you think your wine is contaminated by mould, it is best to discard it as it can be worse for you than just sneezing. If you see mould on the ouside of the cork, that does not necessarily mean the wine is contaminated. Epsom salt baths may help with sulphite sensitivity over time, as well as a mineral called molybdenum which can be taken as a supplement. By Ayesha Gulzar, PharmDAyesha Gulzar is a clinical pharmacist interested in medical research, pharmacy practice, and medication therapy management. Dr. Gulzar has been working in medical communications, writing medical and clinical research for patients and health professionals in the United Kingdom.

While the body naturally produces histamine, we also consume it through food and drinks that are rich in histamines, including cheese, wine, meats, fish, and fermented foods. Wine allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe, and in extreme cases may even lead to anaphylaxis. If you think you might be allergic to wine, it is important that you seek medical attention right away. Your doctor or allergist will likely perform a skin test in order to determine what component of wine you are allergic to.

Unfortunately for wine-lovers, there’s a lot of things in wine that can cause negative reactions or intolerances. For many people, more than 2 ounces of alcohol can lead to triggering allergies which is also termed as alcohol allergy. This can again make your nose get stuffy when you drink alcohol with some complaints, which may need medical treatment. Stuffy nose problem is also termed as sinus congestion which often occurs due to presence of preservatives like sulfur dioxide. To understand what causes stuffy nose on drinking alcohol, it is necessary to understand certain facts.

If you experience these symptoms after drinking alcohol, you must see a doctor as you may need to be treated for an allergy. Sneezing after drinking beer can be caused by a variety of factors, including alcohol intolerance, allergies, or sensitivity to specific ingredients in beer. Alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition where the body struggles to break down alcohol efficiently, leading to symptoms such as a stuffy or runny nose. Allergies to ingredients in beer, such as grains, preservatives, or histamines, can also trigger allergic reactions, including sneezing. Additionally, sensitivity to specific ingredients in beer, such as wheat or barley, may be the culprit. Understanding the underlying cause of sneezing after drinking beer can help individuals manage their symptoms effectively.

To avoid this situation, it is important to drink wines with a flavor that does not cause an allergic reaction in the body. However, some people with Hodgkin lymphoma experience pain in their lymph nodes after consuming alcohol. The amounts of histamine vary between wines, but generally, there is more histamine in red than white wine.

Why Do I Sneeze When I Drink Alcohol?

Some people are super sensitive to all wines and get on better with another low-tannin alcohol such as gin, vodka, rum, or tequila. Whether in a large or small quantity, consuming an alcoholic drink while taking an antihistamine should be avoided whenever possible. The side effects can even be life-threatening, especially in older adults, as it can increase the risk of falls. Taking Benadryl and drinking alcohol, especially in larger amounts, at the same time can have severe outcomes that can be life-threatening. As a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, alcohol can worsen the side effects of Benadryl. Alcohol-induced respiratory symptoms are common in patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease.

What You Can Do To Prevent Sneezing When You Drink

You force the pressure that’s searching for a way out up into your face if you pinch your nose to stifle a sneeze. Pinching your nose might guide the pressure through the eustachian tube, which connects the back of your nose to your middle ear. Wine contains proteins from grapes, bacteria, and yeast, as well as sulfites and other organic compounds. Other studies have found that egg whites and gelatin are often used in the filtration processing of wine. Normally, the food that you consume, gets broken down into the substances which are absorbed by the body for nutrition and the rest gets excreted. You had a long week, and you opened that bottle of wine to help you relax — but instead you wound up with a stuffy nose you now have to deal with.

How To Prevent a Sneeze

One of the primary symptoms is facial flushing, where the face quickly turns red and may feel warm due to increased blood flow. The sneezing that some people experience after drinking red wine can also be due to an allergy. While rare, it is possible for a person to have an allergic reaction when exposed to the ingredients found in red wine such as histamines or sulfites. Those with allergies may experience sneezing, itching, and other respiratory symptoms when exposed to red wine. To avoid experiencing such allergic reactions, it is important to consult with a doctor and identify any allergies before drinking red wine.

Always check the product label before taking medications along with Benadryl or any other product containing Benadryl’s active ingredient diphenhydramine. You might notice smooth bulges on your skin that make a crackling sound if you press on it. A facial bone fracture, blunt trauma, and forceful coughing typically cause subcutaneous emphysema. People can also have an oral allergy syndrome — a reaction to fresh fruit and vegetables that may be used as a garnish or a mixer in a cocktail, according to Bassett.

It is not a sensitivity to histamine but rather an indication that the person has accumulated an excessive amount. Symptoms of histamine intolerance can include sneezing, hives, headaches, nausea, and digestive issues—similar to a common allergic response. In conclusion, it is important to note that approximately 8% of the population may experience an allergic reaction when consuming certain alcoholic beverages containing sulfites. While not a true allergy, these reactions can be uncomfortable and even dangerous in extreme cases. Red wine should be avoided if you have a sinus condition or are prone to developing them.

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Benadryl?

Hazelnut or almond in liquor can also be a problem for those with an allergy to nuts. If a person suspects they have an allergy, it’s important they be evaluated by a specialist. She has tried different types of alcohol — vodka, whiskey or tequila — but she breaks out in hives and a fever. After just a few “tiny sips,” thinking she will be fine, Brown said she ends up “going down the same dreadful path Jack Daniels led me down.”

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Researchers believe that this could be due to the sulfites used in producing white wine, as well as the histamines found in white grapes. In addition to filtration, the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in cocktails can pose a risk for those with oral allergy syndrome (OAS). OAS is an allergic reaction to certain proteins found in raw fruits and vegetables, which are also present in many alcoholic drinks. As such, it is important for those who suffer from this condition to be aware of the potential risk that drinking certain cocktails may pose.

These side effects could be caused by a serious allergy and warrant a visit with your doctor to address your symptoms. What’s more concerning, however, is that some medications can lead to uncomfortable (even dangerous) side effects when combined with alcohol. In addition, various ingredients found in alcoholic beverages have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in some people. People who drink daily or almost every day should not be left alone for the first few days after stopping alcohol.

There are also signs that the body is reacting negatively to alcohol itself; symptoms such as headaches, nausea, stomach pains and dizziness which occur when consuming alcohol. Additionally, alcohol can cause a histamine reaction, triggered by the body’s immune system when it comes into contact with the allergen. Alcohol consumption can lead to a stuffy nose due to the effect it has on your body. Alcohol is metabolized by enzymes in your liver, which convert ethanol into acetaldehyde. These chemicals cause inflammation in the mucous membranes of your nose and sinuses, leading to congestion and a stuffy feeling. Additionally, when you consume alcoholic beverages, your blood vessels widen and cause more blood to flow to the nasal tissues, leading to additional swelling.

Second-generation antihistamines such as Zyrtec (cetirizine), Allegra (fexofenadine), and Claritin (loratadine) are less likely to cause can alcohol make you sneeze drowsiness. The chance of a halted sneeze killing you is so low experts do not even have enough cases to write up scientific studies. They resort to what are called case reports, which detail just one particular person’s experience with a suppressed sneeze. “An isolated case report is a rare event. Maybe even less likely than one in a million,” said Dr. Voigt. Otolaryngologists call a stifled sneeze a “closed-airway sneeze,” Christopher Chang, MD, an ear, nose, and throat specialist based in Virginia, told Health. “When a sneeze is initiated, a lot of pressure builds up in your lungs, and the sneeze is let out all at once forcefully.”

For mild cases of sulfite intolerance, avoiding products with added sulfites may provide relief. The symptoms are similar to those caused by histamine intolerance and can easily be confused with allergy-like symptoms. If you experience this particular symptom, it’s important to seek medical advice before drinking alcohol again. In some cases, symptoms may be the result of an underlying condition that can be managed with proper medical treatment.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your breathing difficulties, please contact a medical professional for advice. Wine and other alcoholic beverages are generally not considered as potential allergens, so if you think you may have an allergy to wine, it is important to get a proper diagnosis. During the skin prick test, drops of wine are placed on the back of your forearm and the skin is pricked through the liquid. If you experience a localized reaction, such as redness or hives, then it can be concluded that an allergy to wine exists.