Alcohol can impact our health and increase the risk of developing COVID and long COVID. Recent research also shows that long COVID may be linked to the development of alcohol intolerance and exacerbated hangovers. This Long COVID support group is sponsored by COVID Care Group, connecting the dots of long COVID through education, research, & resources for recovery and symptom management. Our clinical team provides FREE educational information helped over 10 million people help themselves in 2024 and we have resources for people that can’t find the care they need elsewhere. Visit find our education & resources at All sales proceeds support community outreach programs.
New Alcohol Sensitivity in Patients With Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC): A Case Series
Some researchers speculate that changes in liver function due to the virus could alter how the body processes alcohol, leading to intolerance. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. For long COVID patients who may already be struggling with proper hydration and electrolyte balance, alcohol consumption could further complicate these issues.
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From there, the medical team at Oasis Medical Institute will develop a personalized treatment plan that includes a range of holistic therapies and conventional medicine. The duration and frequency of treatment will depend on the extent of your alcohol intolerance symptoms and other long COVID-related complications. If you are a long COVID patient experiencing alcohol intolerance, you may benefit from seeking treatment at Oasis Medical Institute.
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The patients’ medical histories and alcohol consumption habits before and after COVID-19 infection were documented in the study. When stress exceeds a certain limit, it might trigger brain inflammation, resulting in symptoms like those seen in ME/CFS, including alcohol intolerance. Ongoing research, including advanced brain scans, aims to further investigate these connections. While research on alcohol intolerance post-COVID-19 is limited, numerous anecdotal reports suggest that alcohol intolerance could be a symptom of long COVID for some individuals. There are reports that suggest that alcohol tolerance and susceptibility to alcohol-related diseases may differ among racial and ethnic groups 1-3,31,32. This case series is limited to four patients who self-identify as White or Hispanic, highlighting the need for further research investigating the potential influence of racial and ethnic background on alcohol intolerance in patients with PASC.
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The initial consultation will involve a comprehensive evaluation of your symptoms and medical history, as well as a discussion of your treatment goals and preferences. While the exact mechanisms behind alcohol intolerance in long COVID patients are not yet fully understood, experts believe that the virus may cause changes in the body’s immune system and metabolism. COVID-19 can lead to inflammation and damage in various organs, including the liver and pancreas, which are crucial in metabolizing alcohol.
- Long COVID patients may experience heightened alcohol sensitivity, which can lead to various physical and psychological symptoms.
- “Alcohol reactions and sensitivity are not well characterized in the literature as it relates to post-viral illness.
- A new onset of alcohol sensitivities should be assessed along with other post-COVID-19 symptoms and may provide novel avenues to explore the pathobiology of illness and potential interventions.
- Long COVID continues to be studied, but there have been reports of individuals developing a sudden intolerance to alcohol, possibly due to COVID-19.
- Hangovers typically involve dehydration, headache, and general malaise, whereas alcohol intolerance symptoms are a direct result of a negative reaction to alcohol in the body.
The Mechanisms Behind Alcohol Intolerance in Long COVID Patients
Although it might feel like it, alcohol intolerance doesn’t make people get drunk faster, and it doesn’t increase blood alcohol levels. The condition is also different from an alcohol allergy, which is an immune response to a chemical, grain, or preservative in alcohol that can cause rashes, itchiness, swelling, and stomach cramps. Although the underlying mechanisms aren’t fully understood, the symptom may be linked to the broader condition of long COVID and share similarities with conditions like myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). While research on post-COVID alcohol intolerance is still limited, anecdotal evidence suggests that it’s a symptom experienced by many people following the virus. So the study chronicled a sustained spike in drinking during the COVID pandemic that continued to rise after we saw those stay-at-home orders in 2020. There are a number of theories as to what drove that increase, ranging from stress from the pandemic to increased home delivery services that were offered by the beverage industry during that time.
Alcohol is known to suppress the immune system, which can be particularly problematic for those recovering from COVID-19. A weakened immune system may hinder the body’s ability to fully recover and fight off potential reinfections or other illnesses. Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being. The Reframe app equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to not only survive drinking less, but to thrive while you navigate the journey. Our daily research-backed readings teach you the neuroscience of alcohol, and our in-app Toolkit provides the resources and activities you need to navigate each challenge.
Her tolerance has decreased to the point where one beer would result in a severe “hangover,” along with exacerbation of PASC symptoms for three days thereafter. Alcohol sensitivity has been observed in a patient with PASC in a case report 20 but has not been widely studied. Here, we present a case series of patients reporting alcohol sensitivity following a SARS-CoV-2 infection that were evaluated at the Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) Clinic at Stanford University. Patients had a history of confirmed COVID-19 infection and persistent post-COVID symptoms that lasted longer than four weeks. Patients 1, 2, and 4’s PASC symptoms persisted since their acute infection, while Patient 3’s PASC symptoms became noticeable two months after their initial COVID-19 infection. PASC symptoms and functional status were assessed during visits through clinical intake forms and a comprehensive medical evaluation during their consultation.
The patient used to consume several drinks per week and drink socially, but reported that she had not consumed alcohol for the last seven months due to decreased tolerance. The patient reported one instance, post-COVID infection, during which she had one glass of wine and had such a bad reaction that she felt she could not move. She described her symptoms as similar to a “bad hangover,” with a headache, grogginess, and “overwhelming” fatigue the next day. This patient received four doses of COVID-19 vaccination, three administered prior to her COVID infection and one post COVID infection.
Additionally, some studies have suggested that the virus may affect the way in which the stomach and liver process alcohol, leading to a faster and more intense response to even small amounts of alcohol. A definitive causal link between PASC and alcohol sensitivity cannot be established based on a limited case series. However, these cases reported here may reflect a larger population of individuals with PASC who suffer from new-onset alcohol sensitivity following COVID-19. Objective measures, such as blood alcohol levels, in future research on larger cohorts would also provide additional quantitative insight into the degree of alcohol reaction relative to ingested amount. Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), also known as long COVID or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, describes new or worsening symptoms that can last for months and even years following acute COVID infection 10.
With this information, a customized treatment plan is created, combining conventional medicine with complementary therapies. It is important for healthcare providers to be aware of the connection between long COVID and alcohol intolerance, and to provide appropriate support and guidance to patients who experience these symptoms. By understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in alcohol sensitivity post-recovery, healthcare professionals can help patients manage their symptoms and promote overall well-being.
- Recent studies have also reported alcohol sensitivity after the onset of their illness in 65-80% of ME/CFS patients 9.
- Long COVID is a recently identified phenomenon that affects people who have recovered from COVID-19 but continue to experience symptoms for months after the initial infection.
- Drinking alcohol with long COVID symptoms is not recommended; it can exacerbate symptoms and prolong recovery.
- Some individuals experience prolonged respiratory symptoms, while others may have persistent neurological or gastrointestinal issues.
- Our clinical team provides FREE educational information helped over 10 million people help themselves in 2024 and we have resources for people that can’t find the care they need elsewhere.
Questions remain regarding long COVID, increased alcohol sensitivity
Our understanding of why individuals develop OI after viral illnesses is incomplete, but it is plausible that this could be a key mechanism by which alcohol consumption aggravates symptoms in those recovering from viral infections. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, potentially long covid alcohol intolerance worsening the drop in blood pressure seen in those with OI. As a diuretic, alcohol may amplify dehydration in OI patients, further diminishing blood flow to the brain when upright and intensifying symptoms 26. Prior to her initial COVID infection, she had no issues with alcohol tolerance and could easily tolerate about seven mixed drinks containing hard liquor in one night. A standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol, with one standard drink equivalents including 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer 21. After COVID infection, however, she reported feeling like she suffers from “alcohol poisoning” after drinking even small amounts of alcohol and feels “terrible” for several days after consumption.
Long COVID is a condition marked by long-term symptoms and conditions that occur after the acute two-week period of a COVID-19 infection. The condition is more common in those of us who have had a severe COVID-19 infection or are not vaccinated. Long COVID symptoms can be ongoing or intermittent and can go on for weeks, months, or years.