Over time, alcohol can increase an individual’s risk of dying from a range of different medical problems. Fortunately, overcoming your addiction can help you avoid and mitigate the long-term effects of alcohol abuse.

If you have consumed alcohol for an extended period of time, you may end up developing macrocytic anemia. This condition is diagnosed with blood tests, so you should schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any symptoms. Then, your doctor can recommend the best methods of treating your anemia. While supplements can alleviate your symptoms, this condition will continue to be a problem if you don’t stop drinking.

What Is Macrocytic Anemia?

When someone’s body doesn’t have enough, healthy red blood cells, it can cause them to become anemic. Standard anemia can be caused by many different health issues. For instance, vegetarians often become anemic because of vitamin B12 deficiencies. Anemia can also occur as a result of bone marrow disorders and autoimmune diseases.

You can develop anemia if your body can’t make hemoglobin and red blood cells fast enough. Likewise, excessive blood loss can cause your levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells to drop. Finally, anemia can occur if your body is destroying red blood cells faster than they can be made.

With macrocytic anemia, an individual has abnormally large red blood cells. These red blood cells are also lacking in nutrients, which is why they tend to break down quickly. Typically, macrocytic anemia happens when someone doesn’t have enough folate and B vitamins in their body to produce healthy red blood cells.

The Symptoms of Macrocytic Anemia

When someone has anemia, they often experience weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Anemia can often cause headaches, cold hands or feet, chest pain, and irregular heartbeats. Sometimes, anemia will make the individual’s skin appear yellow or pale.

Macrocytic anemia can cause the same symptoms as standard anemia. Because macrocytic anemia is caused by a lack of B vitamins and folate, it can cause a few other symptoms as well. While each person is unique, the following symptoms are fairly common with macrocytic anemia.

• Balance issues
• Paresthesia
• Upset stomach
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Mood changes
• Loss of appetite or weight
• Diarrhea
• Poor concentration
• Brittle nails
• Memory loss

How Macrocytic Anemia Is Diagnosed

To diagnose macrocytic anemia, a doctor will typically start by asking about your lifestyle, eating habits, and medical history. If the doctor thinks that anemia may be the cause of your symptoms, they will order a blood test. The first blood test is normally a complete blood count. If this indicates the possibility of anemia, the doctor will give you a peripheral blood smear. With this test, you can spot early changes to your red blood cells and get a diagnosis of macrocytic anemia.

While the previous blood tests are the most common, there are other tests that may be used. For example, a doctor may test nutrient levels to see if a nutrient deficiency is the underlying cause. They may also request blood tests to rule out hypothyroidism or liver disease. In some cases, you may even be referred to a hematologist so that you can find out the type of anemia you are dealing with.

How Does Alcohol Cause Macrocytic Anemia?

The majority of macrocytic anemia cases are related to alcohol consumption. However, there are multiple factors that can cause this medical ailment. Typically, there are two main forms of macrocytic anemia.

Megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is related to errors in how your red blood cell DNA is produced. Often, this happens because of folate or vitamin B12 deficiency. Additionally, chemotherapy medications, antiretroviral drugs, and antiseizure medications can cause this type of problem to occur.

Meanwhile, nonmegaloblastic types of macrocytic anemia are often caused by chronic alcohol use disorder. Additionally, this form of anemia can be due to hypothyroidism or liver disease.

How To Treat Macrocytic Anemia

If your macrocytic anemia is caused by alcoholism, one of the most important things you can do is stop drinking. However, quitting cold turkey can be dangerous. Because of this, you should turn to a rehab center for support as you work on becoming sober.

Typically, macrocytic anemia is treated by remedying the cause of the condition. After running blood tests, your doctor may recommend supplements to treat a nutrient deficiency. Normally, the doctor will prescribe vitamin B12 and folate to alleviate a patient’s anemia.

With a vitamin B12 deficiency, the doctor may recommend eating more foods that contain vitamin B12. For instance, you may consume more fortified grains, spinach, chicken, red meat, and eggs to boost your levels of vitamin B12. If you are severely deficient, you may be given injections or oral vitamins to boost your vitamin B12 levels.

Similarly, you may be prescribed an oral vitamin to remedy low levels of folate. You can also get folate through kale, oranges, spinach, lentils, and enriched grains.

Can You Reverse Macrocytic Anemia?

It is possible to treat and reverse macrocytic anemia. Normally, doctors will start by diagnosing and treating the underlying cause. You may also have to take supplements or eat specific foods to remedy a vitamin deficiency.

If you develop complications from macrocytic anemia, these problems may need to be treated as well. For example, macrocytic anemia can cause dementia and peripheral neuropathy. Untreated macrocytic anemia can cause long-term damage to your nervous system, so it is important to treat this condition as soon as possible.

One of the most effective ways to treat alcohol-induced macrocytic anemia is to quit drinking. If you become sober and eat a healthy diet, your anemia will gradually start to improve.

How To Get Help for Substance Use Disorders

As long as someone continues to drink, alcohol affects their health, and they may need ongoing treatment for alcohol-related anemia, such as macrocytic anemia. This condition can result from hematological complications of alcoholism, including folic acid deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Seeking help at a detox center is a crucial step in addressing these health concerns and beginning recovery.

During the initial intake, the treatment center will evaluate all medical problems associated with substance use disorders, including any abnormalities in red blood cell count, iron levels, and potential vitamin B deficiencies. This assessment is crucial because alcohol use disorder often leads to hematological complications, such as macrocytosis, megaloblastic anemia, and other causes of anemia tied to malnutrition, liver damage, or alcoholic liver disease. Platelets and enzyme levels may also be checked to identify any toxic effects or dysfunction resulting from alcohol consumption.

The detox stage is the initial step in treatment, allowing your body to cleanse from the toxic effects of alcohol. Since quitting alcohol can result in serious withdrawal symptoms, such as hematological and gastrointestinal side effects, it’s crucial to undergo detox under professional medical supervision. Healthcare providers will monitor iron stores, folate deficiency, and any other symptoms of anemia or related health risks.

Once the detox process is complete, you can begin rehab. therapy options in rehab, including individual and group therapy, can help address both the psychological and physical effects of alcohol and substance use. Through tailored therapy sessions, you’ll learn to manage triggers and build strategies for recovery, ultimately reducing the increased risk of relapse and working toward improved well-being.

Through a comprehensive treatment program, including healthcare provider support and regular monitoring of cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, and liver damage risks, you can take the next step toward recovery and healthier hematological function.

Find Addiction Help in New York

Unfortunately, alcohol use disorder and excessive alcohol consumption affect around 28.9 million Americans over the age of 12 in the last year. For many of these people, heavy drinking and high alcohol intake will have a debilitating impact on their physical, mental, and financial health. If alcohol addiction isn’t treated promptly, it can lead to macrocytic anemia and other health problems associated with excessive drinking.

In order to reverse macrocytic anemia, it’s essential to address the underlying cause. Continuing to drink alcohol, especially in heavy amounts, will only worsen macrocytic anemia over time. Eventually, heavy alcohol consumption can cause long-term damage to your nervous system and lead to conditions such as dementia.

The good news is that you can reverse many of the effects of macrocytic anemia by simply quitting drinking alcohol. Additionally, your doctor can recommend the right supplements and foods to help you recover from macrocytic anemia. To learn more about taking the next step in conquering your alcohol use disorder and reducing your alcohol intake, reach out to one of our intake specialists today.

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Published on: 2024-10-31
Updated on: 2024-10-31

While no one knows when humans first started fermenting and drinking alcohol, we do have early records of alcohol consumption from China. This early usage occurred around 9,000 years ago. At the time, alcohol was made from fermented millet, honey, grapes, and rice.

Although too much alcohol can be dangerous, the risk level generally reduces as someone starts to consume less. For example, the incidence of cancer declines if you drink less. This risk level increases when you consume more. To learn more about alcohol’s role in the body and weird historical facts, read on.

The Surprising Effects of Alcohol on the Body

In the short run, alcohol can cause alcohol poisoning or a hangover if you overindulge. However, it can also increase the likelihood of accidents, risky behavior, and violent arguments. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, so people are more likely to do things they would never normally do. From sleep disruption to impaired memories, there are a range of unusual effects that alcohol can have on the body.

Sleep Disruption

Sometimes, you hear people say that they need a glass of wine to fall asleep. In reality, alcohol may cause your sleep quality to decline. It can worsen insomnia, decrease REM sleep, and trigger sleep apnea.

Memory Impairment

Over time, alcohol can cause gaps in memory. These are commonly known as blackouts. A blackout occurs when the brain isn’t able to transfer your short-term memory into long-term memory storage. Blackouts are more common when someone drinks an excessive amount of alcohol quickly.

Unfortunately, alcohol can also lead to long-term memory impairment. A condition called alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) can develop after several years of drinking excessively. However, the good news is that a great deal of the memory and thinking issues can be reversed if the individual quits drinking.

Gender Effects

When a young man and woman drink the same amount of alcohol, the alcohol will have a different effect. This isn’t because of size or weight differences. The female body produces less dehydrogenase, which is an enzyme that is known for its ability to break down alcohol within the stomach.

Weird Historical Uses of Alcohol

Since alcohol was first invented, it has been used for a variety of different purposes. It has played a role in pain medication, cleaning, and rituals. From snake wine to roles in the after-life, explore some of the weird historical uses of alcohol.

Medicinal Usage

We have evidence that alcohol was used as an antiseptic as far back as the 1300s. Before painkillers and anesthesia existed, alcohol was routinely used to numb pain during medical procedures.

Cholera Prevention

Today, municipalities use modern filtration techniques to supply water to homeowners. Before clean water was available, water was often filled with bacteria. By drinking alcohol instead of water, people could avoid getting ill from cholera.

Snake Wine

In several parts of Asia, you can get a specialty known as snake wine. This drink is made by infusing an entire snake in rice wine. The proteins in the snake venom are unfolded by ethanol in the alcohol, which renders it mostly safe to drink. The first recorded incidence of snake wine occurred during the Western Zhou dynasty. While snake wine is said to boost energy and vitality, there are many risks involved in drinking it.

Alcohol’s Use in Rituals

Besides being used as a social lubricant, alcohol has a storied past in human rituals and purification ceremonies. In Japan, Shinto purification ceremonies involve consuming alcohol and offering alcohol to the gods. Meanwhile, many branches of Christianity use sacramental wine.

Odd Alcohol Laws From Around the World

Over the years, many cultures have created unusual laws about alcohol. In the United States, alcohol was banned during Prohibition. Despite the ban on alcohol, alcoholism actually increased during Prohibition. Many people who suffered from an addiction turned to bootlegged alcohol, which could lead to blindness or death.

Alcohol Bans

In 2024, Saudi Arabia opened up its first liquor store in more than 70 years. The original ban was implemented after King Abdulaziz’s son drunkenly shot and killed a British consular officer. Despite the new liquor store, the majority of Muslims in the country still abstain from drinking alcohol.

Saudi Arabia isn’t the only place with alcohol bans. Since 1965, Kuwait has banned the sale and purchase of liquor. In Oman, Pakistan, and Qatar, Muslims are banned from drinking alcohol. However, non-Muslims can get a permit to sell alcohol in their hotels and restaurants.

Bangladesh, Iran, and Libya all have bans on alcohol. However, many people in these countries still drink because of blackmarket sales, homemade alcohol production, and international smuggling.

Weird Laws

Over the years, a number of unusual laws have developed around the drinking of alcohol. For instance, the United States is known for having dry counties. In these counties, alcohol sales are prohibited, so residents typically drive to the next county to buy their alcohol.

When California’s craft distilleries first started to grow, they couldn’t sell products directly to their customers. By 2018, this changed slightly. As long as customers went through a tasting in the tasting room first, they could buy a bottle.

In Colorado, convenience stores and grocery chains couldn’t sell full-strength beer until 2019. Similarly, Delaware doesn’t allow customers to buy beer or wine in grocery stores.

Meanwhile, people in Hawaii are only allowed one drink at a time. If you decide to buy a drink for a friend, you have to point out your friend to the bartender.

In 2012, Washington made a remarkable change to its weird laws about alcohol sales. Until the law finally changed, liquor could only be sold in state-run liquor stores. Now, liquor can be purchased in any grocery store or shop that has the right permits.

Alcohol Myths Debunked

Over time, many different myths have developed about alcohol. Unfortunately, these myths are untrue and potentially harmful.

Breaking the Seal

There is an urban myth that you’ll have to keep going to the bathroom if you allow yourself to urinate after drinking. In reality, urinating doesn’t change your bladder’s size or capacity. If you try to hold it in for too long, you can increase the likelihood of a urinary tract infection or kidney infection.

This myth likely stems from the way that alcohol affects the bladder. It inhibits vasopressin, which controls the amount of fluid that leaves your body. Additionally, alcohol has a diuretic effect and can irritate your bladder after just 20 minutes of drinking. Because of these effects, drinking alcohol can make you feel like you have to go to the bathroom more frequently.

Alcohol Warms You Up

There is a common myth that alcohol can warm you up. In reality, this sense of warmth is because blood is rushing to your skin’s surface. When you drink, alcohol causes your blood vessels to dilate. This process can actually make you colder. People are more likely to experience hypothermia when they drink because they don’t realize how cold they actually are.

Beer Before Liquor

According to an urban myth, drinking beer before liquor will cause you to feel sick. Unfortunately, drinking beer after liquor won’t make you feel better. In fact, studies show hangovers won’t be better or worse if you consume alcoholic drinks in a specific order. Additionally, mixing drinks won’t impact your hangovers. However, drinking an excessive amount of alcohol will make you feel sick. If you drink too much or too fast, your liver doesn’t have enough time to remove alcohol from the blood.

The Dark Side: Alcohol Abuse Facts

While alcohol has been consumed in a variety of cultures for thousands of years, it can still have a negative effect. The following facts are just a few examples of the dark side of alcohol.

• In the United States, 28.9 million people over the age of 12 have dealt with an alcohol use disorder in the last year.
• Men are more likely to abuse alcohol than women, but alcohol misuse has grown among women over the last few years.
• Alcohol withdrawal can be fatal, which is why it is so important to seek out professional medical help.
• Your genes can increase your likelihood of suffering from alcohol abuse. If a family member has suffered from a substance use disorder, you are more likely to suffer from alcohol abuse as well.

Find Assistance With Alcohol Abuse

If you suffer from alcohol use disorder or struggle with binge drinking or hard liquor, you aren’t alone. At Long Island Interventions, we provide detox and rehab support for people who suffer from alcohol use disorder, including those looking to stop drinking and address issues related to alcoholic beverages. With the right help, you can safely navigate detox and take the first step in your recovery journey. Additionally, our programs offer guidance on understanding the risks associated with underage drinking and support for all ages in achieving long-term sobriety.

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Published on: 2024-10-31
Updated on: 2024-10-31

Waking up the next morning after drinking too much and embarrassing yourself in front of friends, family, or coworkers is one of the most cringe-worthy moments many of us have experienced. Whether it was your first time or a repeat offense, the embarrassment is the same. Whether at a bar with friends, a cousin’s birthday party, or a professional event, the feeling of regret lingers. Perhaps you said something you regret, picked a fight, or made questionable choices as the night wore on. Now, it’s the next day, and not only are you hungover, but you’re also trying to piece together the details of last night’s events. Take a deep breath—you’re not alone in making mistakes after a night of drinking. Here, we’ll explore the causes of drunk embarrassment, the consequences of drinking too much, and how to prevent these situations from happening again.

Understanding the Causes Behind Drunk Embarrassment

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which means it not only slows you down physically but also lowers your inhibitions and increases your confidence. Drinking alcohol makes you more susceptible to saying or doing things you normally wouldn’t. In moderate amounts, alcohol can enhance social interactions and bring people out of their shells. However, excessive drinking, especially binge drinking, can impair the regions of your brain that affect memory, balance, speech, and judgment.

These effects of alcohol become more pronounced with every drink. When you lose control of your impulses, you’re more likely to wake up with regrets about what you did, a common experience for those with a drinking problem or alcohol addiction. This sense of embarrassment stems from doing something completely out of character while drunk.

To make matters worse, those who witnessed your behavior—whether coworkers, family members, or friends—may remember your actions vividly. While some incidents may be harmless and quickly forgotten, repeated instances of alcohol abuse can lead to more serious consequences, especially for individuals struggling with alcohol use disorder. Recognizing these patterns can be a step toward addressing unhealthy drinking habits and deciding to stop drinking.

The Most Common Scenarios for Embarrassing Drunk Behavior

While drinking too much and saying or doing something embarrassing can happen at any event where there’s alcohol present, these scenarios most often occur at:

• Family gatherings
• Office parties and professional events
• Social outings with friends

Drinking too much at family gatherings and saying or doing something inappropriate can disrupt a good time and cause tension with your relatives. If you have one too many with friends out on the town and your antics are caught on camera, it may be immortalized forever on social media. In addition, if you regularly become “blackout drunk,” your friends will likely grow tired of having to babysit you, which could damage your relationships with them.

Although it’s embarrassing enough to make drunken mistakes in front of your family and friends, these situations can damage you professionally if they occur in front of work colleagues. Some employers have a zero-tolerance policy, which means your job may be on the line if your actions were seriously offensive. Fallouts with coworkers, altercations and even sexual advances can significantly affect your workplace and team dynamics. Depending on the situation, the repercussions may be significant.

The Psychological and Social Impact of Drinking Too Much

Dealing with the shame and embarrassment after a night of drinking is enough to dissuade many people from going overboard in the future. However, some don’t change their behavior and continue to drink excessively at social gatherings. For them, both immediate and long-term consequences may occur, often worsening over time. If your behavior is a “one-off” situation, friends and family may be willing to move on. However, if you routinely get drunk and belligerent, it can significantly impact your mental health and social standing.

Those around you may set boundaries, limiting their interactions when you’re drinking. This can lead to losing friends, straining family relationships, and experiencing professional repercussions. Over time, the repeated incidents can contribute to feelings of shame, anxiety, and potential health conditions related to excessive alcohol use. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol and seek support from healthcare professionals to improve your overall wellness.

Handling the Aftermath of Drunk Embarrassment

Suppose it’s the morning after, and you’re piecing together the details of what happened at your office’s “Happy Hour” event last night. While calling in sick and staying in bed all day is tempting, it’s better to face the music head-on, even if you’ve got a pounding headache. Now that you’ve made it to the office, here are several things you can do to handle the aftermath:

• Get all the details – If you are hearing bits and pieces of embarrassing things you said or did, you’ll need to get the full story. Ask a trusted coworker who was there about what you did. Even if your memories are fuzzy and you don’t remember your actions, you must take ownership of what you did.
• Apologize if necessary – While sometimes we may simply fall down or embarrass ourselves when drinking, other times we can say or do hurtful things or even put our friends in an uncomfortable position. If your behavior was out of line, make sure to apologize without making excuses or minimizing the situation.
• Commit to change – Let this incident be a teachable moment in your life. Acknowledge if there is a problem with your drinking and commit to change. Get a handle on your drinking, and remember this moment when you are tempted to overindulge again in the future.
• Follow through with your promise – If you decide to cut back on alcohol, follow through with positive change. Consider addiction counseling, check out a few local recovery group meetings or look into rehabilitation programs if necessary. Find someone who is willing to be your accountability partner and bring them to future events where you may be tempted to drink.

Whatever you do, don’t try to minimize your antics or pretend they didn’t happen. While your recollection of events may be fuzzy, other people may remember very clearly what you did. You may want to sweep it under the rug, hoping others will forget about your behavior. However, saying nothing about what happened can make it seem like you don’t care that you were being offensive, rude or destructive. By apologizing to those you offended, vowing to make a change and staying committed to your efforts, you can start moving past it as quickly as possible.

How To Prevent Future Incidents

Now that you’ve dealt with the aftermath of your behavior, it’s time to implement strategies to prevent this situation from happening again and to reevaluate your drinking habits.

• Set your limit: Before drinking at an event, decide how many drinks you’ll have and stick to that number. This can help prevent binge drinking and the negative effects of alcohol.
• Pace yourself: Avoid drinking too quickly, as it can lead to substance use beyond what you intended, increasing the risk of alcohol abuse.
• Skip rounds and shots: Stick to drinks you can sip slowly, which helps you manage your intake. Shots often lead to losing control, worsening a drinking problem.
• Eat a meal: Having food in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, helping you avoid the intense effects associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse.

Remember, you can have a great time without getting drunk. Drinking responsibly reduces the chances of waking up with a hangover or regret. If you find it hard to stop drinking, or if you’re struggling with alcohol use disorder, it may be time to reconsider your relationship with alcohol and seek help to avoid the long-term consequences of alcohol abuse.

Coping With Feelings of Embarrassment

Everyone makes mistakes, and you should try not to be so hard on yourself. Continuing to wallow in your shame may prevent you from moving on and living life to the fullest. Learning from your mistakes can keep you from embarrassing yourself in the future. If you’re having a hard time forgiving yourself for your behavior, it may be time to take a good, long look at your relationship with alcohol.

Although it’s impossible to turn back the clock and erase what happened when you got drunk, this incident can still serve as a learning experience. Sometimes, events like this are necessary to help you realize it’s time to seek help. If you often find yourself in compromising positions or engaging in risky behavior while drunk, consider getting professional help. By reflecting on your drinking patterns and making positive changes, you won’t ever have to wake up again mortified by what you may have said or done the night before.

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Published on: 2024-08-15
Updated on: 2024-09-23

Are you concerned that you might be a heavy drinker? The CDC reports that about 7 percent of adults in the United States self-report that they are heavy drinkers, and 17 percent report that they binge drink. Overall, about 50 percent of the adult population has consumed alcohol within the last 30 days. However, knowing which category you fall under is dependent on the definitions. Let’s take a look at the definitions for binge drinking and heavy drinking, along with the recommended number of drinks per day.

How Many Alcoholic Drinks Should People Consume?

According to the CDC, moderate drinking is defined as having one drink per day if you’re female and two drinks per day if you’re male.

Understanding a Standard Drink

Most people don’t understand a standard drink. They just fill a glass of wine, drink a pint of beer or pour themselves a mixed drink and don’t give it much more thought. After all, if it’s in one glass or in a bottle, it must be one drink. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. According to the NIH,:

• A standard beer has 5 percent alcohol and is 12 ounces.
• A typical glass of wine is 5 ounces with 12 percent alcohol.
• A standard glass of distilled spirits has 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

What’s a Binge Drinker?

A binge drinker is a female who consumes four or more drinks on one occasion or a male who consumes five or more drinks on one occasion. This means that drinking a bottle of wine in an evening is binge drinking if you’re female. If you’re male, drinking a six-pack of beer in an evening is binge drinking.

What’s a Heavy Drinker?

Men who consume 15 drinks in a week are considered heavy drinkers. Women who consume eight drinks a week are considered heavy drinkers. Minors and pregnant women who consume any number of drinks in a given week are considered heavy drinkers. Additionally, individuals who participate in binge drinking at least five days a week are also considered heavy drinkers.

Factors Influencing Heavy Drinking

Biological, psychological and social factors contribute to an individual’s propensity to consume too much alcohol.

Biological Factors

Men and women are biologically different, and the effects of alcohol on the male and female bodies are different. For instance, men have more of an enzyme in their stomachs that helps to break down alcohol. This means that less of the alcohol reaches the small intestines of men. Therefore, if a man and a woman were to drink the same amount, the female would become more intoxicated.

Additionally, men and women don’t have the same body composition. Men tend to be physically larger with more muscle. Because muscle needs a lot of blood flow as compared to fat, any alcohol that a male drinks is more diluted in their body.

Men also benefit from having more water in their bodies. Men are comprised of about 55 to 65 percent water, while female bodies contain roughly 45 to 50 percent water. Because of this, any alcohol consumed by a woman is more concentrated in their bloodstream.

Psychological Factors

There are several factors that contribute to an individual’s likelihood of becoming a heavy drinker and falling into alcoholism, including genetics, mental health and social pressure.

Genetics, Heavy Drinking and Alcoholism

In addition to physiological factors, psychological factors can also play a part in whether or not someone becomes a heavy drinker. The biggest psychological factor is usually having family members who drink. When an individual has parents or grandparents who drink and they grow up around drinking, the person is more likely to start drinking. However, the increase in risk isn’t simply due to watching someone drink. There is a genetic component. Scientists have discovered 51 genes that may play a role in whether or not someone develops alcoholism.

Mental Health, Stress and Heavy Drinking

Individuals who are under excessive amounts of stress in their personal and/or professional lives may use alcohol as a way to relax. Alcohol does work to help people unwind because it depresses the central nervous system and helps people forget about their fear, anxiety and stress. While this may be helpful in the short term, people who use this method to cope with mental issues can quickly build a tolerance, which can lead to heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder.

Having a preexisting mental health condition, like depression or anxiety, can also make someone more prone to heavy drinking. This is because alcohol imitates the effects of prescription anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications.

Social and Cultural Factors

Social and cultural factors can also influence how much and how often an individual drinks. Teenagers and young adults often pressure each other into consuming alcohol. Young adults may attend parties and get-togethers that involve alcohol. For example, if an individual attends a cookout with family and friends, there may be beer and wine coolers present. If the individual attends a dinner at someone’s house, the hosts may serve before dinner cocktails, wine with dinner and dessert cocktails after dinner. If individuals attend these events often enough, they could start to build a tolerance and consume more alcohol than they intended.

Additionally, beer, liquor and wine commercials are everywhere. People see them on TV. They see them as advertisements during videos. They’re in radio ads and on billboards. Since these commercials often depict people either relaxing or having a good time, an individual who repeatedly sees those ads may be more likely to drink in order to have an experience that is similar to the advertisements.

Signs and Symptoms of Heavy Drinking

There are many physical, behavioral and psychological symptoms when an individual drinks heavily. As the individual continues to drink heavily, these symptoms may become obvious to the drinker as well as those around them.

Physical Indicators

A heavy drinker may stumble when they walk or appear unsteady. They may slur their words. They may complain of blacking out or not remembering what they did while they were drinking. After the heavy drinking episode, the individual may have a hangover or nausea with diarrhea and a severe headache. Over time, the individual may notice that they have to drink more in order to feel the same effects. If the individual maintains their heavy drinking for several years, he or she may also develop severe health problems, like liver and heart disease. Excessive drinking can also lead to several different types of cancers, including head, neck and liver cancer. In severe instances, prolonged, heavy drinking can lead to brain damage.

Behavioral Indicators

Individuals who frequently drink heavily may exhibit changes in behavior. They may miss important family events. They may start to show up late for work or miss more days of work. They may hide bottles of alcohol and lie to family members about the extent of their alcohol consumption. The individual may also have trouble paying their bills due to spending too much money on alcoholic beverages.

Psychological Indicators

Individuals who drink heavily may experience dramatic mood swings. In the span of a few minutes, the individual may be happy, sad and angry. This can put a strain on the family relationship because they’re not sure which version of their loved one they’re going to get that day.

Additionally, heavy drinking over a long period of time can exasperate existing mental health issues and contribute to the development of new mental health disorders.

Signs of Dependence and Withdrawal Symptoms

Once the individual is dependent on alcohol, they may notice that attempts to cut back or stop consumption causes withdrawal symptoms, and those symptoms can start as soon as six hours after the person’s last drink. The individual may notice that their hands shake. They may experience severe headaches and nausea to the point of vomiting. They may notice an increase in anxiety and have trouble sleeping.

12 to 48 Hours After Consuming Alcohol

Symptoms tend to get progressively worse the longer the individual goes without a drink. Within a day or two of abstaining, the individual may start to hallucinate. Family members should also be on the lookout for signs of a seizure.

Two to Three Days After Stopping the Consumption of Alcohol

Individuals who are severely addicted to alcohol may experience delirium tremens two to three days after their last drink. This is a severe condition that can include extreme hallucinations. During this time, the individual may appear confused. They may have an elevated blood pressure, a fever and a racing pulse.

Health Risks Associated with Heavy Drinking

Heavy drinking has associated short and long-term health consequences, and some of them can be very serious.

Short-Term Risks

Heavy drinkers may experience more frequent accidents and injuries, mostly from running into things and falling down. Alcohol also impairs judgment. This means that the individual may do or say things that they wouldn’t normally do or say.

If the individual happens to drink an excessive amount, they may experience alcohol poisoning, which is serious and sometimes lethal. Alcohol poisoning can cause slow or irregular breathing, confusion, vomiting and even seizures. The individual may also appear pale or turn blue.

Long-Term Risks

Individuals who consume alcohol are more at risk for getting into car accidents, if they choose to drink and drive. Heavy drinkers also tend to suffer from pancreatitis, liver disease and heart disease. Additionally, they are at an increased risk for strokes. Alcohol consumption can lead to being overweight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes. Alcoholics, who eat very little food in order to control their calories, are at risk for malnutrition. Alcoholism can also contribute to mouth, liver, colon and esophagus cancer.

Mental Health Risks

Excessive drinkers are more at risk for developing depression, anxiety and psychosis. For individuals with preexisting mental health issues, drinking alcohol can make the symptoms worse. The individual may also fail to recall events and have difficulty learning and making decisions. They may also show a loss of judgment and critical thinking skills.

Social and Economic Impact

Alcohol use disorder has a cost that goes far beyond the individual with the drinking problem.

Impact on Families and Relationships

Alcohol use disorder puts a significant strain on families and personal relationships. Wives or significant others may enable the drinker, leading to a codependent relationship. Children often don’t understand addiction and may think that something they did made their mom or dad drink. The entire family may feel embarrassed by the individual’s alcohol consumption, leading to fewer social events at home. In the worst situations, the individual with AUD may become violent or neglectful. If a child is in the house, he or she may be neglected as the alcoholic parent doesn’t purchase groceries or cook and clean. Alcohol-fueled domestic violence may lead to increased emergency calls and feelings of helplessness and terror within the family unit.

Workplace Implications

Individuals with AUD often have difficulty holding jobs because they’re late to work and have poor performance. They may also miss a lot of days. This can lead to financial instability, frequent job losses and homelessness. In fact, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, it’s estimated that 38 percent of homeless people have AUD.

Economic Costs

Alcohol use has a cost, and it’s $249 billion, according to an article by Anthem. Of those 249 billion dollars, nearly $27 billion was caused by healthcare costs. However, the negative impact isn’t just felt in dollars. It’s also felt in years lost. It’s estimated that individuals with alcohol use disorder lose a combined 2.7 million years of life.

It also costs the individual. Imagine drinking a 6-pack of beer every night. A six pack costs about $8. If an individual were to drink 365 6-packs every year, it would cost them $2,920.

If that same person were to be stopped for drunk driving, their insurance would also go up. On average, individuals who have a DUI pay more than double the standard rate.

There are also legal costs associated with a DUI. For example, if an individual in New York is stopped for a DUI, they can expect to pay between $4,000 and $15,000, according to Stop DWI New York.

Identifying and Addressing Heavy Drinking

If you’re concerned that you drink too much or have been unable to control your drinking, you may have AUD. Thankfully, there are self-assessments available online.

Self-Assessment and Awareness

There are tools and assessments that you can take online in order to determine if you might have a problem. The CDC has an online tool with questions that can help determine if you drink too much. There are also other tests, including AUDIT, AUDIT-C and CAGE. The AUDIT test is the longest. AUDIT-C is a shortened version, and CAGE has the least number of questions.

Common questions that are asked on these tests include:

• Do you feel like you drink too much?
• Has anyone ever told you that you need to cut back?
• Do you drink first thing in the morning?
• How much do you drink per day and per month?

Taking an online assessment and answering the questions honestly can help you determine if you should seek professional alcohol rehabilitation.

Seeking Help and Treatment

Seeking treatment is not as difficult as you might think. There are plenty of programs that offer a range of services, from detox to counseling. Counseling services typically include individual counseling, behavioral counseling and group counseling. If you have family members that live with you, you can often request family therapy.

You can also choose to attend meetings at various support groups. The most well-known is probably Alcoholics Anonymous, but there are others, including Dual Recovery Anonymous, who helps people with alcoholism as well as mental health issues, LifeRing, who helps people abstain from alcohol and/or drugs, SMART Recovery, which is research-based, and Women for Sobriety, which is a self-help program for women.

Preventive Measures

Even if you’re not yet a chronic heavy drinker, you can still work on controlling your alcohol consumption. The CDC recommends limiting the number of drinks you consume per week. If you drink more than one or two drinks per day, maybe you want to cut back by one drink per day.

Make sure you’re only drinking one drink per glass. If you pour your own drinks, make sure you only put one serving of liquor in each glass, or only pour yourself five ounces of wine per glass, or only drink 12 ounces of beer, instead of a pint. You can also use an app to count the number of drinks that you consume each day.

If there are events or situations where you drink too much, you may want to limit the amount of time you spend at those events or skip them altogether. If you still find it difficult to control your drinking, you may need professional help, like the help that’s provided at Long Island Interventions.

Conclusion

If you’re a male who drinks more than 15 alcoholic beverages a week or a female who drinks more than eight adult beverages a week, you can slow or even stop your consumption by understanding how much you drink and taking steps to cut back. You can also get help from a support group, and limit your time in places where you know you drink a lot.

At Long Island Interventions, we offer programs that include detox and therapy for people who have AUD. To start the process of getting treatment, give us a call today.

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Published on: 2024-08-14
Updated on: 2024-10-31

Alcoholism is a problem for many Americans. That’s not hyperbole but rather a reality documented in multiple studies. One of those studies is from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which revealed that nearly 30 million people struggled with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2021. An AUD is an inability to control one’s drinking because of a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol. Individuals who have an AUD often find themselves confronted with intense alcohol cravings, an inability to stop drinking after consuming their first alcoholic beverage, and a negative emotional state that causes them to feel anxious and irritable when they are not drinking. While consuming alcohol and not allowing it to consume their life comes easy for some people, it’s an entirely different matter for those with an AUD.

What Causes an Alcohol Use Disorder?

Multiple things can contribute to someone developing and eventually struggling with an alcohol use disorder. For some people, impulsiveness, low self-esteem, the need for approval, and other psychological traits are the main drivers when it comes to their compulsion to drink excessively. Others develop an AUD after turning to alcohol to cope with emotional problems that might stem from traumatic events in their lives, such as physical or sexual abuse. Some people start drinking due to peer pressure and the easy availability of alcohol, both of which eventually open the door to an AUD.

Consequences of Untreated Alcoholism

Whether it’s occasional binge drinking or full-on alcohol abuse, heavy drinking can compromise one’s physical and mental health. Common symptoms of untreated alcoholism include the following:

• Becoming malnourished
• Decline in cognitive functioning
• Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations
• Developing a pale or jaundiced complexion
• Engaging in self-harm
• Experiencing liver and kidney problems
• Feeling chronically tired and lethargic
• Feeling overly stressed
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Memory problems
• Sore or aching muscles and joints

Along with these various unpleasant symptoms, individuals who abuse alcohol are more likely to be diagnosed with liver disease, cancer, immune system disorders, and cardiovascular problems than those who do not. As far as the impact on others, excessive alcoholism is a common denominator in many physical and sexual assaults, slip and fall injuries, and traffic accidents. And all of these adverse consequences are supported by numerous credible studies.

In 2019, binge drinking and AUDs cost the U.S. almost $30 billion in healthcare, $25 billion in court and other legal costs, over $13 billion in traffic accidents, and nearly $180 billion in lost workplace productivity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Studies from multiple organizations and universities show that marriages are twice as likely to end in divorce when one or both parties drink excessively. Domestic violence and concern for children in the household are the most common reasons people cite when filing for divorce.

More People With an Alcohol Use Disorder Are Choosing To Get Sober

Many people who have a problem with alcohol are starting to recognize that they have a problem. And that recognition is motivating them to get the help they need to put alcohol abuse behind them once and for all. In 2020, there were 50.4 rehab treatment admissions for every 10,000 people in the U.S. Many of those admissions included people seeking help overcoming their struggles with alcohol. The following explains why rehab admissions have been and continue to be on the rise:

• Expanded insurance coverage and the growth of treatment facilities
• Increased awareness when it comes to substance abuse
• Reduced stigma
• Rising rates of substance abuse

While more people are getting help to quit alcohol is deserving of applause, the journey toward sobriety is not an easy one. That’s partly due to the withdrawal symptoms associated with going through an alcohol detox.

What Happens During an Alcohol Detox?

When someone consciously decides to quit drinking, they are well on their way toward getting sober. But they will encounter some pushback from their own body. That pushback is in the form of detox withdrawal symptoms, which can occur within hours of them consuming their final alcoholic beverage. For those not familiar with it, detox is the body’s natural way of purging itself of not only alcohol but also other harmful contaminants when someone abruptly gives up drinking. Detox-related withdrawal symptoms typically last three days and can include the following:

• Anxiety
• Delirium tremens and seizures
• Hallucinations
• Headaches
• Increased blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heart rate
• Sweating
• Tremors

Alcohol detox withdrawal symptoms don’t all come on at once. They come in three stages, the first of which starts 6 to 12 hours after someone consumes their last drink and generally consists of headaches, mild anxiety, insomnia, tremors, sweating, and an upset stomach. Irritability is also common. The second stage occurs 24 hours after they consume their final alcoholic beverage and includes visual or auditory hallucinations, increased blood pressure, tremors, and heart palpitations. The third and final stage occurs 24 to 72 hours after they consume their last drink and includes delirium tremens, a severe, life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal consisting of violent seizures, confusion, and hallucinations. Delirium tremens can be fatal if not promptly treated.

Medication-Assisted Treatment: The Role of Medicine in Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Detox withdrawal symptoms can make some people give up on rehab and return to drinking. Available data shows that 40% to 60% of people relapse while in recovery. Because of this, most rehab facilities offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Such treatment includes round-the-clock medical monitoring and prescription-based medication to help ease difficult withdrawal symptoms. These medications include acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, and benzodiazepines.

What To Expect After Being Sober for One Week

Getting through detox and the associated withdrawal symptoms is hard, but it is all well worth it in light of the physical and psychological benefits. It is no secret that excessive drinking can take a toll on the liver, one of the largest and most important organs in the human body.

After someone consumes alcohol, the liver produces two enzymes: alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ADH and ALDH collectively break down alcohol, allowing it to leave the body as carbon dioxide when individuals inhale and exhale and as water when they urinate. Once alcohol is out of the body, the liver no longer has to work as hard. The resumption of normal liver function benefits individuals in the following ways:

• The ability to maintain a stable weight
• Improved digestive health and regular bowel movements
• Healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels

Most people experience these telltale signs of healthier liver function within the first week of their sobriety. After two weeks, the body makes even more progress in its efforts to rebound from drowning in excessive alcohol.

What To Expect After Being Sober for Two Weeks

After two weeks or a full 14 days of abstaining from drinking, most people find that they are sleeping better. For those unaware, excessive alcohol consumption interferes with REM sleep, the deep sleep stage where the body repairs itself. In addition to being more productive during the day, getting plenty of sleep at night provides individuals with the energy necessary to exercise, which makes it easier for them to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and be healthier overall. Along with getting more sleep and having more energy, most people notice the following after being sober for two weeks:

• Relief from dehydration symptoms – Because alcohol is a diuretic, heavy drinking interferes with vasopressin hormones, the natural antidiuretic hormones in the body. This interference causes the bladder to fill up faster than it usually does, which leads to frequent urination and, eventually, dehydration. After two weeks of not drinking, bladder function returns to normal, and most people experience significant relief from alcohol-related dehydration symptoms, such as chronic thirst, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
• Better mental health and cognitive function – Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to and worsens existing mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. It also negatively affects cognitive function, which explains why heavy drinkers struggle with poor memory, concentration, and decision-making. These ill effects are due to how alcohol impacts the brain. After two weeks or 14 days of abstaining from alcohol, most people notice significant improvements in their overall mood, cognitive function, and even self-esteem.
• Healthier skin – Giving up drinking can do wonders for your skin. That’s because excessive alcohol consumption causes skin irritation. After not drinking for two weeks, most people notice their skin is not as dry, red, or inflamed.
• Fewer hormonal imbalances – Heavy drinking can wreak havoc on the endocrine system, the network of glands that house several organs that produce hormones that the body needs. When someone stops drinking for two weeks or stops entirely, they experience fewer hormonal imbalances responsible for sexual and reproductive dysfunction, thyroid issues, poor immune function, and psychological and behavioral disorders.

Get the Help You Need To Overcome Alcohol Addiction

All in all, excessive drinking can severely impact one’s physical and psychological health. While alcohol cessation can remediate most issues, many people find it hard to quit drinking on their own. If this resonates with you, consider scheduling a consultation with one of our Long Island Interventions addiction specialists today.

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Published on: 2024-08-14
Updated on: 2024-09-23

A 2022 statistics showed that more than 29.5 million people over the age of 12 are currently struggling with alcohol abuse disorder. Moreover, more than 140,000 Americans die because of issues related to excessive alcohol consumption every year.

Chronic health issues like liver disease and heart disease are linked to long-term alcohol consumption. People also suffer from problems with work and unsuccessful relationships due to fights with their partners and children.

But in most cases, the person struggling with alcohol use disorder will be in denial. They’ll hide their addiction and claim that they can control their alcohol addiction. So, how do you help an alcoholic who doesn’t want help? Read this article to find out.

What is an Alcoholic?

An alcoholic is someone who suffers from alcohol use disorder or AUD. This means that they spend a great deal of their time drinking or thinking about drinking, even if they don’t drink every day.

Alcoholics have no control over their drinking once they start. They can keep drinking until they pass out because they don’t know how to stop. Moreover, they can skip work or school to drink. In most cases, they keep drinking despite any health issues they suffer from.

Some people are high-functioning alcoholics and these are more difficult to confront with their addiction. These people manage to maintain successful professional and personal relationships regardless of their addiction.

These people often binge drink, despite the advice of others. They might not be able to function without drinking but they tend to hide their problem from those around them.

How Do You Know that Someone is Alcoholic?

Apart from the obvious signs of excessive drinking, some tell-tale signs show that someone is a high-functioning alcoholic.

• This person keeps drinking until they pass out.
• They can drink more than other people without showing signs of intoxication.
• They suffer from physical and mental health issues related to excessive drinking.
• They experience extreme mood swings.
• They can drink in inappropriate settings, hide their drinks, and drink even when their health is heavily impacted.
• They avoid critical feedback and criticism about drinking.
• They can engage in other unhealthy behavioral patterns related to drug or substance abuse.
• They often attempt to control alcohol consumption but they fail.
• They don’t mind drinking in dangerous situations even if they can hurt others, like before driving.
• They can finish other people’s drinks.
• They feel shame and guilt after drinking.

How Do You Help an Alcoholic Who Doesn’t Want Help?

When a person is in denial about their AUD or keeps resisting detox regardless of the consequences, people around them can suffer.

Friends, family members, and even coworkers will suffer when someone keeps denying their alcohol use disorder. Alcohol consumption can even subject others’ lives to danger when the person operates heavy machinery or drives while intoxicated. One study showed that about 37 people die every year in a drunk-driving crash.

Some people will realize how alcohol use disorder is impacting their lives and will actively seek professional help. However, some will deny their problems and keep drinking regardless of the consequences. Here’s what you can do.

Educate Yourself

To confront someone with their addiction, you should get yourself educated about their disorder. Read articles and get medical advice about alcohol use disorder, its symptoms, and how this addiction can impact lives.

You could misinterpret actions or miss symptoms if you’re uneducated. You can also talk to a counselor if you’re unsure if the person you care about has an alcohol use disorder. When you’re more educated you’ll be able to provide more help.

Educating yourself also keeps you informed about the expected withdrawal symptoms and what to expect during an alcohol detox. You can also learn about self-care to handle being in a relationship with an alcoholic.

Be Patient

Dealing with an alcoholic can be emotionally draining because most people with an addiction disorder will deny their issues. It’s unlikely that a person will admit that they have an issue, which means it will be difficult to convince them to go to an alcohol rehab.

As a friend or family member, you should be patient while dealing with someone with AUD. It can also be painful to see the person you care about suffer from the consequences of their addiction. Yet, it’s crucial to think carefully about your actions if you want to encourage them to seek therapy.

Identify Your Behavior

If you’re close to someone with an alcohol use disorder, you could be an enabler or living in a codependent relationship. As you try to shed light on the person’s addiction, it’s also important to identify your behavioral patterns if you’ve been facilitating their addiction.

For example, unknowingly, you might be fueling their alcohol consumption by keeping them in an environment where alcohol is available. Some studies show that children living with alcoholics can become alcoholics and suffer from different behavioral issues.

You could also be providing them with money to buy alcohol or invite them to events where they’re more likely to drink. At the same time, you might be denying their behavior and hiding it from others.

In a codependent relationship, you’ll be encouraging them to continue abusing alcohol because you’re taking all the responsibility.

Create Healthy Boundaries

Once you’ve identified your role in supporting, encouraging, or enabling alcohol abuse, it’s time to set healthy boundaries. Another person’s excessive alcohol consumption isn’t your fault or responsibility but you might be enabling their behavior.

Although it’s hard to say no to someone you love, sometimes you have to step aside to let them face the consequences of their actions. People who refuse to get help usually feel that someone will handle their issues, so they keep abusing alcohol. If you’re a facilitator by cleaning up their mess, it’s time to stop.

Let Them Face the Consequences

If you’ve been bailing someone you love out of their problems, it’s time to stop. You could be doing the work of an alcoholic coworker or handling family issues alone because your alcoholic partner is unable to show up.

As a partner, sibling, parent, or friend, you should make life harder for an alcoholic who doesn’t want to get help. This way, they’ll be encouraged to face the reality of their actions and eventually seek help.

You might need to move out, fire them, or report them to management if they don’t stop drinking. Although this is painful, it’s sometimes the only way to deal with an alcoholic.

You should also get your finances in order as drinking can be expensive. This means handling your finances independently if you share a bank account with an alcoholic.

Join a Support Group

AI-Anon groups are support groups for people who live with someone who has a drinking problem. As a family member or someone close to an alcoholic, you deal with several emotional issues that no one understands. Attending group meetings with people who go through the same struggle can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

People who live with alcoholics are usually under much pressure fearing for their loved ones and themselves. They handle extra responsibilities in a relationship, struggle financially, and deal with the disapproval of others. During these support meetings, you can talk about your emotions and find ways to help the alcoholic you care about.

Stage an Intervention

With the help of a professional intervention specialist or interventionist, you can stage an intervention to confront an alcoholic with their problems. Most people with alcohol use disorder deny that their actions impact others. You can plan and host an intervention to show them how their destructive behavior affects everyone around them. You should offer support if the person agrees to join a treatment program.

Interventions can be extremely emotional and should be attended only by people the person trusts. During an intervention, family members, close friends, and coworkers can talk about how much they love the person with an alcohol use disorder and how their behavioral patterns personally impact them.

An intervention specialist will suggest treatment options available during the meeting, even if the person is in denial about their alcohol consumption issues. If they become resistant to seeking help, people attending the intervention should list the consequences. For example, a partner will mention that they will get a divorce or move out if the person doesn’t seek addiction treatment.

Wrap Up

Dealing with an alcoholic who doesn’t want help can be challenging because these people claim that there’s nothing wrong with them. Things can be more difficult if you’re dealing with a high-functioning alcoholic.

As someone close to an alcoholic, it’s important to get yourself educated about the consequences of alcohol consumption and how it can impact you and those around the alcoholic.

You should also acknowledge your responsibility if you’re in a codependent relationship or enable addictive behavior. You might have to move out or end your relationship with an alcoholic if they don’t agree to seek therapy. This sounds cruel but it’s the only way to make them see the impact of their negative behavior.

References

• https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics/alcohol-use-disorder-aud-united-states-age-groups-and-demographic-characteristics
• https://drugabusestatistics.org/alcohol-abuse-statistics
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/high-functioning-alcoholic
• https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving
• https://dmh.lacounty.gov/our-services/employment-education/education/alcohol-abuse-faq/family-history

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Published on: 2024-05-07
Updated on: 2024-10-31

Do you know someone who is always optimistic but becomes an overly depressed person when they’re drunk? Have you ever met someone who becomes incredibly aggressive when they’re drunk, although they’re usually calm and kind?

People have different reactions to drinking. Some people will become happy while others become sad, depending on how alcohol reacts with the chemicals in their brains. Moreover, past situations that involve drinking can trigger various feelings in drinkers.

If you are at a party you’ll probably meet these 12 types of drunk people. You might also identify some of their traits if you’re dealing with someone who has a drinking problem. This article will help you learn about the different types of drunks and how they act.

12 Types of Drunks You’ll Likely Meet

Drinking alcohol can impact our personalities in various ways. Some people are more likely to be affected by alcohol, especially if they don’t drink often or have a low tolerance to alcohol. They might seem to display a behavior that surprises those around them.

Some scientific patterns categorize drinkers into four personalities, while others list seven personalities. However, this section will list 12 common types of drunks, their personality traits, and how alcohol affects them and their actions.

1. Ernest Hemingway

The name can be a bit confusing since Ernest Hemingway was an alcoholic with bipolar disorder, who ended up taking his own life. However, he used to have a very high tolerance of alcohol which characterizes most Hemingways.

These drunks rarely show any change in personality when they drink, even if they consume a large amount of alcohol. This is probably the reason why Hemingways are difficult to confront with their alcohol use disorder since they claim they aren’t impacted by alcohol. T

Their intellect, conscientiousness, and decision-making skills are rarely impacted by alcohol, but this doesn’t mean that drinking doesn’t impact their mental health issues. They’re more likely to become high-functioning alcoholics who battle alcohol addiction for long periods.

2. Mary Poppins

Some people become cheerful and happy when they drink, displaying an optimistic Mary Poppins-like personality. Although their conscientiousness and intellect aren’t impacted by drinking, they show an increase in extraversion due to the release of dopamine.

These people feel more outgoing and less shy when they drink, so they might choose to consume alcohol in situations when they feel embarrassed. Mary Poppins drunks rarely face problems because of their drinking because they aren’t driven by negative emotions.

However, their happy drunk attitude can cause next-day embarrassment when they remember what they’ve done when they’re intoxicated. Their personal and social relationships might suffer because of their actions when they’re drunk if they don’t know how to keep their drinking under control.

3. George Washington

This type of drinkers become too honest under the influence of alcohol to the point of embarrassing and upsetting those around them when they drink alcohol. In most cases, they use the cover of alcohol to speak their real mind, and they can make mean remarks, hoping they get away with them.

George Washington drunks might not be as intoxicated as they claim to be, trying to slip judgment about other people’s actions and behavior. Some people might tolerate their behavior until it becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

However, in most cases, George Washingtons can be extremely annoying. People can identify their bitter nature even if they claim it’s influenced by the effects of alcohol.

4. Mr Hyde

Scientific research shows that this group of drunk people is associated with most negative situations related to drinking. They’re more likely to suffer from alcohol-related issues that impact them and others and can be mean drunks.

Some people believe that alcohol enables Mr Hydes to uncover their hidden mental health issues. They can be potentially dangerous to deal with while they’re intoxicated because they usually display aggressive behavioral patterns. Mr Hyde or angry drunks are the ones who are more likely to get in fights and get arrested.

A fighter drunk is a special type of Mr Hyde personality, who will become increasingly aggressive when they’re drunk. This person will fight with anyone and everyone although they might be good and kind people when they’re sober.

Some people believe that these drunks are battling with childhood issues that might have involved an alcoholic or abusive parent. When they’re intoxicated, they unravel their true personality which believes that violence is the answer to every problem. They can even cheer on a violent encounter if they aren’t involved.

These people usually deal with a great amount of pain, guilt, and shame when they’re sober. Drinking with a fighter drunk might get you into trouble as they’re often unable to judge the consequences of their drunk behavior.

5. Nutty Professor

The nutty professor’s personality displays a significant decrease in conscientiousness with a massive attitude change. People around them might be surprised and even shocked by how drastically they change when they’re drunk.

As the name suggests, these drunks show the most significant personality change, becoming a whole new person when they drink. They can be extremely shy and change to outgoing, daring, and even hostile people.

6. Affectionate Drunk

These people experience a decrease in their inhibition and become more affectionate. They can become more touchy and start giving hugs to people they don’t even know. When not in a safe setting, some people might misinterpret their actions.

Affectionate drunks are likely to confess their feelings. Some people drink on purpose to become bolder when they feel they’re unable to confess their feelings when they’re sober.

7. Drama Queen

The drama queen drunk is a person who already has serious relationship issues that worsen when they drink. This person will probably make a scene and pour their feelings out in front of everyone.

They might express positive and negative feelings and ruin the evening for everyone if they’re drinking with a group of friends. In most cases, their drinking buddies will be embarrassed by their public display. These drunks have to deal with the alcohol-related consequences the next day.

8. Philosopher Drunk

This person becomes extremely relaxed when they’re intoxicated and they can talk about all issues that others might find triggering. They don’t mind speaking their mind in public even if they don’t know them.

Philosopher drunks usually don’t make sense and can talk about embarrassing topics. They can actually become more attentive when intoxicated and will have answers to all questions anyone might ask. In most cases, these people won’t cause any issues unless they talk about a highly controversial topic.

9. Irresponsible Drunk

Irresponsible drunks usually make bad decisions because of their alcohol consumption. They can get a piercing, or tattoo, or even make an ill-judged financial decision while they’re intoxicated.

These people are more likely to get into drunk-related issues because they drink to the point of becoming intoxicated. Alcoholics with an irresponsible drunk personality can get into financial and legal issues because they can’t control their alcohol consumption. This person might need to undergo an addiction treatment.

10. Sad Drunk

Although some people experience positive emotions and become more open when they’re drunk, some people become extremely sad when they consume alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant and long-term alcohol abuse is linked to depression. This is why some people will experience depressive episodes when they drink.

Some people consume alcohol as a means of coping with their problems. After drinking, they might get too emotional, becoming even more depressed. These people usually start crying when they drink and can make others uncomfortable when they’re drinking with others.

11. Sloppy Drunk

Alcohol consumption makes people lose their balance. Sloppy drunks are more likely to show tripping and imbalance behavior when they’re drunk. They can spill their drinks, bump into others, and fall when they fall when they try to walk.

These people struggle to sit alone and might need help when they’re walking to the bathroom. Some people become sloppy drunks when they age, as our ability to process alcohol changes when we become older. These people are more prone to falls, injuries, and fractures that can affect their quality of life.

12. Blackout Drunk

Some people tend to black out when they drink, especially when they binge drink. People with low tolerance to alcohol or don’t drink often, can experience memory gaps where they’re unlikely to remember what happens when they’re drunk.

Some people can suffer from a fragmentary blackout, where they might experience some memories with missing periods when they can’t remember anything. In severe cases, some people might experience complete amnesia when they can’t remember anything. These blackouts can last for hours.

Frequent blackouts are often a warning sign that this person is suffering from alcohol use disorder. They show that the person is unable to control their drinking and their blackouts can lead to dangerous behavior.

Wrap Up

When people drink, their personalities change. The changes in their personalities are impacted by how often they drink and how their brains react to alcohol.

Some drinking personalities cause problems for those who display them and those around them. Some can also indicate underlying behavioral and mental issues or show that the person has an alcohol use disorder.

References

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447572/#
• https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/booze-as-muse-writers-and-alcohol-from-ernest-hemingway-to-patricia-highsmith-1.2369720
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15704345
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4943844/#
• https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/depression-after-drinking
• https://www.injurymatters.org.au/programs/stay-on-your-feet/information-for-health-and-community-workers/alcohol-and-falls
• https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/interrupted-memories-alcohol-induced-blackouts

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Published on: 2024-05-07
Updated on: 2024-06-21

Living with an alcoholic spouse can be devastating and emotionally draining. The effects of their addiction will seep into every aspect of your life, leaving you feeling helpless and alone.

You constantly have to worry about their health, mental state, and safety, which can be exceptionally taxing. Plus, alcoholism can be an expensive habit, which will add financial problems to an already tricky situation.

This constant loop of promises to change followed by disappointment can wear you down and make it seem like you’re living a never-ending nightmare. However, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless to change the status quo.

You can take matters into your own hands and change your life for the better.

If you’d like to learn more about the effects of living with an alcoholic spouse, we can make your life easier. Let’s explore how the substance abuse disorder will impact your quality of life and what you can do about it!

The Impact of Alcoholism on Spouses and Partners

According to the World Health Organization, alcoholism is a serious disorder that affects millions of people in the US. The addiction can wreak havoc on the user’s system and will lead to all sorts of physical and mental health issues.

However, the damage reaches far beyond the patient. When alcoholism gets out of hand, it poses a risk to everyone in the vicinity, especially a spouse or partner. Let’s explore some of the most common side effects of living with an alcoholic.

1. Deception

Most alcoholics understand that their habit isn’t healthy, but that doesn’t mean they want to stop drinking. Because of that, they’ll constantly come up with new ways to hide the truth. They want to make sure they can continue drinking without having to face their guilt or shame.

So, they’ll bend the truth and even flat-out lie in some cases.

On another note, gaslighting is a common occurrence with alcoholics. They often exaggerate facts or makeup stories to distract from their drinking. This leaves the spouse in a constant state of uncertainty, which can alter their perception of reality.

2. Health Issues

Because alcohol is readily available and drinking is socially acceptable, some people forget that it’s still a dangerous drug. It’s a powerful depressant that can lead to various health problems. Some of the most common physical side effects of alcohol abuse include:

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Liver failure
• Digestive issues
• Cancer of the mouth, throat, or esophagus
• Severe dehydration
• Premature aging

These are just some of the risks associated with alcoholism. The substance use disorder can also be fatal since it can cause cardiac arrests.

As a result, the spouse spends hours worrying and feeling helpless, which can lead to a whole host of physical health issues, including weight loss and chronic fatigue. 

3. Mental and Emotional Suffering

The pressure of living with an alcoholic partner can lead to permanent changes in a person’s mental state. For one, seeing your loved one battling with a substance abuse issue is bound to leave a few emotional scars.

Add to that the continuous stress and distrust caused by the alcohol addiction, and you have a toxic environment that can plant the seeds of depression. Sadly, this can leave the spouse with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that will take years to resolve.

4. Financial Strain

The cost of maintaining a drinking habit can add up quickly, and alcoholics will go to any lengths to keep their cups full. They may spend their entire monthly budget on spirits and neglect crucial expenses like groceries.

Plus, people who suffer from an alcohol problem may struggle to keep their jobs or miss work because of a hangover. To top it all off, they may need frequent visits to the emergency room due to over-drinking. As you can imagine, this will put a significant strain on your financial situation.

5. Constant Conflict

One of the worst side effects of alcoholism is that it can cause dramatic changes in a person’s behavior. The substance abuse disorder can take a mild-tempered social person and turn them into an aggressive loner.

As a result, alcoholics are no strangers to conflict. Disagreements will start about your partner’s drinking habits and feelings of neglect. However, soon these will turn into full-blown fights about almost anything. Regrettably, this conflict can escalate even further and may bring about physical violence or domestic abuse.

6. Fear

With the threat of an alcoholic spouse losing control at any moment, life can be a rollercoaster. The unpredictability of their behavior will leave their partner on edge, as they never know when the next tantrum will rear its head.

Because of that, spouses of alcoholics live in perpetual fear. This can be paralyzing and will affect every aspect of their lives. You may always feel like you’re walking on eggshells around your partner, which can stop you from living life to its full extent.

7. Work Issues

As the spouse of someone living with a drinking problem, your professional life may take a hit. Staying up all night wondering where your partner is or arguing constantly can zap all your energy. So, when you show up for work the next day, your performance can suffer.

On top of that, to balance the financial strain caused by alcoholism, you may have to pick up a few extra shifts. This added pressure can leave you feeling resentful with low self-esteem and make an already challenging situation worse.

8. Social Isolation

People with serious alcohol use disorders prefer to stay away from social situations. They want to avoid judgment, so hiding from people seems like the perfect solution.

For that reason, they’ll miss important events like birthdays and other milestones. In most cases, the spouse will follow in this social isolation. Instead of showing up at parties and having to explain why their partner isn’t there, it’s easier to stay at home, away from prying eyes.

9. Child Neglect

Children of people who have a drinking habit are often the ones left holding the short end of the stick. Growing up around an alcoholic parent can lead to psychological issues that will take a lifetime to address.

On top of that, the alcoholic’s spouse will have to pick up the pieces and play the role of both parents. This is exceptionally taxing, even without the stress of a substance abuse disorder.

10. Suicidal Thoughts or Tendencies

Spouses of people who suffer from alcoholism tend to spend a lot of time on their own. Thanks to social isolation, they have a lot of time to think about their situation, which can lead them down a dark hole of depression.

With overwhelming feelings of sadness and helplessness, some people start experiencing suicidal thoughts. While this is rare, it can be life-threatening if you don’t get the help you need straight away.

11. Addiction

One of the main reasons people turn to addiction is to deal with the stress of their daily life. So, it’s common for spouses of people who suffer from substance abuse to develop a chemical dependency of their own.

This may sound counter-productive, but it happens more often than you think. The alcoholic’s spouse will adopt a “if you can’t be them, join them” mentality.

Helping Your Alcoholic Spouse

As the spouse of an alcoholic, you should know that you have options. You don’t need to sit back and helplessly watch your partner spiral. Here are some of the most popular alcoholism treatment options that we offer at Long Island Interventions:

1. Therapy

Therapy can do wonders for people who struggle with alcoholism. Not only can it help them discover the root of their addiction, but it also facilitates creating coping strategies and makes the recovery journey manageable.

2. Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholism can be a sensitive topic, so chances are, the person suffering from addiction won’t want to talk to a therapist. However, they may be willing to discuss the issue with other people who are going through the same situation.

That’s when alcoholics anonymous meetings or other support groups can be a lifesaver. 

3. Alcohol Rehab Programs

If your partner’s alcoholism has gotten out of hand, they may need an intensive program to help them kick the habit. Luckily, we offer several treatment services at Long Island Interventions, including:

• Medical Detox
• Partial hospitalization
• Intensive outpatient treatment programs
• Residential treatment programs
• Behavioral therapy

4. Boundaries and Consequences

If your spouse refuses all forms of help, setting boundaries and consequences to protect yourself is the next step. This may include cutting off financial support or excluding them from certain family functions.

It’s also a good idea to ask for help from the people around you. Your spouse’s parents, family members, or friends can prove to be an invaluable resource when dealing with addiction.

However, if that doesn’t work, you should consider leaving. This may seem harsh, but with your mental and physical well-being at risk, it can be the best solution for both of you.

Wrapping Up

The effects of living with an alcoholic spouse can change based on how serious their substance abuse issue is. In most cases, the addiction will lead to deception, mental health disorders, constant conflict, and fear.

Yet, in severe cases, some partners of people who suffer from alcoholism can have suicidal thoughts and develop their own addictions. If you find yourself in this position, reach out to us at Long Island Interventions to explore your options and get the help you need.

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Published on: 2024-05-07
Updated on: 2024-09-24

Alcoholics often come up with excuses why they should drink an entire bottle, six-pack, or even a case of their favorite, cheapest, or most expensive alcohol they can find. The excuses vary, but the results are always the same. They drink until they black out or become sick. In some cases, they lose control and experience a car accident or violent confrontation with one or more other people whose lives they impact immediately and often adversely. Over time, as the excuses grow, they often forget that they’ve made up these excuses and consider fiction to be fact.

One of the biggest myths that many alcoholics share is the idea that if they don’t drink X, Y, or Z type or brand of opened or unopened liquor, then they waste money on something that goes bad quickly. Yet, the reality is that almost every type and brand on the market is incredibly shelf-stable. 

In this guide, we cover the facts about alcoholic beverages in general and vodka, which is one of the most popular go-to drinks for alcoholics beyond beer and wine. We also discuss why it’s time for you or a loved one to throw away this myth and face the facts of addiction.

Do Alcoholic Beverages Go Bad?

In truth, any alcoholic beverage can go bad in terms of odor and overall taste. That said, there’s no evidence of unopened alcohol becoming undrinkable. In fact, marine salvage companies and researchers have found numerous historic, centuries-old shipwrecks that still contain hidden caches of various types of drinks in unopened bottles. 

Grain – and potato-based alcoholic beverages seem to do worse over time than other types of alcohol. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, a 200-year-old bottle of what might have been gin or vodka found underwater was drinkable. That said, most people wouldn’t want to drink it, though, because it had an awful smell. The BBC reported that beers from an 1895 shipwreck, even while kept perfectly preserved underwater in deep, cold, salty seawater, were horrible in terms of smell and taste. Bottles opened in the 1980s had an “atrocious…salty, putrefied smell” and matching taste. 

Grape -based alcohols, such as champagne and wine, seem to do better. Unlike wine, other distilled spirits like gin, tequila, rum, and whiskey, vodka stops aging once it has been bottled. Per Business World, bottles of champagne pulled up from the Titanic that had aged 170 years underwater at the time of salvage still tasted “sweet and fresh.” The wine remains drinkable without any fear of beverage poisoning for centuries. As noted by Atlas Obscura, a 1784 bottle of wine from a collection owned by Thomas Jefferson was described as “perfect in every sense: color, bouquet, taste” when tasted at the time of sale. Even a more than 1500-year-old Roman wine is still drinkable today, but likely has no alcoholic content and would have the same problems in terms of odor and taste as grain- and potato-based beverages.

What About Different Modern Vodkas?

Unopened bottles of vodka (around 40% ABV or 80 proof) made in the last century don’t actually expire due to their high alcohol content. Alcohol itself is a preservative. As long as you store vodka in proper storage below “cool” room temperature, dark place, it lasts unopened for 30 to 50 years before its potency and flavor diminish. These bottles have an indefinite shelf life. However, flavored vodka has a shorter shelf life.

Opened bottles do expire eventually is more likely to experience evaporation than a sealed one. That said, even if you opened a bottle today, it would last 10 to 20 years before losing those two important qualities of vodka people enjoy most. Only open, flavored vodkas fail to stand up to the test of time. The flavor becomes less distinct within three months. If the vodka has an added color, the shade diminishes much faster over time.

Light exposure (direct sunlight) and storage temperature also cause a faster breakdown. Most potency, flavor, and other potential problems occur because oxidation or reactions between the air and the alcohol, sugars, and any other part of the liquid cause a breakdown in the original structure of the beverage. For this reason, many people never buy flavored vodkas and invest in syrups to add to plain vodka.

An Alcoholic’s Myth Proven False

As you can see, vodka and many other types of unopened alcoholic drinks have a long shelf life and last decades without expiring or going bad in terms of color, potency, flavor, and odor. Unlike some other spirits, vodka generally does not come with an expiration date. For most healthy people, an opened bottle of vodka wouldn’t become unpalatable, and only slightly so, until they had experienced almost one-third of vodka’s shelf life after opening it. 

Given that alcoholics rarely live past their mid-fifties, with women surviving the horrific toll that alcohol abuse puts on their bodies slightly longer than men, a bottle of unflavored vodka that you opened today would continue to retain its potency, flavor and subtle alcohol odor for potentially a period equal to or a few years less than nearly half your lifespan. What does this mean? The bottle of vodka you opened today isn’t going to expire tomorrow. There is no reason to “waste not, want not” by gulping down the entire bottle in one sitting.

Anyone in a social setting who insists you’re behaving wastefully by not drinking an entire bottle of vodka while socializing is misinformed about this topic. You might lose some social respect by practicing moderation or stopping entirely after the first drink. That said, you won’t be somehow promoting wastefulness or adding to the modern problem of wasting water, beverages, food, or money. If you’re capable of drinking in moderation, nothing is lost by closing the opened bottle and waiting a few weeks or months to enjoy the taste again.

Caring Professionals Are Here to Help

Sadly, most people who seek this type of article can’t practice moderation any longer. They have genetic, mental health, or other reasons that prevent them from drinking socially without abusing alcohol. These issues often mean that they can’t ever drink alcohol again once they stop without the risk of abusing it again.

If you or a loved one is struggling right now with excuses and an inability to moderate the consumption of alcoholic beverages, please contact our caring team at Long Island Interventions to learn more about how we can help you or them. No one should have to struggle with alcohol addiction. Our society has normalized it in many ways. We can show you or your loved ones techniques to live a much healthier and longer life free of this addiction. We also specialize in other forms of rehabilitation that deal with legal and even illegal drugs that often become the next stage of substance abuse when alcohol stops providing the high an addict craves. Call today for more details.

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Published on: 2024-02-26
Updated on: 2024-06-21

If you know what to look for, you may be able to tell if someone is an alcoholic person or suffering from alcohol addiction just by looking at their eyes. Those who are dependent on alcohol and into heavy drinking or have a habit of excessive drinking will often have eyes that are puffy, eye dryness or dry eyes, swollen, bloodshot eyes, or red eyes. In some cases, an alcoholic’s eyes will be yellow or otherwise discolored. Let’s take a closer look at why this happens, the multiple ways that alcohol can cause loss of vision, and how long-term alcohol abuse can cause negative effects on your overall physical and mental health, such as acquiring alcohol use disorder, increased risks of alcohol affects, and even the different healthcare on alcohol addiction treatment programs.

An Overview of Alcoholic Eyes

Your eyes will become swollen or bloodshot because alcohol causes the blood vessels in that part of your body to swell. If you are constantly drinking alcohol, those vessels are under constant attack and don’t have time to return to their normal state. In addition, alcohol will cause you to become dehydrated, which means that your eyes may become dry, itchy, and irritated. This can also cause them to appear red and swollen.

Alcohol Can Cause Lasting Vision Damage

In addition to causing blood vessels around the eyes to swell, alcohol can also cause damage to the optic nerves in your eyes. These nerves are responsible for relaying information to your brain that helps you make sense of your environment. If these nerves are damaged in any way, you may develop blurred vision or partial blindness. In the event that you continue to drink, it’s possible that you can go completely blind due to alcohol abuse.

Of course, you may still experience a number of issues that could interfere with your quality of life even if you retain your vision. For example, you may have bouts of double vision, have sensitivity to light or experience rapid eye movement while you’re awake. While rapid eye movements are normal while you’re asleep, such movement while you are conscious may be a sign of brain damage.

It’s critical to understand that you can’t do much to restore your vision after it has been lost. Instead, you will either have to adjust to your new reality or hope that advances in technology will make it easier to navigate the world around you. If you are experiencing vision loss, you may be eligible for a guide animal or workplace accommodations that allow you to do your job despite your limitations.

How Alcohol Can Impact Your Short-Term Health

Your eyes are not the only part of your body that is impacted by alcohol, and in some cases, taking even a single drink can lead to negative health consequences. For instance, after a single drink, you start to lose your inhibitions, which is why you tend to be more social or more willing to take risks.

Typically, after about four drinks, you start to lose control over major muscle groups. You also struggle to process information and may also be less likely to feel physical pain. This partially explains why you can take a punch or fall on the floor and not be in pain until the following morning.

If your blood alcohol content gets above .20%, you could have trouble breathing or fall into a coma. In the event that your binge drinking episode doesn’t kill you, it may still result in a significant hangover that can last for hours.

It’s important to note that binge drinking can be dangerous even if you don’t consider yourself to be an alcoholic. Binge drinking is generally defined as four or more drinks within two hours, and it can cause longer-term damage to your liver and other organs. Therefore, having a few beers at the bar or a couple shots of whiskey on Saturday night with your friends can cause health issues even if you don’t drink the rest of the week.

The Long-Term Effects of Alcoholism

Generally speaking, a night out at the bar will cause little more than dehydration and sending regrettable text messages to your boss. However, if you drink to the point of impairment every night, you could run the risk of significant health issues.

For instance, your liver could develop scarring so severe that it will no longer function properly. This can result in jaundice, which is the yellowing of the eyes, as well as chronic pain. You may also develop blood pressure issues or other secondary health problems.

If caught early enough, cirrhosis of the liver can be managed. However, even so, there is a possibility that you could die as the liver won’t be able to efficiently filter out toxins or otherwise clean your blood as it circulates through the body.

You may also suffer a condition called neuropathy that is caused by damage to nerve endings in the hands and feet. Depending on how severe your condition is, you may be able to walk over shards of glass or other objects without feeling any pain at all. While this may seem like a positive thing, pain is what tells the body that something is wrong.

Mental Health Issues Related to Alcohol Abuse

There are a number of mental health issues that are caused by alcohol abuse, such as an inability to sleep or get restful sleep. You may also suffer from hallucinations or feel ornery if you go more than a few hours without a drink. This is generally true even if you present to others as a functional alcoholic.

An inability to sleep is typically caused by the fact that the brain essentially shuts down when you consume too much alcohol. In essence, you are closer to being comatose than being truly asleep when you’re drunk. Therefore, you won’t get the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that helps to restore you overnight.

In some cases, the lack of sleep can result in visual or auditory hallucinations as your body is simply too tired to function properly. It can also result in changes in mood and behavior independent of your alcohol dependence.

However, it’s well known that taking away something that the body has come to expect will result in negative consequences. Therefore, if you don’t stop for a drink first thing in the morning, it’s most likely withdrawal that is making you ornery and not just fatigued.

You may also feel anxious or nervous if you can’t drink on a regular basis. This may partially be because you know what happens if you stay away from the booze for too long. In addition, you may also worry that you won’t be able to deal with the stress of your personal or professional lives without help from beer or liquor.

How to Overcome the Damage Already Done to Your Body

If you stop drinking early enough, it may be possible to overcome the damage done to your body with some simple lifestyle changes. For instance, minor vision damage might be mitigated by getting glasses and avoiding staring at screens for too long. You may also talk to your doctor about taking vitamins or eating foods such as nuts, certain types of fish, and leafy greens that can promote eye health.

Compression socks or sleeves can help with neuropathy or circulation issues related to excessive alcohol consumption. In addition to easing pain, you may find it easier to regulate your body temperature by improving circulation.

Working with a therapist may help to overcome the mental health issues related to alcohol use. This may be especially true if your dependence was caused by ADHD, a traumatic relationship, or some other trigger. In addition to talking about what ails you, medication may make it easier to keep your brain and body calm throughout the day.

Finally, be sure to get plenty of water, sunlight, and rest each day. Staying hydrated can prevent eye, liver, and other organ damage. Getting sunlight each day can help to improve your mood, which may reduce your urge to drink. Ideally, you will sleep at least seven hours a night to stay mentally sharp at work or during social events.

In addition to working with a therapist, you may want to consider enrolling in an outpatient group therapy program. Meetings are often held at churches or community centers and are available to anyone who wants to talk or simply listen to what others have to say.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol dependence, the folks at Long Island Interventions are here to help. We offer a number of treatment programs that are tailored to your needs and budget. You can get in touch with us through our website at any time to learn more about your options or how to get started today.

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Published on: 2023-12-29
Updated on: 2024-06-21

While alcohol is socially accepted, excessive use can cause multiple health conditions. There are effects of alcohol that might be caused or exacerbated by heavy alcohol use, such as vertigo episodes, which is a feeling of spinning and dizziness. 

Vertigo can occur because alcohol can dehydrate inner ear fluid, impair the auditory cortex, impede balance and coordination, and impact an individual’s hearing. If you are into heavy drinking and are experiencing vertigo, your medical symptoms might be the result of alcohol use. Here’s what to know about the underlying causes of vertigo, the symptoms of vertigo, its relationship to alcohol use, and the steps you can take for addiction treatment options or treatment plans to recover from alcohol use disorder.

Understanding Vertigo

Vertigo is a medical condition in which a person, who could be you or your loved one, suddenly feels like the world is spinning or tilting around them. The individual might feel off-balance and like they are being pulled in a certain direction. People experiencing vertigo might also experience nystagmus, headaches, tinnitus, or hearing loss. Severe cases of vertigo can lead to nausea and vomiting. An episode of vertigo is typically short, lasting only a few seconds up to a few minutes. However, someone experiencing extreme vertigo might experience persistent symptoms that last for hours to weeks or more.

Alcohol Consumption and Vertigo

The reason why alcohol consumption is associated with vertigo is because of the way that alcohol affects the inner ear. The inner ear is comprised of the cochlea and the vestibular organ. The cochlea enables hearing, while the vestibular organ helps to control balance. It includes three canals that alert the brain about the direction of the head movements in relation to linear motion and gravity. Since alcohol is dehydrating, excessive consumption can decrease the fluids contained in the vestibular canals and can potentially have more of an impact on one ear. When the fluids are imbalanced, the ears can send the wrong signals to your brain, resulting in vertigo and hearing loss.

Inflammation in the inner ear can cause similar fluid imbalances and lead to vertigo, just like people who drink heavily can experience dizziness. This is because alcohol can affect the cells of the nervous system, leading to an individual’s lightheadedness and delayed reaction time after drinking large amounts of alcohol.

One study conducted on people with Meniere’s disease provides some support that cutting down on alcohol intake could be a treatment for vertigo. Meniere’s disease is an inner ear condition that can cause dizziness and vertigo that typically develops between the ages of 40 and 60. The study, which was conducted in 2018, found that reducing the intake of alcohol, caffeine, and salt could lessen the symptoms of Meniere’s disease. The researchers believe that alcohol acts to reduce the inner ear’s blood supply, which can make symptoms of dizziness and vertigo worse for those who have Meniere’s disease. However, the researchers also conceded that high-quality research still needs to be conducted into the effects of dietary changes on Meniere’s disease symptoms.

If someone drinks alcohol without also drinking water, they can become dehydrated because of alcohol’s diuretic effect. Dehydrated people might experience muscle cramping, dizziness, dark urine, and heart palpitations.

Alcohol’s Effects on the Brain

Alcohol can cause multiple negative consequences on the brain. People who regularly consume alcohol might experience a reduction in their ability to concentrate, an increased stroke risk, and a reduced ability to process information. Suppose people frequently consume large quantities of alcohol. In that case, they might develop alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD), including a form of dementia that can develop when someone is as young as 40 years old.

Another brain disorder that people can develop from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is called Werincke-Korsakoff syndrome. This condition causes people to suffer vision problems and confusion. Depression and anxiety have also been linked to excessive consumption of alcohol.

Hearing Loss and Alcohol Abuse

Another problem associated with chronic alcohol abuse is hearing loss. Long-term drinking can damage the brain’s auditory cortex, which processes auditory information. The auditory nerve transmits incoming sounds to the brain’s auditory cortex for processing the information. If someone drinks alcohol for a long period and suffers damage to the auditory cortex, they might not be able to understand what they are hearing.

One study conducted in 2007 on young people in London found that those who drank alcohol had a reduced ability to understand sounds at a low frequency. While the problem disappeared when people stopped drinking, the researchers believed that people who suffer multiple episodes after drinking could suffer permanent hearing loss.

Side Effects

You can suffer vertigo from drinking alcohol because of its diuretic effects and how it impacts the fluid balance of the fluid in the inner ear. If you also have a damaged auditory cortex, these issues can be worsened by continued drinking. Vertigo’s side effects and those of alcohol consumption can both be increased when they co-occur, including the following:

• Balance and coordination problems
• Swaying, tilting, or shifting sensations
• Dizziness
• Motion sickness sensations
• Hearing impairment
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Slurred speech
• Memory loss
• Cyanosis
• Stupor
• Seizures
• Profound confusion
• Respiratory problems
• Coma

Alcohol’s effect on the vestibular system can occur even when someone is a moderate drinker, which could explain why some people experience balance problems after consuming alcohol.

What Other Conditions Cause Vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom of an underlying condition and is not a separate condition by itself. Besides excessive alcohol consumption, some of the other conditions that can cause you to experience vertigo include the following:

• Meniere’s Disease – This disorder involves an abnormal buildup of fluid in one ear, which results in partial hearing loss, a feeling of fullness, tinnitus, and vertigo. When people with Meniere’s disease drink alcohol, the symptoms can worsen when the healthy ear’s fluid reduction is not equal to the reduction in fluids in the other ear.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)- This is a condition in which certain head positions or movements lead to vertigo.
• Labyrinthitis – This disorder occurs when the inner ear’s labyrinth, which contains the vestibulocochlear nerve, is inflamed or infected. The symptoms include headache, ear pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, and vision changes.
• Upper Cervical Misalignment (UCM) – This condition involves a misalignment of the first and second cervical vertebrae in the neck, which interferes with the central nervous system and the perception of balance and spatial orientation. It can also alter how excess fluid is drained from the ears by the Eustachian tubes.
• Cholesteatoma – Cholesteatoma is a benign growth that grows in the middle ear, typically because of repetitive ear infections. The symptoms of a cholesteatoma include nausea, blurry vision, and vertigo.
• Vestibular Migraine – A vestibular migraine typically causes symptoms of imbalance, vomiting, nausea, and vertigo but may or might not involve a headache. While its causes are poorly understood, it is thought to be related to problems occurring in the overlapping pain and vestibular pathways to the brain.
• Vestibular Neuritis – This disorder affects the vestibular nerve and is similar to labyrinthitis without altering the person’s ability to hear. The symptoms of vestibular neuritis typically include blurry vision, nausea, and vertigo.

When to Seek Help

If you are unable to control how much or how often you drink alcohol and are experiencing vertigo, hearing loss, or other symptoms, you might have an alcohol use disorder and should seek treatment and medical advice. The following symptoms indicate the potential presence of alcohol use disorder due to alcohol addiction:

• Drinking despite negative consequences
• Drinking alcohol more frequently than intended
• Drinking more alcohol than intended
• Drinking alcohol for more hours than intended
• Experiencing memory loss or blackouts
• Experiencing cravings, tremors, mental health conditions like anxiety, or other alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Experiencing hangovers frequently
• Needing to drink first thing in the morning to avoid a hangover
• Drinking increasing amounts of alcohol to achieve the same effects
• Devoting a lot of time to drinking
• Being unable to quit drinking despite trying
• Obsessive thoughts about when you can get the next drink

If you think you might have a problem with alcohol, you should reach out to substance abuse professionals to obtain a clinical diagnosis. Vertigo is a symptom of an underlying condition that affects the ears or brain, and excessive or chronic alcohol use can lead to vertigo and/or hearing loss. If you drink heavily and experience vertigo, it’s possible your symptoms could be alleviated if you stop drinking. However, it’s important to talk to a professional to ensure you stop drinking safely. Contact the caring professionals at Long Island Interventions today for help and to learn more.

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Published on: 2023-12-27
Updated on: 2024-06-21

Over the course of your life, you may be prescribed various prescription drugs like antibiotics to fight different infections. Because of the common antibiotic use, you may not initially think about the possibility of a drug interaction or the effects of mixing your antibiotic with alcohol. However, many medications have a special warning label advising against mixing these substances. Now that you have been prescribed Bactrim, you understandably need to learn more about what taking Bactrim with alcohol may do.

What Is Bactrim?

Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) is a synthetic antibacterial medication that is a combination of two drugs. These are sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Whether you are prescribed a single-dose or double-dose tablet, it may be used to treat everything from pneumonia and shigellosis to traveler’s diarrhea, bronchitis, ear infections, urinary tract infections, and more. This medication explicitly stops bacteria from forming proteins and nucleic acids. This is done by preventing bacteria from making tetrahydrofolic acid and dihydrofolic acid. Ultimately, this results in the death of bacterial cells.

What Is Bactrim Used For?

Sometimes, the human body will eventually fight off a bacterial infection. However, in the process, the individual may feel a wide range of unpleasant symptoms that can interfere with daily life dramatically. Doctors prescribe Bactrim to help the body eradicate the infection more quickly. This can prevent unnecessary suffering and complications resulting from a prolonged infection. In addition, the patient may be able to resume daily activities far sooner than otherwise would be possible.

Can You Mix Bactrim with Alcohol?

Alcohol impacts the body in a variety of ways. For example, it can cause metabolizing enzyme activities to increase or decrease. It can also increase your liver’s toxicity. As a natural diuretic, alcohol consumption is associated with dehydration, leading to increased liver toxicity. Many medications are metabolized in the liver, which can stress liver function. Because alcohol also increases liver toxicity, the combined effect can lead to significant health concerns like liver damage.

In addition, alcohol has been proven to disrupt sleep patterns and quality. Even subtle disruptions in sleep can hurt the body’s normal immune function. When you consume alcohol, your body may not be as efficient in fighting the infection naturally. This can lead to a longer recovery and may increase the chance of a re-infection.

Many of the common side effects common with Bactrim treatment may become more pronounced or serious side effects of Bactrim (severe side effects), if you consume alcohol while being treated with it. These adverse effects could include a cough, hoarseness, stool changes, fatigue, chest pain and tightness, and changes to the skin. These skin issues may include discoloration, sagging, peeling, and blistering. Remember that these side effects and the other potential outcomes of mixing Bactrim with alcohol may be magnified by consuming heavy amounts of alcohol or by frequent consumption. There is no safe amount of alcohol that you can consume during your treatment period. Because of this, abstinence from alcohol consumption should be your goal.

What Are the Side Effects of Mixing Bactrim with Alcohol?

Depending on the type and severity of your infection, you may be instructed to take Bactrim for five to 14 days. The effects of the medication remain for approximately 10 hours, so you may be told to take a dose twice a day. However, remember that it may take longer for the medication to leave your system altogether. If you consume alcoholic beverages while on your Bactrim treatment (alcohol interaction), you may notice an increase in the severity of the medication’s side effects, such as chest pain, fatigue, coughing, skin problems, drowsiness, palpitations, shortness of breath, and more. This combination of substances can also decrease how well your immune system functions, increase liver toxicity, and impact drug metabolism. Nausea and other stomach issues may also be problematic.

There is also a chance of having a disulfiram reaction. In the body, alcohol is metabolized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. When you use Bactrim and alcohol together, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase can be inhibited. The result may be increased alcohol toxicity in the body. Symptoms of a disulfiram reaction include low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate (increased heart rate) or fast heartbeat, and flushing. The effects of this reaction may be experienced as soon as five minutes after you drink alcohol, and the symptoms can become more severe as you drink more alcoholic drinks. Medical attention or medical advice is a must.

Do You Have an Alcohol Disorder?

If you have trouble abstaining from alcohol use during the full course of your Bactrim treatment despite knowing its significant risks to your health, you may have an alcohol disorder. Keep in mind that the impact of alcohol abuse on the immune system can have long-term effects. For example, the effectiveness of your vaccines may be impaired, and you may be at an increased risk of various diseases, bacterial infections, and viral infections. Some diseases in question include gastrointestinal tract inflammation, brain inflammation, lung infections, cancer, hepatitis B and C, and numerous others.

What Can You Expect from Alcohol Abuse Treatment?

If you are suffering from alcohol abuse, you may be unable to avoid the urge to drink despite your best intentions. You may feel compelled to drink regularly between triggers, cravings, habits, and more. While it can be difficult to stop drinking and get sober on your own, help is available. An effective alcohol treatment program can give you the support and resources you need to succeed in your effort to get sober.

Alcohol abuse treatment will be customized to meet your unique circumstances. It may include a detox process. After this step, your body will be free of alcohol. You may be prescribed medication to ease the withdrawal symptoms and manage the cravings. After detox, you may enroll in a residential or outpatient treatment program.

With residential treatment, you will reside in a treatment facility for around-the-clock support and services. In addition to having 24-hour care, you will benefit from a series of treatments. These may include one-on-one counseling, group therapy, and more. If you enroll in an outpatient program, you will spend a few hours each day at the treatment center. You may be able to continue working and taking care of your personal responsibilities, and you will spend the nights in your own home. While you are at the treatment center during the day, you may receive group therapy, one-on-one counseling, and other services included with residential treatment.

In addition to detoxing from alcohol, professional addiction treatment provides you with the tools and resources you need to achieve and maintain sobriety. For example, you could identify the triggers in your life contributing to alcohol abuse. An underlying and undiagnosed mental health condition could be identified and treated. You may learn coping mechanisms for a healthier lifestyle. Your family may also be asked to participate in some therapy sessions. In addition, you could be connected with programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or others so that you can receive ongoing support.

Learn More Today

Are you concerned that you may have an alcohol disorder? The effects of alcohol abuse on the body extend beyond the negative health consequences. Alcohol abuse can also affect family and social relationships, work life, ability to achieve goals, finances, and more. At Long Island Interventions, we are committed to helping you break your unhealthy relationship with alcohol and move toward sober living. Through alcohol detox and rehabilitation healthcare, you will have the full support of our experienced, compassionate team as you make this journey. To get started, contact Long Island Interventions today for a no-obligation consultation.

FAQ

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21

Doxycycline is classified as a tetracycline antibiotic. This drug is prescribed to patients experiencing bacterial infections. As a broad-spectrum antibiotic, doxycycline is used to treat various conditions with a reasonable success rate.

This drug can be administered intravenously or through oral medication. Doxycycline is only available for patients with a prescription. It is used to treat many different types of bacterial infections and skin conditions. It works by reducing inflammation in the body.

How does doxycycline work?

This drug slows the growth rate of bacteria, reducing the intensity of any infection. In certain skin conditions, this inhibition can directly affect the level of sebum produced by the skin. This is the case when medicine is given to treat acne, for example. Skin conditions like rosacea also respond positively to the reduction of inflammation. As a result, the rash on the skin’s surface reduces dramatically after doxycycline is introduced into the system.

What conditions are treated with doxycycline?

The class of drugs called tetracyclines will inhibit the production of a specific protein. Doxycycline is one of these drugs, inhibiting the growth and replication of these bacterial proteins. It can also help to prevent bacterial infection from occurring in the first place.

There is a variety of skin and respiratory diseases that respond well to the use of doxycycline:

• Lyme disease, malaria
• Gum disease, pneumonia
• Urinary tract infections, or UTIs
• Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
• Skin conditions like acne and rosacea
• Food poisoning
• Allergic reactions to penicillin

Does alcohol inhibit doxycycline?

According to a research paper published by the National Institutes of Health, “doxycycline may have reduced efficacy in chronic alcoholism.” Understanding how doxycycline inhibits bacterial growth can be helpful when considering how alcohol may interfere with this process.

In general, drinking alcohol while taking medications is contra-indicated. This idea holds firm even after studies show that alcohol drinking with doxycycline demonstrates no severe side effects or allergic reactions in study groups.

Heavy drinking and alcoholism are considered behaviors that can reduce the benefits of doxycycline, and the reasons are listed here:

• Liver function: Ingesting alcohol while taking doxycycline places a double load on the liver, which functions as a detoxification system.
• Metabolism: The liver breaks down substances in the body, including alcohol and medicines like doxycycline. Placing too much stress on this organ can impede the beneficial effects of medicines.
• Excessive drinking: The question of quantity is a critical consideration in weighing the risks of alcohol consumption. Small amounts may be harmless, but heavy drinkers face more significant risks.

Doctors tend to recommend that patients avoid mixing alcohol and medication. This will reduce the chances of the alcohol interfering with the medication. Even if an occasional drink is consumed, the liver works extra hard to break it down. This can impede the medicinal effects of doxycycline. The immune system is also negatively affected by drinking large amounts of alcohol.

When antibiotics are mixed with alcohol, doxycycline and alcohol can interact negatively with some people. Individuals who drink heavily or have liver problems are at the most significant risk. Suppose the person has a healthy liver and no compulsive or heavy drinking history. In that case, a single alcoholic drink on occasion is unlikely to have negative consequences or impede the efficacy of the medication.

The liver, alcohol, and doxycycline

The liver functions as a blood filter and detoxification organ. It breaks down the substances that come into the body, including alcohol. Alcohol can affect the liver’s function, which impedes its ability to do its job. The class of medications known as tetracyclines can also adversely affect the liver.

Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. A recent study on this drug demonstrated a link between doxycycline’s drug class and liver damage. When the two are combined, this risk factor increases. The damage will likely be more severe if the person’s liver is already compromised.

Doxycycline is taken to treat bacterial infections, and drinking alcohol can weaken its ability to do this job. The liver must work hard to break down any alcohol entering the system. The negative effect of alcohol on the body’s immune system can make it even harder to fight the infection.

A person with a healthy liver and immune system is unlikely to be affected to the same extent as someone who’s immunocompromised and alcoholic. Alcohol drinking can reduce the immune system’s function, consume energy and produce inflammatory byproducts. Each person needs to weigh their health status against these potential risk factors.

What are the side effects of doxycycline?

The side effects of doxycycline can resemble the same symptoms of a hangover. This includes things like headache, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. People will respond differently to the medication, so avoiding alcohol will allow the doctor to know if the medication causes side effects. If possible, refrain from drinking alcohol while taking doxycycline.

When is it safe to resume drinking?

Alcohol consumption will not wholly stop doxycycline from working, and many people will experience no serious side effects by drinking lightly while taking this medication. It is best to wait 48 hours after taking your last dose of doxycycline to resume drinking alcohol. However, if you want to be completely safe, wait five days after your last dose to start drinking again. Waiting the full five days will give your system enough time to fully digest the medication.

Substances to avoid while on doxycycline:

• Antacids and antibiotics
• Medications made with bismuth
• Isotretinoin or warfarin
• Phenytoin, carbamazepine or ciclosporin

Healthcare professionals recommend avoiding any substance that makes the liver work hard while taking doxycycline. Consult your health provider if you have any history of alcoholism, liver disease or other contra-indications. Consider getting a consultation if you are taking other medications.

To ensure the best possible health outcomes, prepare a list of any medications you are currently taking. This will allow the doctor to consider other options before prescribing doxycycline. Add any vitamins, supplements, or herbs to this list. Mention any iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, or aluminum supplements.

Recovering from addiction or alcoholism can be difficult, but there is no need to engage in this struggle alone. There is always help available at Long Island Interventions. Our friendly staff can help you to understand the root causes of alcoholism and addiction. This environment is where recovery is the top priority, so contact Long Island Interventions for more detailed information.

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21

Have you ever thought of drinking alcohol while under medication due to like high blood pressure, liver damage, or chest pain? Can you drink a red wine with penicillin? Like even just a tiny amount of alcohol? 

Alcohol consumption can lead to unpleasant side effects that aren’t always easy to manage. While everyone should be careful on alcohol use, the effects of this consumption become even more dangerous to your immune system when you combine this substance with penicillin or other antibiotics. It can be challenging to predict what these effects will be. If any medication has been prescribed to you, you must read the product label or patient information pamphlet to identify how the medicine should be taken. If not, then what a brave one you are.

Why You Should Avoid Mixing Alcohol with Antibiotics like Penicillin

Even though most antibiotics are outfitted with packaging that warns people not to drink alcoholic beverages with antibiotics, it’s commonly misunderstood that drinking alcohol with medications is safe. In reality, alcohol dampens the effects of antibiotics – this medication interaction may lead to many adverse side effects and affect the body’s ability.

Once your body breaks down alcohol, a substance known as acetaldehyde is produced, which may lead to nausea, any individual taking antibiotics to relieve stomach pain or digestive problems could experience worsening symptoms after combining alcohol and antibiotics.

This combination also creates issues with a person’s concentration, coordination, and cognitive function. If you suffer from a bacterial infection, drinking alcohol can disrupt the hydration and sleep processes that your body requires to recover effectively.

What Are Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are potent medications that can slow down or destroy bacteria growth that’s why medical advice is a must. This type of medication doesn’t attack infections caused by viruses like the flu or a cold. Instead, antibiotics attack infections from bacterial diseases.

These medications are designed to prevent antibodies from reproducing or killing invading bacteria. Even though the white blood cells in your body are meant to eradicate harmful bacteria, these cells might not be strong enough if the amount of harmful bacteria is too high. The types of conditions that antibiotics can properly treat include:

• Urinary tract infections
• Ear infections
• Strep throat
• Bacterial pneumonia
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Sepsis
• Skin infections like acne

The majority of antibiotics are safe to use when taken as prescribed. However, side effects are always possible, including everything from an upset stomach to diarrhea and nausea. These effects can be strengthened if the antibiotics are taken alongside alcohol. In this scenario, some additional side effects you might experience include:

• Drowsiness
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Seizures

What Are The Common Antibiotics?

After learning the basic information about antibiotics, let’s delve into the different types of antibiotics. 

Antibiotics are readily available and go by a number of distinct brand names. Antibiotics are often categorized according to their modes of action. Antibiotics are only effective against specific kinds of parasites or bacteria. For this reason, various infections are treated with different antibiotics. The primary classes of antibiotics consist of:

• Penicillins – for example, phenoxymethylpenicillin, flucloxacillin, and amoxicillin.
• Cephalosporins – for example, cefaclor, cefadroxil and cefalexin.
• Tetracyclines – for example, tetracycline, doxycycline, and lymecycline.
• Aminoglycosides – for example, gentamicin and tobramycin.
• Macrolides – for example, erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin.
• Clindamycin.
• Sulfonamides and trimethoprim – for example, co-trimoxazole.
• Metronidazole and tinidazole.
• Quinolones – for example, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and norfloxacin.
• Nitrofurantoin – used for urinary infections.

So, what are now the common antibiotics? 

1. Gentamicin (also known as tobramycin, neomycin, amikacin, and streptomycin). It is usually used in hospitals to treat severe illnesses like sepsis, as this can have major adverse effects, such as renal damage and hearing loss. Although they are often administered by injection, in some instances, drops may be used to treat ear or ocular infections.
   
2. Ertapenem (meropenem, imipenem, etc.). This one is frequently used for infections of the abdomen and gynecological system, community-acquired pneumonia, and diabetic patients’ foot infections affecting the skin and soft tissues.
   
3. Cephalexin (also cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime). This is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It is said that different ones are used for the treatment of sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, and biliary and urinary tract infections.
   
4. Levofloxacine. This is used to treat infections of the joints and bones (including osteomyelitis), pelvic inflammatory disease, infections of the abdomen, abscesses, and acne. When other antibiotics have failed to treat tooth infections, it is also utilized in those situations.
   
5. Erythromycin, also known as azithromycin and clarithromycin. Used for dental abscesses, rosacea and acne, pneumonia, and some STDs (sexually transmitted infections). They are used to treat bacterial strains resistant to penicillin or as a substitute for those who are allergic to the antibiotic.
   
6. Ciprofloxacin, also known as moxifloxacin and levofloxacin. It is effective against infections of the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract (including typhoid fever), the bones and joints, gonorrhea, sepsis, and respiratory tract infections (but not pneumococcal pneumonia). However, due to the possibility of severe side effects, these antibiotics are no longer prescribed on a regular basis.
   
7. Benzylpenicillin, also known as ticarcillin, piperacillin, and amoxicillin. It is being used as a preventative measure against rheumatic fever, for ear and skin infections, meningitis, pneumonia, and Strep A throat.
   
8. Tetracycline is commonly known as minocycline and doxycycline. This one is used to treat various STDs (including syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia) and severe acne and is additionally used for plague, brucellosis, and cholera.
   
9. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (also known as “Septrin”). In this class, antibiotics work well against a wide range of illnesses. They function by stopping bacteria from making a type of folic acid that is necessary for their growth and multiplication.
   
10. Methanidazole. When it comes to anaerobic bacteria and protozoa, this antibiotic is highly active. Indicated for bacterial vaginosis, rosacea, pelvic inflammatory illness, and dental abscess/gum disease.

These illustrate the applications of various antibiotics (in different groups): Bacitracin, Chloramphenicol, Ethambutol, Fusidic acid, Isoniazid, Mupirocin, Nitrofurantoin, Pyrazinamide, Rifampicin, Trimethoprim, Vancomycin and Linezolid.

What Is Penicillin?

Penicillin is the name used for a group of drugs that are designed to attack many different types of bacteria. These antibacterial drugs are derived from the penicillium fungi and can be taken orally or through an injection.

Today, people use penicillin to treat numerous diseases and infections, extending to ear, skin, dental, and respiratory tract infections.

Medications within the penicillin class indirectly burst bacterial cell walls, which helps to kill harmful bacteria. This process works by focusing on the structural elements of bacterial cells known as peptidoglycans, which form mesh-like structures in bacterial cells.

Penicillin directly blocks the proteins that link peptidoglycans together, which ensures that the bacterium cannot close off holes that develop. Water will then flow through these holes, which results in the bacterium bursting. While penicillin is a highly effective medication, this drug’s potency is why it shouldn’t be combined with alcohol.

Effects of Drinking Alcohol with Penicillin

There’s no direct drug interaction found between alcohol and penicillin. However, taking these two substances together can create problems for people suffering from an infection. When consumed, alcohol reduces your immune function, which can result in the side effects of penicillin worsening and even other antibiotic interactions.

A few side effects that can be more severe after combining alcohol and penicillin include an upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea. Make sure that you stay well hydrated to keep these effects at bay.

If you combine penicillin with alcohol, the amount of time this drug remains in the body differs with each individual. The half-life of the drug is upwards of 45 minutes for healthy individuals.

If you suffer from liver or kidney impairment, the half-life of penicillin can be as long as 30 hours. Because of this drug’s half-life will leave a healthy person’s body after 12 hours or so. It can take several days to leave the body for those with liver or kidney impairment.

Avoid Drinking Alcohol with Penicillin and Other Antibiotics

Along with worsening the medication’s side effects, taking alcohol with penicillin may also disrupt the healing process for your infection or disease. If you’re currently suffering from alcoholism, not drinking until penicillin has left your body might seem too challenging for you. If you find yourself in this situation, you should get in touch with a treatment healthcare provider or healthcare professional to start gaining control of your life once more.

Even though the effects aren’t always has a severe reaction, it’s never a good idea to drink alcohol with penicillin. If you’ve been prescribed penicillin to treat a recent infection or disease, your recovery process will be aided by not drinking alcohol until your treatment ends. Call Long Island Interventions today for more information on addiction and the most commonly used treatment options.

FAQ

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-09-23

Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are becoming prevalent these days. In the past, primarily elderly adults were diagnosed with one or the other. However, more adults are being diagnosed today at a younger age. As more people are experiencing the unpleasant effects of it, they are looking for answers about what to avoid. Many people wonder if they should avoid alcohol use as well. To better answer this question, it helps to understand the condition and how it affects the body.

What Is Diverticulitis?

Diverticulosis is the condition of having diverticula throughout one or more sections of the colon, and it does not go away.[1] Diverticula are weakened areas in the colon that look like protruding pouches. Diverticulitis is an acute infection or inflammation of one or more of those pouches.[1] When a person experiences diverticulitis, it is often referred to as a flare-up.

Not every person who is diagnosed with diverticulosis will experience an acute attack.[2] For example, a person may find out about it during a colonoscopy. Some people have one infection or acute inflammation incident, and others may have recurring flare-ups. The disease is still not a well-understood condition since it affects people differently. Some people still experience flare-ups after following medical advice. Addressing increased risk factors may be a way to understand better what to do.

Risk Factors for Diverticulitis and Diverticulosis

Heredity is a risk factor.[3] Many people diagnosed with diverticulosis have a parent or grandparent with it. Researchers and medical scientists identify some other potential risk factors.[3] They include:

• Poor diet with a lack of fiber intake.
• Current smoking habit or a history of smoking.
• A sedentary lifestyle or a lack of regular exercise.
• Being seriously overweight.
• Reaching a senior age.
• Certain medications like opioids or NSAIDs.

There may be other medications that affect the likelihood of diverticulitis flare-ups. Any medication that causes constipation as a side effect can increase the risk of diverticulitis. Opioids are known culprits of causing constipation.[4] Being overweight, being sedentary, and not eating healthy can also contribute to chronic constipation.

One of the critical pieces of advice nearly when a patient undergoes a gastroenterology test is that every doctor and gastroenterologist tells people is to consume plenty of fiber and water when they are not in an acute flare-up phase. This may prevent frequent flare-ups by helping waste move smoothly through the colon.[5] Constipation can cause hard stool that puts pressure on the walls of the colon. Straining to remove that stool can lead to additional diverticula pouches or stool entering the pouches, leading to an infection.[6]

Although NSAIDs are not known to cause severe constipation, they have increased the risks of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.[3] They are also associated with an increase in flare-ups.[7] Because this can increase another risk of diverticulosis, many specialists advise people who have had a flare-up to avoid taking any NSAIDs for pain relief.

Symptoms of Diverticulitis

People who have the condition of diverticulosis may never notice any symptoms. However, if a diverticulitis flare-up happens, the symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation or infection. Also, some symptoms may indicate a severe complication, which will be discussed in the next section. When it comes to diverticulitis attacks, doctors refer to them as uncomplicated or complicated. An uncomplicated flare-up or attack happens with a localized infection or inflammation.[8] These are some associated symptoms:

• Abdominal tenderness and distension
• Fever
• Lower left quadrant pain
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Discomfort with urination
• Nausea

It is important to note that while constipation is a common factor in many cases of diverticulitis, some people experience diarrhea instead. Others may develop diarrhea after a bout of constipation. Also, while lower left quadrant pain is most common, some people experience pain in other areas. The most common place for infection is in the sigmoid colon.[2] This S-shaped portion connects to the descending colon and the rectum in the pelvic region.[9] People can still develop a painful infection in any other part of the colon where there are diverticula. The transverse colon crosses the abdomen, the descending colon goes along the left side, and the ascending colon is on the right.[10]

Diverticulitis Complications

Although many diverticulitis cases are mild or uncomplicated, about 25% are complicated.[3] This means that in addition to inflammation or infection, there is a perforation, abscess, bleeding, obstruction, fistula, or phlegmon.[8] A perforation means a diverticulum ruptures, leading to bowel contents spilling into the abdominal cavity.

A fistula is an abnormal connection between parts or organs. An obstruction is a form of bowel blockage, which prevents stool from passing usually. Abscesses are pockets or collections of pus. A phlegmon occurs when an infection is not contained and spreads to surrounding tissue. Symptoms of a complicated diverticulitis attack may be more severe.[11] They may include those stated in the previous section or the following more severe symptoms:

• Abdomen tender to touch
• Severe pain and bloating
• Inability to pass gas or stool
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting
• High fever and chills

Diverticulitis Treatment

Anyone who may be experiencing an acute diverticulitis attack should seek immediate medical care. Severe symptoms should be treated in an emergency room. Some people opt for urgent care. However, it is essential to note that many urgent care facilities do not have the machines to perform CT scans that hospitals have.[12] A CT scan is necessary to confirm diverticulitis, and it is also valuable since it shows the severity of the flare-up.[13]

Treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis includes antibiotics to treat the infection and a few days of consuming only a clear liquid diet.[1] This gives the inflamed bowel a chance to rest. People are usually advised to eat a low-fiber diet that is soft for several days afterward.[1] Although fiber is typically recommended to prevent flare-ups, it can irritate the inflamed bowel during an acute inflammation attack or infection. Eventually, the person can work up to a high-fiber diet again. Most doctors also recommend a colonoscopy after the bowel heals to see if there are any other issues and the extent of the diverticula.

If a person has frequent uncomplicated attacks, surgery to remove the problematic area of the colon may eventually be recommended to prevent future complication risks or to improve quality of life. When this colon resection surgery is planned, there is an option for many people to have a robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery that may not require a temporary colostomy bag.[14]

With complicated attacks, surgery is often required.[15] Emergency surgery is less ideal since it often means a patient must have a colostomy bag for at least several months. While many colostomies can later be reversed thanks to modern medical advances, some may still be permanent.[15] Although surgery may eliminate future flare-ups for many people, it is essential to remember that diverticula do not go away. More can develop, and the remaining diverticula in other parts of the colon may become infected.

Can You Drink Alcohol With Diverticulitis?

When a person is experiencing the acute condition of diverticulitis, it is essential to avoid alcohol consumption. Alcoholic beverages can make symptoms worse during an acute attack.[16] Also, alcohol abuse can weaken the immune system, making infections linger.[17] Flagyl is a common antibiotic for treating diverticulitis infections. People who have alcohol intake while taking it or within a few days of stopping it can experience nausea, vomiting, headaches, and abdominal pain.[18]

Even after resuming a high-fiber diet, it is still not advisable to consume alcohol frequently. Many people find that their flare-ups happen after periods of drinking alcohol.[16] For example, a person with diverticulosis who drinks a lot may develop diverticulitis.

Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

What happens when a person drinks heavily and experiences a diverticulitis attack or has a diverticular disease? It is essential to break the addiction and protect long-term health. Knowing the potentially severe complications and experiencing the pain of an attack may incentivize some people to stop drinking or seek and prioritize healthcare treatment if they have a drinking problem. However, people who suffer from addiction cannot stop on their own and require professional help to break the cycle of addiction. An intervention may be necessary to encourage the person to go to rehab and encourage a lifestyle change.If you or someone you know has an addiction or needs treatment for alcohol misuse, Long Island Interventions is here to help. We assist by connecting you with professional intervention resources, information about treatment options, and contact information for treatment facilities near Long Island. To learn more about alcohol addiction treatment near Long Island, please get in touch with us.

FAQ

References
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/multimedia/diverticulosis-and-diverticulitis/img-20006098
[2] https://www.registerednursern.com/diverticulosis-and-diverticulitis-nclex-review/
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371758
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493184/
[5] https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedy-for-diverticulitis
[6] https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diverticular-disease
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21320500/
[8] https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2013/0501/p612.html
[9] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10352-diverticular-disease
[10] https://medlineplus.gov/ency/presentations/100089_1.htm
[11] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23478-gastrointestinal-perforation
[12] https://ercare24.com/emergency-care-vs-urgent-care/
[13] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diverticulitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371764
[14] https://www.houstonmethodist.org/leading-medicine-blog/articles/2021/aug/robotic-nice-procedure-completely-minimally-invasive-approach-to-colon-resection-for-diverticulitis/
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4789942/
[16] https://www.livestrong.com/article/480205-the-diverticulitis-diet-drinking-alcohol/
[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4590612/
[18] https://www.healthline.com/health/bad-buzz-metronidazole-flagyl-and-alcohol

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is a common issue that causes millions of people to feel miserable every year. While it is considered a low-grade infection, seeking medical treatment at the first sign of a UTI can shorten the duration of the infection and ease the symptoms. Macrobid is one of the more common prescription drugs that are used to treat urinary tract infections. While it is an effective treatment, individuals who consume alcohol while on Macrobid may experience significant side effects.

Understanding UTIs

Your urinary tract comprises the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. A UTI is an infection in any one of these parts of the body. Often, a UTI will spread to other areas of the urinary tract. UTIs are more common in women than in men. The Urology Care Foundation states that roughly 60% of women and 12% of men will have at least one UTI over their lifetime. Some people will experience multiple or chronic infections. One of the reasons why women are more susceptible to infections in this area of the body is because of the short distance between the female urethra and anus. This shortened distance makes it more likely for bacteria to enter the urinary tract. The shorter length of a female urethra also makes it more likely for that bacteria to travel to the bladder and other urinary tract areas.

What You Need to Know About Macrobid

Macrobid is prescribed exclusively for treating urinary tract infections and bladder infections. It is not used to treat kidney or bacterial infections in other body areas. It may also be known as nitrofurantoin, Aeration, Macrodantin, and Furdantin. Macrobid is an antibacterial medication that suppresses bacteria’s growth and reproduction. Specifically, it targets cell wall synthesis, DNA replication, RNA synthesis and protein synthesis.

Taking Macrobid as prescribed could result in several unpleasant side effects. The medication is known to cause dark urine, sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. While these are common side effects, you should consult with your physician if they become severe or worsen.

The Effects of Taking Macrobid with Alcohol

With some medications, mixing them with alcohol can have dire and even potentially fatal consequences. This may be because the interaction produces toxic elements in the bloodstream or the effects of one or both substances are amplified in the body. These will not be concerns when you take Macrobid and consume alcohol, so there is no need to seek immediate medical attention if you mix these two substances. However, there could be indirect consequences of consuming these substances simultaneously.

One potential issue is dehydration. When you have a urinary tract infection, it is crucial to stay hydrated. Unfortunately, alcohol is a diuretic, so it causes excessive urination and can lead to dehydration. The bacterial concentration can increase if you become dehydrated with a urinary tract infection. This can lead to more significant bacterial growth, and there is an increased risk that the infection could spread to the kidneys. In addition, dehydration generally weakens your total-body immune response and other body systems. Because of this, dehydration can lead to a general decline in health while your body is trying to fight off the UTI.

If you become dehydrated while on Macrobid, the medication’s side effects may worsen. Some symptoms that may be uncomfortable initially could become more severe and even dangerous if you are dehydrated. Some symptoms most affected by dehydration are headaches, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Some people may have heard that consuming alcohol will make Macrobid ineffective. However, several studies have been conducted, and this claim has been debunked. On the other hand, it remains to be seen if the consumption of alcohol may impact the drug’s strength in the body. It has been suggested that alcohol’s impact on dehydration and the immune system may reduce a person’s natural ability to combat bacterial infection. It is also important to note that heavy alcohol consumption can negatively impact a person’s sleep patterns. A minor disruption in sleep patterns can significantly and negatively impact the body’s immune response. As a result of these impacts on the immune system, the infection may take longer to clear up even while it is being treated with Macrobid. Remember that your body needs ample rest, proper nutrition, and hydration to fight the infection effectively.

Be aware that there may be unique concerns related to consuming alcohol while taking Macrobid if you have an underlying health condition or other circumstances. For example, a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding may be advised by her physician to avoid mixing these two substances. In addition, individuals with diabetes, renal impairment, or other known liver problems should avoid the combination of Macrobid and alcohol. In some cases, individuals who have these concerns may be more likely to experience severe side effects or other serious issues. Your doctor should know your complete medical history to provide accurate advice and an appropriate treatment plan for your urinary tract infection.

What to Do If You Take Macrobid with Alcohol

Because of the possibility of exacerbating the infection and the medication’s side effects, it may be wise to avoid consuming alcohol while on Macrobid. If you have one or more drinks while on Macrobid, you should consume ample water. This could mitigate some of the effects of alcohol-related dehydration and ease some of the medication’s side effects. Some people may notice a worsening of their UTI symptoms or a worsening of Macrobid side effects after mixing their prescription medication with alcohol. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you should contact your physician immediately or seek emergency medical assistance.

Is There a Safe Amount of Alcohol?

If you are healthy without any underlying health conditions or concerns, you may be able to drink a limited amount of alcohol with caution. Be aware, however, that you cannot know how your body will react beforehand. With this in mind, you should drink only a small amount of alcohol with extreme care. Those compelled to drink should consume no more than two or three alcoholic beverages every other day. However, you should generally aim to consume less alcohol than you usually do. If you normally drink a glass of alcohol daily, you should trim this to a glass every two or three days while you are on Macrobid.

The Typical Course of Treatment

For most people, treatment with Macrobid will clear up the infection. You should continue taking the full amount of Macrobid prescribed by the doctor even if you start to feel better. This will prevent a recurrence. Typically, patients are told to take their prescribed dosage of Macrobid twice a day. The minimum treatment period may last five days, but some doctors prescribe a 7-day course to ensure that the infection has been adequately treated.

Seek Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

While the length of Macrobid treatment is relatively short, some people find it difficult to abstain from alcohol or limit their alcohol consumption for this period. If you believe you may have a problem with alcohol abuse, rest assured that help is available. Long Island Interventions can help you to detox from alcohol and to establish and maintain a sober lifestyle. Contact Long Island Interventions today to learn about alcohol detox and rehabilitation.

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-07-11

Alcoholism is a disease that damages the human body in various ways. Some of the worst damage is done to the liver. Our bodies can’t absorb alcohol. It’s a toxin and needs to be filtered out of the body as much as possible to avoid the most harmful effects of consumption. The liver is extremely good at filtering toxins such as alcohol from our systems. Still, in cases of alcoholism, the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption are so high that the liver can’t process it all fast enough and becomes badly damaged over time. Luckily, the liver is highly resilient. It can withstand a lot of damage and heal quite well on its own. Detoxing safely and healthily as soon as possible after developing an alcohol dependency gives your liver the best chance to fully heal and return your body to a healthier state. Here are the key signs that your liver is healing from alcohol damage.

Better Blood Clotting

Mild consumption of alcohol has been noted as possibly beneficial because it acts as a blood thinner and helps prevent clotting issues such as heart attacks. However, consuming too much alcohol leads to clotting issues. Bleeding becomes harder to stop, your skin becomes easier to bruise, and healing becomes much more difficult.

Your liver has a vital role in managing blood clotting. Specifically, it handles many processes involved in coagulation, such as producing bile salts to absorb vitamin K, which is necessary for the clotting process. When your liver is healing, you may notice that your blood is clotting better. You’re not as prone to bruising, you stop bleeding more quickly when wounded, and your healing process is faster.

More Stable Weight

It’s incredibly common for people with alcohol dependency issues to suffer from fluctuations in weight. When the liver is damaged and unable to function correctly, it can’t process nutrients the way it usually would and messes up your metabolism. It’s very common for people with alcoholism to not eat much but still gain weight, or they eat an average amount and still lose weight. The former is caused by the liver’s inability to process fats sufficiently while consuming a lot of calories from alcoholic beverages, and the latter is caused by malnutrition due to the low functionality of the liver.

As your liver heals and your metabolism starts to function more normally, you’ll notice your weight starts to level out and be easier to manage.

More Energy

Fatigue is a very common symptom of alcoholism and liver damage. A damaged liver can’t store, process, and produce glucose effectively. Many systems and organs in your body need adequate glucose to function well. Without that glucose, fatigue sets in very quickly. Additionally, when the liver cannot dispose of waste within the body effectively, the excess waste and toxin buildup slows many functions within the body and makes you feel sluggish. While your liver heals from damage, it can store and produce glucose much better and dispose of waste effectively, giving you more energy throughout the day.

Improved Amino Acid Storage and Regulation

Your liver needs amino acids to function and heal itself. When damaged, the liver cannot regulate your body’s amino acids and proteins well enough. As a result, its ability to filter out toxins becomes compromised. While healing, your liver can regulate amino acids better and improve its ability to filter toxins.

Healthier Appearance in Skin and Eyes

One of the most notable symptoms of a damaged liver is discoloration in your skin and eyes. When the liver is damaged and can’t correctly filter toxins, these toxins build up in your skin, blood, and other areas throughout your body. With enough toxin buildup, you develop jaundice, a condition where your skin and eyes become tinted with yellow due to an overabundance of toxins in your body.

As your liver heals, the yellow hue will start to disappear. Your eyes will look clearer and brighter, and your skin will return to a more natural and healthier tone.

Better Immune System

The liver is a crucial component of your immune system. In addition to filtering out toxins, the liver also detects and eliminates harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens to prevent you from getting illnesses and infections. Damaged livers cannot detect or destroy bacteria nearly as well as a healthy liver, leaving you vulnerable to various diseases, viruses, and infections. In severe damage, your liver may be left so vulnerable to buildups of bacteria that you develop septic shock, a life-threatening condition requiring emergency medical attention.

After becoming sober and giving your liver time to heal, your liver will slowly be able to fight off dangerous pathogens again and better protect you from illnesses and infections.

Improved Appetite

The liver is not technically a part of your digestive system, but it has a vital role in digestion since it creates bile, which breaks down fats and turns them into energy. The liver also takes other nutrients from food and turns them into many essential chemicals the body needs to function. Any toxins or unhealthy materials that cannot be used by the body or digested are filtered out by the liver and disposed of. An unhealthy liver drastically disrupts the digestive process and negatively affects your appetite. It’s a dangerous cycle since your body will need additional food to help increase the production of essential substances as much as possible to help compensate for your liver’s diminished functionality. Still, the effects of poor digestion ruin your appetite and make you malnourished.

As you recover from alcohol dependency, you will likely notice that your appetite will greatly increase. This is because your body is trying to both recover from the damage the alcohol has done to your system and because it’s trying to replace one source of dopamine, a chemical within your body that creates feelings of pleasure, for another. You feel good when you eat, and eating commonly becomes a coping mechanism when recovering from any form of addiction.

This increase in appetite isn’t the same as the healthier eating patterns that will develop as your liver heals and you recover from alcoholism. It’s important to acknowledge as quickly as possible that an increase in your appetite is very good and healthy. Still, a desire to continuously overeat is unhealthy both physically and mentally. With the assistance and support of friends, family, and professionals in addiction recovery and therapy, you can enjoy a healthier appetite without adopting an unhealthy diet.

Reduced Brain Fog

When the liver doesn’t filter out toxins from the blood, these toxins build up in other areas of the body, such as the brain. A high level of toxins in the brain creates numerous adverse cognitive effects, such as general confusion, poor judgment, mood swings, memory issues, and difficulty processing information. When your liver starts healing, it can filter out those toxins more effectively. Your brain will be able to work much more efficiently, and all of your cognitive processes will improve as a result.

Less Pain

With a diminished immune system and healing capabilities, suffering from injuries with a damaged liver becomes much more painful and difficult than it would be with a healthy liver. To make matters worse, a damaged liver is also the direct cause of chronic abdominal pain. The liver becomes inflamed and painful as the liver becomes engorged with a buildup of toxins, bacteria, and other harmful materials that it can’t process correctly. The inflammation is painful enough, but the increase in size may cause the liver to press against other organs and cause additional pain.

When you stop consuming alcohol and your liver is given a chance to heal, it will be able to process and eliminate those toxins and other waste materials it has stored up. The inflammation will subside, and the liver will no longer press against other organs, significantly reducing your pain levels.

While not all liver damage can be reversed entirely, the sooner an individual with alcoholism gets help, stops consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol, and allows their liver to heal, the lower the chances of permanent damage. If you or a loved one is suffering from alcoholism and wants more information on alcohol detox to start on a path to recovery, call Long Island Interventions. The professionals at Long Island Interventions will not only help you get your alcohol consumption under control in a safe manner, but they will also provide you with the tools and treatments necessary to keep you healthy and sober in the future.

FAQ

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21

One of the many possible consequences of getting drunk is saying things that are hurtful or humiliating.

Drunk people may hurl insults at their family, friends, or romantic partner. They may crack unflattering jokes about their boss or make a pass at a colleague. Sometimes, they blurt out secrets or rant about an entire group of people.

In the aftermath of such behavior, it’s tempting to make excuses and place all the blame on the alcohol. But these excuses prevent people from taking responsibility for their heavy drinking and the effects of drunk words.

How Does Alcohol Affect Personality?

The day after a humiliating incident at a party or at a bar, a person who drank too much will often say, “That wasn’t really me. That was the drink talking.”

Similar excuses may come from their loved ones. “They aren’t really like that. They don’t even know what they’re saying.”

People cling to the idea that there’s an authentic self separate from the drunken persona. But there isn’t any evidence to suggest such a stark separation.

Alcohol, of course, affects behavior, including speech. When drinking heavily, people are more likely to:

• Show certain qualities associated with extraversion, such as gregariousness and assertiveness.
• Behave aggressively, especially in response to a perceived provocation.
• Experience lowered inhibitions.
• Care less about the consequences of various behaviors, including harmful speech.
• Exhibit poor judgment and a deficiency in reasoning abilities.

Even though alcohol affects behavior, it’s essential to remember that people still show an individual response to intoxication. From one person to another, there’s a lot of variation.

Some people stay quiet when they’re drunk, and maybe they fall asleep on the couch. Others crack jokes and laugh more, or they burst into tears. And some behave belligerently.

When people become drunk, they don’t develop an entirely new personality. They don’t become a whole other person. Even if some of their behavioral tendencies become more pronounced, they’re still themselves, albeit intoxicated.

You see emotions or aspects of their character that they ordinarily suppress or keep under better control. Anger, bitterness, sorrow, and even tenderness or nostalgia are powerful feelings that may emerge. Maybe they’re not even aware of the strength of their feelings. But their emotions are a part of them.

Loss of inhibition and impaired judgment make it less likely that they’ll hold back on damaging speech. When drunk, they don’t ask themselves if what they’re saying is fair, kind, or entirely truthful, and they don’t particularly care about how others will react. It may even give them temporary satisfaction to say something mean or outrageous.

The next day, they may feel ashamed and defensive. They’ll probably want to create distance between themselves and the remarks they made when they were drunk. But it isn’t realistic or honest to pretend that the drunk comments came from another person.

Are Drunk People Really Telling the Truth?

If alcohol doesn’t give people an entirely new personality, does that mean drunk people reveal the truth about themselves when they speak? Do their drunk words reflect what they think when they’re sober?

The reality is complicated. Although drunk people share something about themselves through their speech, they aren’t necessarily revealing a permanent or absolute truth.

For example, let’s say you tell a drunk friend to stop drinking. In response, they may scream, “I hate you!”

Does this mean they regularly hate you? Not necessarily. Their outburst may reflect a temporary state of resentment, anger, and shame. Even if they enjoy your company at other times, they may not be able to stand the sight of you at that very moment. Or they may be trying to drive you away so they can continue to drink uninterrupted.

What about loving words? A drunken declaration of love may reflect a deep or enduring emotion. Or it may arise from a temporary surge of warmth, sociability, or attraction.

Another scenario is when a drunk person shares an opinion about your appearance, work, or something else that matters significantly to you. Because they’re speaking with fewer filters or inhibitions, what you may be hearing is their honest opinion. Does it reflect the entirety of what they think about you? Are they telling the truth, or are they saying something merely for comedic effect or to needle you?

This is a painful question to contemplate. Even if the drunk person’s opinion is incomplete or inaccurate, you may feel disrespected, humiliated, or unloved. Their comments undermine your trust in them because you wonder what they may be hiding from you. When they’re sober, are they just pretending to like you? Do they hold you in such contempt?

Dealing with a drunk person can get even more confusing when you realize that they sometimes make things up. For example, they may tell you a story that they wish were true or that they consider entertaining, but it doesn’t reflect events that happened. The fabricated story may provide insight into their thought processes, but it doesn’t reveal anything factual.

How you interpret their words depends on multiple factors, including their general behavior patterns when drunk or sober. The nature of their comments will also have an impact on your relationship. There’s a huge difference between an empty boast and a cruel personal remark.

A drunk person’s speech doesn’t necessarily tell you everything about them or your relationship with them. But it can still cause you to confront painful and confusing possibilities.

The Need for Taking Responsibility

In the aftermath of the intoxicated speech, it’s not enough for someone to claim that they didn’t mean what they said. Somehow, their words reflected their opinions or state of mind. Also, the consequences of their words may be rippling out into daily life, damaging relationships, increasing the risk of job loss, or causing other serious problems.

Instead of pretending that their drunk words have nothing to do with their sober life, people need to take responsibility for their drinking and its consequences.

If you’re ashamed of what you say when drunk, or if your words have been hurting others and causing you difficulties, it’s time to ask yourself if your drinking has become a problem. Are you able to drink more moderately? Or does your alcohol use feel spiraling out of your control?

One sign of problematic drinking is that it hurts your relationships and other areas of your life, such as work and family obligations. Drunk words may be one way in which your alcohol use is hurting you. Instead of denying the reality of these words, turn them into a wake-up call for yourself.

Seeking Help at Long Island Interventions

The long-term effects of alcohol dependence and abuse are numerous. Excessive drinking elevates the risk of liver disease, stroke, heart problems, brain damage, and various cancers. It leads to psychological problems, impaired cognitive functioning, and low quality of life.

Don’t delay in getting help for alcohol misuse. Even if you don’t think you have full-blown alcohol dependence, you can still benefit from interventions for problematic drinking. These interventions will address the problems drinking causes in your life, including the effects of drunk speech.

When you reach out to Long Island Interventions, you can expect help from highly skilled and compassionate professionals. You’ll get treated as an individual, and the interventions will be tailored to what you personally need. Along with addressing the drinking itself, you’ll work on the habits, beliefs, and emotions that feed into the problem. The result is effective and dignified care.

FAQ

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21

Any time you take a prescription drug or over-the-counter medication for any medical condition, you must understand how it will mix with other substances you might ingest through its drug information and disclaimer attached to the bottle itself or packaging. Alcohol use should be avoided with many medications because it can cause mild to serious side effects like allergic reactions and other concerns. Now that you have been prescribed fluconazole, you understandably need to know if it is safe to continue drinking alcohol for the length of your treatment. What should you know about the impact of alcohol consumption with fluconazole treatment?

What Is Fluconazole?

Fluconazole is an FDA-approved antifungal medication that is only available through a doctor’s prescription. It may also be prescribed by its brand names, Diflucan or Canesten. While it is usually taken in tablet form, fluconazole is also available in a liquid formula for oral ingestion. In the body, it works to eradicate fungal overgrowths. Specifically, it blocks the membrane growth of fungal cells to fight the infection.

Commonly, fluconazole is prescribed to treat penile balanitis, yeast infections, and oral thrush. In some cases, it may also be prescribed as a treatment for meningitis, urinary tract infections, and fungal infections impacting the lungs, esophagus, abdomen, and other areas of the body. This medication may also be prescribed before a bone marrow transplant or as a fungal growth prevention measure for those in chemotherapy. The typical treatment length may range from a week to six months, depending on the type and severity of the infection.

How Does Alcohol Consumption Impact Fluconazole Treatment?

In many cases, your medication’s bottle or box will not have special instructions to avoid alcohol consumption while being treated with fluconazole. Alcohol will not impact fluconazole’s ability to eradicate the membranes of fungal cells and to work effectively. However, it is vital to understand how alcohol may impact your fungal infection before you have a drink. Alcohol has fermented ingredients and sugars, both of which promote the growth of fungal cells in the body. Because of this, thrush, yeast infections, and other fungal infections may thrive because you consumed alcohol. Because of this, it can counteract how effective fluconazole is as a fungal treatment and how long it takes for your infection to clear up.

Keep in mind that fluconazole will not be effective at treating all types of fungal infections. One reason for this is because of antifungal-resistant infections. Such infections can even develop inside your body if you intake alcohol and excessive amounts of sugar during your fluconazole treatment. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you avoid alcohol consumption while being treated, even though alcohol consumption is not directly contraindicated.

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Fluconazole?

Side effects of Fluconazole usually has been mild. Common side effects are headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, and an upset stomach or stomach pain. In some cases, diarrhea, abdominal pain, heartburn, skin itching or inflammation, loss of appetite, and an unpleasant taste could be experienced. These adverse effects can sometimes be magnified by those who drink alcohol with fluconazole (due to substance or drug interactions). In addition, there is a small risk of liver damage related to fluconazole treatment, even if you do not mix the medication with alcohol. Signs of jaundice and other liver conditions could include dark urine and yellow eyes, requiring immediate medical attention.

Several medical studies have determined that approximately 5% of patients on this antifungal treatment have elevated liver enzymes. This is a sign of relatively minor liver damage or liver disease, and the body may naturally recover after treatment ends. However, consuming alcohol in large quantities may also hurt your liver. These two substances can increase the possibility of more severe liver damage. Many doctors will not prescribe fluconazole to patients who have known liver problems for this reason. If you must be on fluconazole for a lengthy period of time, your doctor may monitor your liver enzymes and function through blood tests.

You should also be aware that alcohol impacts the body and could affect your treatment. For example, alcohol is a diuretic, and this means that consumption of alcohol could lead to dehydration. Dehydration can impact liver function, another reason for the increased risk of liver damage. Alcohol is also known to affect sleep cycles negatively. In turn, this impacts the functionality of your immune system. Through this effect, it may take longer for your fungal infection to clear up if you consume alcohol while being treated with fluconazole. This may also lead to an increased risk of an antifungal-resistant infection.

How Much Can You Drink While Being Treated with Fluconazole?

Fluconazole can remain in your system for many days (according to the National Library of Medicine, it has around a 30-hour plasma half-life), so there is no safe number of drinks you can have each day during your treatment. This medication could remain in the body for up to 10 days after the last dose. 

The combination of alcohol and fluconazole may heighten the risk of toxicity. t is best to avoid all alcohol consumption during the entire period.

On the other hand, alcohol remains in the body for a relatively short time. If you are trying to decide when to take your first dose of fluconazole, you should wait at least a few hours after your last drink. However, if your alcohol consumption has been heavy, you should consider waiting an entire day until you take the first dose.

Some people may feel compelled to drink alcohol during treatment and the 10-day waiting period after the last dose. If you choose to drink, avoid beverages high in sugar and yeast. These include cocktails, beer, and more. In addition, you should only drink alcohol in small doses. Some studies have shown that liver damage may occur if you regularly consume more than 30 grams per day. Thirty grams is equivalent to two 5-ounce pours of wine, two 1.5-ounce liquor shots, or two 12-ounce beer bottles.

Is It Challenging to Avoid Drinking During Fluconazole Treatment?

While some people can avoid alcohol consumption throughout their treatment, others may be challenged to do so. Even drinking one or two alcoholic beverages while taking fluconazole can negatively impact your body. The inability to sustain alcohol consumption may indicate an alcohol use disorder. Specifically, this type of disorder is defined as drinking alcohol even when adverse consequences are known. A sign of alcohol addiction is when a person drinks alcohol even after knowing it negatively affects their health, finances, social life, or personal relationships. Alcohol addiction may be associated with spending a significant amount of time recovering from alcohol use and too much time thinking about drinking or drinking more than intended.

Suppose you cannot resist alcohol abuse with fluconazole treatment. In that case, you may benefit from a consultation or medical advice from a healthcare professional with a treatment team even after you know the side effects.

You can learn more about your situation and treatment options through a consultation with a healthcare provider. While some people can stop drinking alcohol independently, many are challenged to do so. Addiction treatment programs are available to help you through this process.

Request a Consultation Today

At Long Island Interventions, our compassionate and supportive team recognizes the many challenges of overcoming an alcohol use disorder or addiction. We are ready to support you in your journey to sobriety. Most treatments begin with alcohol detox, which may be medically assisted to help you manage the unpleasant side effects. A detox may be followed by residential rehab, outpatient rehab, and other programs. While achieving and maintaining sobriety can be challenging, programs may help you to find more tremendous success. Contact Long Island Interventions today to learn about alcohol detox and treatment programs.

FAQ

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Published on: 2022-10-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21

What Is Trazodone?

Trazodone is a serotonin antagonist and reuptake inhibitor, so it prevents the brain from reabsorbing serotonin. It acts as an agonist that inhibits a serotonin receptor by the name of “5HT2a.” It also keeps the serotonin transporter protein from functioning in the brain. As this occurs, the trazodone prevents the serotonin from being reabsorbed so that it can accumulate within the brain. This has the effect of relieving the negative moods that people suffering from depression often experience.

Trazodone has a short half-life, so it can ease people’s insomnia and maintain their sleep without causing them to feel drowsy, and it doesn’t cause the user to develop a tolerance for the medication. When people take doses of trazodone between 150 milligrams and 600 milligrams, the antidepressant effects are very apparent.

How Does Trazodone Work?

Trazodone increases the presence of noradrenaline and serotonin in the brain, and this has the effect of improving a person’s mood. The levels of these chemicals are lower when you are feeling sad, but when you take trazodone, your levels of noradrenaline and serotonin go up, and this makes you feel better.

Can You Mix Trazodone and Alcohol?

You must not mix trazodone and alcohol, and there are several reasons for this. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, and the brain’s neurotransmitters and other systems are affected by this. One neurotransmitter that is particularly affected is “GABA.” GABA blocks the communication between neurons, and this has the effect of causing sedation, calmness and relaxation.

More people abuse alcohol than any other substance in the world, so most people are aware that alcohol causes you to become intoxicated. Some of the effects include decreased alertness, poor coordination, blurred vision, impaired judgment and impaired reaction time. When you take trazodone when you are drinking alcohol, this can lead to severe impairment and sedative symptoms. That is because both trazodone and alcohol produce similar effects in the brain.

Other Dangerous Interactions

In addition to the above, the mixture of trazodone and alcohol can also cause an overdose. This isn’t likely to happen, but it can happen when these substances are mixed. Trazodone has elements that have a high potential for causing you to become intoxicated, and it may increase the effects that alcohol causes, so there is an increased possibility that you can overdose on these substances.

If you ingest these two substances over a long period of time, you can become dependent upon them, and you can experience trazodone withdrawal symptoms. These include anxiety and poor sleeping habits.

Mixing trazodone and alcohol can also lead to death. When you consume these substances together, they cause extreme drowsiness, and this can lead you to experience a serious accident. Both trazodone and alcohol contain intoxicating elements that may interfere with your nervous system and respiratory system if you have ingested these substances in large doses.

Interactions between trazodone and alcohol can also cause you to experience serotonin syndrome. When you have serotonin syndrome, your serotonin levels are too high for your brain to tolerate, and it can cause death.

What Are the Side Effects?

Trazodone can cause the effects that alcohol creates to intensify. After all, they are both central nervous system depressants, so when you take them together, you can experience even greater side effects. Examples of these include the following:

• Increased anxiety or depression
• Dramatic mood swings
• Fainting
• Impaired judgment or thinking
• Difficulties concentrating
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Increased intoxication

More Interactions

In addition to the trazodone side effects listed above, the alcohol can cause things to get much worse for you.

If you are taking trazodone for insomnia, alcohol can make your insomnia worse. Studies have shown that alcohol caused study subjects to have poor sleep quality and the inability to sleep for long enough periods of time. The alcohol in the mixture makes you feel sleepy, but it also makes it more difficult for you to fall asleep. When you do manage to go to sleep, the alcohol causes sleep disturbances. This prevents you from being able to enter into rapid eye movement or REM sleep.

In the event that you are taking trazodone for depression, the alcohol in the mixture can cause you to experience negative moods. Sometimes, people will drink alcohol to medicate themselves when they are experiencing depressive symptoms. However, when you drink alcohol, it affects your brain chemistry so that your risk of depression increases. It is more common for people to hurt themselves or commit suicide when they have been drinking alcohol, so if you have a history of depressive symptoms, you must not drink alcohol.

Can You Die from Mixing Trazodone and Alcohol?

We don’t have a lot of research on death rates from mixing trazodone and alcohol. We do know that if you drink large amounts of trazodone and alcohol, you are very likely to die from the combination. When you take a high dose of trazodone, you can experience problems with your heart rhythm and central nervous system depression. Also, you can experience serotonin syndrome as was mentioned above. You may even experience alcohol poisoning that can cause extreme central nervous system depression. This can lead to difficulties with breathing.

Each substance has a potential risk of causing death by overdose, so if you are going to mix trazodone and alcohol, you must be aware of each substance’s risk of overdose.

Taking Trazodone for Alcohol Withdrawal

When people are going through alcohol withdrawal, they can experience insomnia. Physicians often prescribe trazodone for insomnia, but this is done while you are in a medical detoxification program at a drug treatment center. You will have 24-hour supervision, so the treatment center’s staff will take very good care of you, and you will not be in any danger while you are there.

The Need for Treatment for Trazodone and Alcohol Abuse

If you have been mixing trazodone and alcohol for several years, it is likely that you are dependent on these two substances. Because you are dependent, you cannot stop ingesting trazodone and alcohol without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, when you enter a substance use treatment center, you will enter the medical detox program. In this program, the medical staff will administer medications that will ease your withdrawal symptoms so that you can tolerate the withdrawal process as comfortably as possible.

What Is the Treatment?

If you are struggling with trazodone and alcohol abuse, there is treatment for this condition. If your physician prescribed trazodone for you to treat depression or insomnia, an alcohol use disorder can cause your mental health to suffer. At Long Island Interventions, we can help you conquer your addiction to alcohol and also treat you for your misuse of trazodone.

Alcohol Withdrawal

The first part of your treatment for trazodone and alcohol use is the “detoxification program.” You will experience physical alcohol withdrawal and behavioral alcohol withdrawal, and we will treat you for both. This is a highly dangerous time for you because alcohol withdrawal can cause death, so it is very important that you enter our detoxification program so that we can ensure that you tolerate the process in the best manner possible.

Behavioral alcohol withdrawal has several symptoms, including anxiety, hallucinations, confusion, irritability, restlessness and agitation. As your body realizes that it isn’t receiving any alcohol, it makes it so that you cannot focus, and you begin to experience anxiety. Behavioral withdrawal makes it impossible for you to go to work or school or take care of your family.

You would also experience physical alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and they are particularly disturbing. Seizures can cause you to experience delirium tremens. The symptoms include fever, severe tremors, irregular heartbeat, sweating, hallucinations, rapid heart rate and confusion. You may also be very shaky and have gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea and vomiting.

Dual Diagnosis

The detoxification process is just the beginning of the treatment for a trazodone and alcohol use disorder. After you are finished in the detoxification program, you will need to treat the psychological addiction to substances that can make it as difficult to refrain from using your substance of choice as your physical symptoms do.

In addition to your substance use disorder, it is very possible that you have a mental health disorder as well. In the United States, 7.7 million adults have mental health and substance use disorders that are both active simultaneously. If you have a mental health disorder, this complicates matters for you because you may be indulging in substance use to self-medicate your mental health disorder. At Long Island Interventions, we can diagnose your mental health disorder and treat both disorders simultaneously.

Conclusion

An inpatient treatment program is the best option if you have been experiencing a long-term addiction or believe you have a co-occurring mental health disorder. This is even more important for you if you have been diagnosed with depression and have difficulties with a substance use disorder. As mentioned above, these two disorders do not mix, so contact us at Long Island Interventions if you are ready to learn more and get help today.

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Published on: 2022-08-31
Updated on: 2024-06-21