Alcohol intolerance
Alcohol intolerance may occur in ME/CFS. It usually develops after the onset of the illness, where the patient was previously able to tolerate alcohol.[1][2][3][4] It may form part of a wider range of allergies and sensitivities that can develop during the course of the illness.[citation needed]
Recovery from CFS/ME is often accompanied by the return of alcohol tolerance.[1]
A 2019 study with Stanford ME/CFS Initiative reported that 66% of subjects meeting the 1994 Fukuda CFS criteria were less able to tolerate alcohol compared to their pre-illness state.[2] This finding replicates those in a 2004 study of patients fulfilling UK criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome referred to a specialist clinic: two-thirds reduced alcohol intake. The most common reasons were increased tiredness after drinking (67%), increased nausea (33%), exacerbated hangovers (23%) and sleep disturbance (24%).[3]
Prevalence[edit | edit source]
- 1995, Katrina Berne, PhD, reported an estimated prevalence of 45-75% for alcohol intolerance (although she notes that this symptom may be underreported and therefore more prevalent than indicated).[5]
- 2001, In a Belgian study, 59.5% of patients meeting the Fukuda criteria and 63.7% of patients meeting the Holmes criteria, in a cohort of 2073 CFS patients, reported alcohol intolerance.[4]
- A 2019 study with Stanford ME/CFS Initiative reported that 66% of subjects meeting the Fukuda 1994 CFS criteria were less able to tolerate alcohol compared to their pre-illness state.[2]
Symptom recognition[edit | edit source]
Research studies[edit | edit source]
- 2004, Alcohol use in chronic fatigue syndrome[3]
Possible causes[edit | edit source]
- Channelopathy has been proposed as a mechanism of the illness which would explain intolerance to alcohol and other drugs.[6]
- Gut fermentation problems[7][1]
- Alcohol is a depressant of the central nervous system, which tends to be hyper-reactive in people with ME/CFS[8]
- Alcohol is toxic for the liver, and many people with ME/CFS have suboptimal liver function[8]
- Alcohol can interfere with the methylation cycle[8]
- Alcohol is a vasodilator - this will exacerbate vascular symptoms such as neurally mediated hypotension or POTS[8]
Potential treatments[edit | edit source]
If a patient presents with alcohol intolerance, alcohol should be avoided, including that in mouthwashes and herbal tinctures.[citation needed]
See also[edit | edit source]
Learn more[edit | edit source]
- Alcohol intolerance in CFS – gives us a clue as to the mechanisms of fatigue by Sarah Myhill for ProHealth
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Myhill, Sarah (September 21, 2015). "Alcohol intolerance in CFS - gives us a clue as to the mechanisms of fatigue". Prohealth. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chu, Lily; Valencia, Ian J.; Garvert, Donn W.; Montoya, Jose G. (February 5, 2019). "Onset Patterns and Course of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Frontiers in Pediatrics. 7. doi:10.3389/fped.2019.00012. ISSN 2296-2360.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Woolley, James; Allen, Roz; Wessely, Simon (February 2004). "Alcohol use in chronic fatigue syndrome". Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 56 (2): 203–206. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00077-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 De Becker, Pascale; McGregor, Neil; De Meirleir, Kenny (December 2001). "A definition‐based analysis of symptoms in a large cohort of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome". Journal of Internal Medicine. 250 (3): 234–240. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00890.x.
- ↑ Berne, Katrina (December 1, 1995). Running on Empty: The Complete Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS) (2nd ed.). Hunter House. p. 58. ISBN 978-0897931915.
- ↑ Verrillo - Channelopathies
- ↑ Verrillo - Gut fermentation and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Verrillo - Foods to Avoid
