New problem...please help!

wilkies5

why, all of a sudden, would having ONE alcholic drink (not strong) suddenly cause a violent headache? Has anyone else had this?
I am not a regular drinker, just the occasional white wine, G&T, socially. But over the last month the headache comes on after two sips and goes up the back, right hand side of my skull. Painkillers DO shift it, but I think it's ridiculous to take paracetamol before I have a couple of drinks with friends!!

Any advice really appreciated.

juliaw

Sorry to say this but if alcohol does not suit you, you have to stop drinking it. Just like any other food or drink that makes you feel ill.

Alcohol makes me throw up, so I have not had a drink for years.

Just quietly ask for tap water. There is one big advantage - it saves you a fortune.

Crisp_£_note

Go and see your GP and ask him the question. Pain is the bodies way of telling us somethings wrong blocking that pain makes a problem worse over time and surely you shouldnt be mixing alcohol with painkillers?

Best wishes and let us know how you get on.

bargainbetty

It may depend on the alcohol you are consuming. My mother can drink vodka without problems, but two glasses of wine make her ill. For years thought I couldn't drink gin without violent headaches - turned out I am allergic to quinine and it was the tonic water making me ill.

Rum makes me sick within minutes, but bourbon is fine and I can drink it all evening.... as with any food/beverage intolerance, keep a note of what is making you ill and how badly, noting both the alcohol type and the mixer, if any. You may find a drink for you, or you may find, as Juliaw notes, that you just have to give up booze.

belfastgirl23

I had this with white wine a few weeks ago. 2 large glasses of spritzer (so only one glass of wine really) and I felt absolutely terrible the next day. No problems with red wine or spirits though as long as I don't go mad on quantity.

you should switch to a different drink and see how you get on.

jenniewb

Could be many things OP and you'd be best suited to checking it out with your GP.

I used to be able to drink red wine and be fine, now I find (after consuming way too much at New Years) if I have as much as half a glass the next day I feel like I have the worst nausea and feel dizzy and odd all day and part of the following day. I haven't tried other drinks as I tried this with red wine one glass a week for about a month and a half before I clocked the pattern. Confirmed after not drinking anything for the past 3 weeks (started out just by chance, wasn't around when the bottle was open and consumed so didn't drink that week) and low and behold, the first few mondays of no pain!

It could be sulfates, it could be that your suddenly affected by alcohol it could be something entirely different and just coincidental, either way your best way around this is to find out through tests as everyone is different and even if others on here do have similar symptoms it doesn't mean they have the same condition.

Always_Harassed

You will probably find your mixer contains aspartame the artificial sweetener which is well known for causing migraines. If you want a drink some of the coca cola drinks don't have this or soda water. Even some ciders are artificial sweetened.

charlie792

Always_Harassed wrote: »

You will probably find your mixer contains aspartame the artificial sweetener which is well known for causing migraines. If you want a drink some of the coca cola drinks don't have this or soda water. Even some ciders are artificial sweetened.

Agreed I have a severe intolerance to Aspartame which can make me incredibly ill (I have a form of PKU), anywhere from just feeling sick and headachey up to me having a fit - cheaper brand soft drinks or diet versions contain it. And as above noted ciders can contain it - if it says 'contains a source of phenylalanine' I have to avoid....
Believe it or not it used to also be in some crisps (monster munch) although thats somewhat off the OP's point

janejustjane

The same thing happened to me a few years ago. After being able to drink what I liked for decades, I suddenly started getting violent headaches, pains in my back and general weakness after just one glass of wine. I only drink very occassionaly. I didn't go to my GP because I know he would just say don't drink.

I don't know what the cause is and I have never liked the taste or effect of alcohol much anyway. If you could be bothered, you could find out what drinks to avoid by trial and error. Drinks which don't affect me are cider and Bacardi Breezer, but everyone if different.