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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Acid Reflux After Drinking Alcohol?

Hi there, I'm a 27 year old female. Over the last few months I've been suffering a lot after drinking alcohol. I have been diagnosed with acid reflux in the past, but the symptoms are getting worse and I am a little bit concerned. I do not drink as much as I have done in the past, although when I do drink (which is perhaps once a week) I do tend to drink a lot - over a bottle of red wine per sitting, which is bad, I know. Anyway, the symptoms are pain in my right side, which radiates round to my back/shoulder, acid reflux/heartburn, night sweats, headache, inability to digest food properly, diarreah, I could go on. I've been worried that it could be my liver causing the problems, but I had blood tests and an ultrasound on my liver about a year ago which was all clear and I've curbed my drinking since then so I don't think I could've done damage in that short space of time. Does anyone have similar symptoms or advice? I'm beginning to think I'm just incapable of drinking alcohol, or intolerant to it - but I would prefer to know this for sure. One thing I have noticed is that even after a few sips of alcohol I get a terrible pressure headache, which does go away as I drink more, but strikes me as a warning sign?
Mon, 9 Mar 2015
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
These are direct effects of alcohol. It is a stimulant of a lot of digestive tract which is why alcoholics have a jowly look (hypertrophy of salivary glands). There is also stimulation of stomach secretions and relaxation of the top of the stomach predisposing to reflux.
Then.... the breakdown products of alcohol cause sweats/nausea/palpitations. These are increased by blocking their removal with antabuse, but many people just have a build up of them.
While yes, it is your liver causing this, it certainly does not have to be an abnormal liver to do this. Small amounts of alcohol with food gradually taken are much less likely to cause the problems.
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What Causes Acid Reflux After Drinking Alcohol?

These are direct effects of alcohol. It is a stimulant of a lot of digestive tract which is why alcoholics have a jowly look (hypertrophy of salivary glands). There is also stimulation of stomach secretions and relaxation of the top of the stomach predisposing to reflux. Then.... the breakdown products of alcohol cause sweats/nausea/palpitations. These are increased by blocking their removal with antabuse, but many people just have a build up of them. While yes, it is your liver causing this, it certainly does not have to be an abnormal liver to do this. Small amounts of alcohol with food gradually taken are much less likely to cause the problems.