Alcohol and instant headaches

[BlueBull]

Hey everyone

So right from the beginning when I started consuming alcohol (around 13 years ago now) I had this problem which nobody I know of has. And I was hoping someone on here either experiences the same, or knows what causes it or how to counteract it

If I were to drink a few servings of alcohol, just enough to be slightly intoxicated but not enough to be drunk or even near drunk and then stop drinking, I develop a severe headache half an hour to an hour later. So severe it made me have to go home early a few times. If I only drink 1-2 servings so I don't feel any effects and then stop, this headache does not occur. Nor does it when I drink until I'm drunk and then stop drinking. Furthermore I never develop headaches apart from these ones and I never get a headache in the rare case I have a hangover the next day. The only times in my life I ever get headaches is in the cases I just described, after moderate alcohol consumption.

I have always had these alcohol-induced instant headaches but they seem to be getting more severe these last few years. So much so that I now make the choice to either drink one or two beers or keep on drinking until I'm drunk, just to avoid them. Because of that I hardly drink anymore lately as I don't actually like being drunk and being slightly intoxicated is the only effect alcohol has that I do like, were it not for the headaches...

It's only a minor annoyance, as I'm not a big fan of alcohol anyways. But I was wondering if anyone could share any insight into this? As I do wonder what causes them and why nobody else has them and it would be nice to be able to drink until slightly intoxicated in the rare cases I would like to do so...

Regards and thanks in advance for your answers

BlueBull

 

[Deleted member 81238]

does mdma go with alcohol?

 

[BlueBull]

Are you asking if I combined MDMA and alcohol on the nights I develop these headaches? No I didn't, I think it's a waste of MDMA and the effects are far too messy (blackouts) for me to combine them. Very unhealthy too. Furthermore it seems to me MDMA would suppress a headache. I think I would have mentioned it if I did

The only other substance I combine alcohol with is weed, but that's not a possible cause for the headaches as I already ruled that out by testing it. They occur with or without weed involved. Weed even slightly tempers them, though not enough to be a 'cure' for them

 

[T. Calderone]

You may have a sensitivity to sulfites which is found in beer and wine, besides other things. When I used to drink wine, I would get headaches but never with beer. Some people are allergic to sulfites and get severe reactions. I noticed on certain bottles of wine, big print saying "contains sulfites." That's just my guess though and don't know why it only happens to you sometimes.

 

[BlueBull]

Hmmm that is actually something I did not yet consider. But I don't think sulfites in particular are the cause, as I experience the same with all sorts of alcohol, so also with hard liquor, which doesn't contain sulfites. However, an allergy is a good suggestion, I shall have to look into this. It would have to be a compound which is found in every sort of alcoholic beverage. Only thing that springs to mind is alcohol itself of course, but I read that true alcohol allergies are rare and cause other symptoms than just a splitting headache...

If anyone else has any more insight or experience to share, please do. And thank you for your reply T. Calderone!