When you are feeling unwell, the belief that you get intoxicated more quickly is supported by physiology. The body’s response to illness creates a perfect storm for alcohol to have a more immediate and intensified effect. This rapid change is due to a combination of how your body handles fluids and how its resources are diverted to fight infection. We will explore the physiological changes, metabolic slowdown, and the serious risks of combining alcohol with common over-the-counter remedies.
How Illness Alters Your Physiological State
Illness frequently leads to mild dehydration, which significantly increases the speed of intoxication. Symptoms like fever, sweating, and reduced fluid intake deplete the body’s water content. Since alcohol is distributed through the body’s water, less water means the alcohol consumed is less diluted in the bloodstream.
This reduced fluid volume leads to a higher Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) than if you were properly hydrated, even after drinking the same amount. The fatigue and weakened state accompanying an infection also lower your tolerance to alcohol’s effects. The central nervous system is already under strain from fighting the illness, making it hypersensitive to alcohol’s depressant properties. This combination means mental and motor impairment will feel more severe and set in faster.
The Role of Inflammation in Slowing Metabolism
The body’s immune response to infection directly competes with the liver’s ability to process alcohol. When ill, the immune system releases chemical messengers called cytokines to coordinate the fight against the invading pathogen. These inflammatory cytokines induce the liver to shift its physiological priorities.
The liver, the primary site for alcohol detoxification, shifts its focus toward synthesizing acute-phase proteins required for the immune response. This occurs at the expense of normal metabolism, including the process of breaking down alcohol. The effectiveness of key alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, such as Alcohol Dehydrogenase, is reduced as the liver is preoccupied with immune functions. As a result, alcohol remains in your bloodstream longer, intensifying and prolonging intoxication.
Dangerous Interactions with Over-the-Counter Medicine
Mixing alcohol with cold and flu medications presents serious safety risks beyond just feeling drunk faster. Many common remedies contain ingredients that chemically interact with alcohol, creating potentially harmful effects.
Acetaminophen, a common pain reliever and fever reducer, becomes significantly more hepatotoxic when combined with alcohol. The liver must process both substances, and the combination can lead to the accelerated production of a toxic byproduct. This quickly depletes the liver’s natural protective agents. This interaction dramatically increases the risk of acute liver damage or failure.
Many nighttime and multi-symptom cold medications include antihistamines to induce drowsiness. Since alcohol is also a central nervous system depressant, combining it with antihistamines amplifies the sedative effects. This can result in extreme drowsiness, dizziness, severely impaired motor skills, and cognitive impairment. Cough suppressants containing Dextromethorphan (DXM) are also central nervous system depressants. Mixing DXM and alcohol increases the risk of respiratory issues and sedation.
Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Recovery
Drinking alcohol while sick actively hinders the recovery process, prolonging the duration and severity of the illness. Alcohol consumption is known to suppress the immune system, even after a single episode of intoxication. It compromises the function of white blood cells and other immune components trying to neutralize the infection.
The body relies heavily on restorative sleep to recover, but alcohol fragments the sleep cycle, suppressing the crucial REM and deep non-REM stages. This poor-quality sleep impedes the body’s repair and regenerative processes. Alcohol also acts as a vasodilator, causing blood vessels to expand, which can worsen symptoms like nasal congestion and a runny nose. Furthermore, by exacerbating dehydration, alcohol thickens mucus and makes existing symptoms feel more uncomfortable.