Alcohol With POTS

Many living with POTS find that they experience worsening symptoms after drinking alcoholic beverages, and there are reasons why this happens. We hoped to unpack some of these reasons in this website section for those who are interested in learning more about why this both occurs and is a challenge.

When Living With POTS:

1.) It is important to maintain adequate hydration to reduce low blood volume that can be worsened and exaggerated by dehydration.

2.) Individuals with POTS often need to counteract the effects of vasodilation through the use of compression garments, hydration, medications, and other recommended techniques/strategies.

3.) Those with POTS are often instructed to avoid or be wary of environments or substances that can increase vasodilation, as they may worsen their symptoms. This is seen for individuals with POTS who struggle when in warm environments, related to shower water temperatures or temperatures in their living environment.

Alcohol Consumption Can Lead To:

1.) Dehydration

2.) Increased sympathetic stimulation

3.) Increased heart rate

4.) Increased vasodilation

5.) Altered mental status

6.) Autonomic dysfunction, seen with chronic alcohol use

7.) Peripheral neuropathy, seen with chronic alcohol use

Why Avoiding Alcohol Is Often A Consideration:

1.) Managing and reducing POTS symptoms involves reducing vasodilation, heart rate, and dehydration, which alcohol can lead to.

2.) When looking at alcohol consumption in this way, it is understandable why so many with POTS feel much worse after consuming even small amounts of alcohol.

3.) Although everyone is different and there is some variability, including if other co-occurring conditions like mast cell activation syndrome could be contributing to what is experienced, it is important to talk to your medical team about what they recommend.

4.) It is common for alcohol consumption to not be recommended for individuals living with POTS and other forms of dysautonomia.

Source: Assaker, R., El Hasbani, G., Antezana, A. A., Gamarra, J. V., Amaya-Suarez, J., Bertely, C., & Suleman, N. (2021). I drank too much and now I can’t walk: A case of alcohol-induced dysautonomia. Oxford Medical Case Reports, 2021(8). https://doi.org/10.1093/omcr/omab072