After drinking, I wake up after 4-6 hours of sleep, rapid pulse, wide awake, dead tired but can't sleep. Help!

Question

This happens reliably after even a moderate amount of alcohol, and the type of drink doesn't matter either. I read another question that suggested this could be an allergy, and to try claritin w/ aspirin, suggested by Zorba Pastor on www.wpr.org - does anyone know about this or any other possible remedy? Taking sleeping pills (as I'm doing currently w/ my doc's recommendation) isn't a good solution!

Answer 1

Even moderate amouts of alchol deprive the brain of oxygen.Vital bodily functions can begin to shut down. Other symptoms may include vomiting, unconsciousness, and slow or irregular breathing.
Alcohol can raise havoc with any organ in your body, Alcohol’s favorite targets are the nervous system, the liver, and the heart.
Pehaps you would be better off being teetotal?

Answer 2

Hi everyone, glad to see some other people suffering like I do.
I find that the night after a few (6+) beers I really struggle to get any sleep. I’m keen to find out why, it’s all very interesting this sleep stuff.
I’ve tried taking a sleep tablet (from the chemist 50mg Diphenhydramine) This seems to help a little but the sleep is very broken and very light – almost like dosing.
I also find I start thinking a lot when I can’t sleep – the old brain seems to be very active.
Anyhow – I’m in this position this evening. (After a great night out last night….) so I’ve had a glass of milk just about to take a sleeping pill and we’ll see how it goes.
Hope everyone finds the answers they need.

Pete

Answer 3

This happens to me every now and then too. I'll pass out really fast after I drink a lot and then I'll wake up still being really tired but I can't go back to sleep and my heart will race so fast that I can't fall back asleep because the beating disturbs me. I looked it up online and they said it's called "holiday heart" and it's a sort of heart arythmia that is just a side effect of drinking a moderate to heavy amount of alcohol. It's obviously not good for your heart to race but I always make myself drink water before I pass out from a night of drinking and in order to get back to sleep you just have to calm yourself down and lay there with your eyes closed and eventually I go back to sleep. My friends complain about waking up really early after drinking a lot, too. Nothing else has helped me too much, but just know that you're not alone. :)

Answer 4

Its probably just from drinking. when i drink i never get a good nights sleep. unless your pulse is so fast that you think it might be unhealthy then its probably not a big deal. dont drink if you need to have more than 4-6 hours to function the next day because it doesnt sound like much else will help. sorry!

Answer 5

I googled this question and found yours.. This happened to me last night and the night before.. granite I drank 2 bottles of wine along with 2-3 beers.. but I woke up at 4:30 this morning and my heart was POUNDING... and of course I always say .. that's it I'm never drinking again!! I just want to know what causes it... But your definitly not alone!

Answer 6

Maybe you are sensitive to yeast! All forms of alcohol are processed with yeast. Try having a nice big piece of bread or two before bed and see if the same thing happens. Another night, eat a salad with vinaigrette dressing (vinegar is made with yeast, too). If you have the same reaction, then the yeast is the culprit. Try removing all yeast from your diet for a number of months (four to six months)... and then slowly reintroduce it and see what you get.

Answer 7

god join the club its called the bginning of a hangover ur not exactly the nly one to not feel fabulous after gettin off ur face...