Is it unhealthy to drink a shot of vodka mixed with juice before going to bed?

Question

I have had major trouble going to sleep these past couple of months (insomnia I guess) and it takes me a good 2 hours before I actually go to sleep. So recently I started mixing a shot of vodka with orange and cranberry juice and I pass out in 15 minutes. Will this have a negative effect on me?

Answer 1

Well if you keep doing this it can be unhealthy, because alcohol can have negative effects on your body after a long period of usage. But if you just do it every once in a while you should be fine.

Answer 2

It is a temporary solution. However, the problem that is causing your insomnia hasn't gone away and you may be adding to your problems by becoming dependant on alcohol. Take an aspirin with Benedryl(like Tylenol PM) instead. It will take about 1/2 hour to enter your bloodstream so take it before you think you will be going to bed. As far as a shot of alcohol daily. Studies suggest that in older men, a daily drink( one beer, 4 oz. glass of wine, shot of liquour) may be beneficial to the heart and help relieve stress. So it's your choice.

Answer 3

Although alcohol can help you fall asleep (I myself was in the habit of drinking wine right before bedtime because, like you, I was having trouble falling asleep for a while), but it can cause you to have disturbed sleep later in the night (for example, you may wake up later feeling dehydrated or agitated from bothchanges in sugar metabolize and the affect of alcohol on sleep stages). REM sleep is affected by alcohol metabolism --so you won't actually sleep right, which will make you feel sleepy or agitated the next day (or sleepy when you should be alert and vice versa) and then you have a vicious cycle going on your sleep/wake cycle.

Sleep specialists recommend that a person be disciplined about going to bed at a certain time and to be in a quiet and relaxed state of mind. I have found that deep breathing exercises and gentle stretching are good to do shortly before bed time and I often write or read until I drop off to sleep. I also have been taking magnesium (and vitamin D) supplements right before bedtime, which has made a world of difference for me. If you continue to have problems, you should speak with a physician about this. He or she may prescribe a "sleeping aid"-- a pill, but good "sleep hygiene" is more about re-evaluating your habits and also getting the right nourishment for your brain to work the way it is supposed to.

Answer 4

I don't think it will have a negative effect on you however it could get you hooked on it, Have you tried any over the counter sleep aids? there is alot of them out there, I like taking dyphenhydremine it is a generic benidryl. you can't get hooked on it and they seem to work. as far as is it healthy to mix vodka with mixed juice, I don't see a problem, and they say that 1 drink per day could be good for you.

Answer 5

I would suggest some red wine. That always makes me tired. and that is good for your heart too. Also, if I were you I would start doing some research on this problem. My husband has had this problem in the past and we get Melatonin at the health food store and it works for him. Melatonin is what your brain produces when you are tired, so it is natural, just make sure there is nothing added to it. Good luck! oh, well, if you think about it, especially liqueur, it is a poison. Your liver has to filter it out of your system, so I would try to find something that doesn't put strain on your body every day!

Answer 6

Drinking anything with that many calories is unhealthy for you after 7:00pm. But if you're not worried about getting fat or having a small headache when you wake up, then go for it.

It's actually a bit more healthy to have a half a glass of wine before bed, you will be less likely to have heart problems when you get older.

Answer 7

Definitely its going to have a very detrimental effect on you.First of all consumption of alcohol in general is harmful.That too regular intake will first make you dependant on it and habit forming.Later on,you wont get any kick with small amounts and also no sleep.So you start consuming large amount to get sleep.This may help you in passing out for that night initially,only to wake up and find that you feel miserable for lack of sleep.And presto,before you can realize,you are an alcoholic.You develop multiple problems of heart as cardiomyopathy,High BP,liver serosis,pancreatitis and what not.In the end,(if it is not early) its already late.I am one who sufferred but thank god realised in time and changed.But in the process have lost a few friends who expired prematurely.So beware .

Answer 8

May I suggest something else that would be better for you? I work in Pharmacy and I think that this will help much better. It won't harm your liver either. Try Excedrin PM. Here is why, this medicine has Benadryl in it. Most nursing homes here in Fla use Benadryl for their nursing home patients that can't sleep. Now.......to get Benadryl over the counter you will get 12.5mg. You actually need 50mg to help you sleep. Two Excedrin PM will help you rest comfortably and wake up rested. I hope this has helped. Blessings for this Holiday Season.

Answer 9

Alchohol like anything else should be taken in moderation. You may not have any short-term effects but after a while your body will develop an immunity to it and after a while this will not help you get to sleep. Just find an alternative and do not use either of them for too long period of time.

Answer 10

only a hangover maybe. but you should talk with your doctor because you can build up a tolerance to the vodka and after a while one shot isn't doing it anymore and you need two instead. i know a glass of wine is a good alternative but as long as its working for now...go ahead & get some sleep. i know insomnia sucks.