Hypothyroid and alcohol

[Michelle102]

Still in the midst of getting my levels straightened out and have another question. It seems that alcohol affects me much more significantly from a memory standpoint.... I tend to not remember conversations.... Is this common?

[gabkad]

Depends on how much you are drinking. But hypothyroidism makes us cheap drunks. A couple of drinks can affect an already fatigued person much more significantly.

[ukangell]

I don't have thyroid problems but adrenal problems and I can say that after 1 to 2 glasses of wine I am quite drunk and then fall asleep. I am also going through an aversion (not chosen by me) of just not wanting to drink. I've often wondered for several years if my thyroid was affected and I was hypo but test after TSH test always proves me wrong. Levels are usually between 1.39 to 2.69!

[Inna]

I agree with gabkad. For me personally after started taking levo, noticed I get dizzy sometimes even after 1 glass of vine. Before levo even a bottle of red vine couldn't get to me - I tolerated alcohol quite well. Though another thing should be considered in my case - I pretty much stopped drinking a couple of years back. But the dizziness effect appeared a year or two before that.

[Brubru]

I can't tolerate much alcohol. And I forget everything. Blank.

[Michelle102]

I can normally handle honestly 3-4. Now I wake up the next day in a complete daze with no recalection of what conversations I've had! Scary.

[hairyfairy]

My tolerance for alcohol seems to vary for unknown reasons, but one thing Iv`e noticed is that I can drink more in warm weather than in the cold. Maybe it`s true that you can sweat out alcohol.

[Ritaritarita]

I have not been able to drink for years, was not sure what it was all about, but was told it is some enzyme?? My face goes beet red, then it works it way down my chest and my elbows get hot and red and itch so bad, needless to say have not had a bevy in years. So sad, cause I used to love to drink and get drunk. Cannot risk it now and soooo unattractive too.

[mickstability]

Not many constructive answers so far, then, Michelle. I'm here to help. It's a worry when, for instance, your partner has to re-construct the events of the night before, and if you're starting to zone out after a couple I think the best thing to do is to reject all inferior plonk, go for organic or biodynamic wine, proper Champagne (Bolly really is worth it ), a nice single malt rather than blended rubbish, or a posh gin with a decent tonic. These are all thoroughly tested by me and I commend them to you as far better than mass-produced booze, cheaper in the long run as you don't need nearly so much, and with the bonus that you'll remember it all the day after with a cheerful wince.

[Don75]

I have thyroid and adrenal issues (been taking armour and cortex) and don't tolerate alcohol very well. Memory of the night before is shockingly bad, but in truth this far proceeds my beginning to take any meds. I'd certainly like to understand what's going on with this better.

[suzannai]

I dont know if this is at all helpful but in one of the books that I read the author states that many hypo patients use alcohol to feel "normal". I am not sure of the mechanism but what I can take from this is that if you are well medicated then I would assume that your tolerance and need/desire for alcohol would diminish so I guess that it is a good thing?

[Mizzle in reply to suzannai]

Hi Suzannai,

I'm reading through old posts as I've identified a link in my alcohol abuse and diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism. Could you tell in which book you read about self medication?

Best wishes,

Mizzle, x.