Comments on: Alcohol, allergies, histamines and sulfites – reactions from an allergist

By: Candace McCutcheon

Candace McCutcheon — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:11:23 +0000

I am not a doctor, but both my father and I reached a point in our lives when we could no longer have any alcohol. From what I’ve been told, it was because we lacked the necessary amount of an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase (Sp?), the digestive agent that must be present in order for the body to safely and productively break down alcohol, breaking the molecule into two parts — one that goes through the liver, finally leaving the body through sweat and while other even more unpleasant forms of waste, the other part then exits through the lungs. Both he and I would just get really sick whenever we tried to drink. I still do. (Unfortunately he passed away in 1995, but not from that!) I hope this is helpful and not too depressing!
–Candace

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:49:01 +0000

I never know if I’m going to have a reaction to the wine or not. I do suffer from allergies and receive shots for them. If I do react to the wine (usually white) it begins around my eyes and spreads out from there. My skin feels tight and puffy like I’m sunburned. It doesn’t take very much wine as I’ve been affected by taking communion wine. I’m 61 years old and this is a new “ailment” of my golden years. I love a good crisp white wine and would love any recommendations that might not affect me.

By: Cj

Cj — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:54:51 +0000

Very informative! I am sensitive to almost all alcohol, always thought sulfites in wine, impurities in alcohol… But recently started trying Chardonnay again and have found some sneeze me right up, while others are just fine. One I have found that doesn’t cause a reaction for me is Avant by Kendall Jackson. Just tried La Crema – and was SOdissappointed that it caused severe sneezing/stuffiness. Is there a list, or could some people share which cause a problem? and more importantly which do not!

By: chris

chris — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 07:27:05 +0000

The blue tinge in the morning has gone away completely…but could easily be down to the fact that its summer in Australia and to hot for reds. Summer is mostly whites and champagnes. I have not been getting the snotty sniffly next morning thing as much either so wondering how much is the sulphites and how much might be down to tannins? BTW…I eat dried apricots on occasion and no reaction.

By: Dolores

Dolores — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:49:38 +0000

I have an allergy to wine and other alcohol but not headaches. I get red in the face and get very hot. It starts under my eyes or on my ears. I can feel it coming on and other people will tell me when it’s starting. If I drank more I don’t know what would happen. I don’t. It kind of scares me. This happens with very little of many alcohols but it doesn’t always happen. It confuses me because I don’t know, until I drink some, if it’s going to cause a reaction.

By: Richard Terry

Richard Terry — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 02:41:34 +0000

I have Grover’s disease, agonizing rash for 2 years. Trying Molybdenum, many topical salves, prescription and otc with no relief. Am trying the reduced sulfite concept.

By: lexmz

lexmz — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:04:25 +0000

I have some type of allergy to wine because after I drink a glass my nose starts to run and I start to sneeze. Common sense says – NO MORE WINE!

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:32:30 +0000

I as I get older, I seem to get more and more “allergic” to alcohol… Sake, Whiskey, vodka & tonight it happens to be a nice bottle of Sauvignon Blanc… If I didn’t know better, I’d think I’d come down with a terrible cold… But, it’s just the wine, I’m certain I’ll feel 100% better tmrw. But, right now, after just 2 glasses, I’m sneezing & so congested that my lips have become quite dry as a result of my mouth breathing. What is going on?!?! My teerh kind of hurt, too?!

By: chris

chris — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:49:26 +0000

There is no doubt in my mind that there are significantly more sulfites in the wine in OZ than in the wine produced in other markets. I have lived in Europe and in the western US and only once had a reaction to a wine before. It was in California and it was mid-way through glass of “new world” red. Sneezy, nasally and blushing. Re the sheets turning blue after the red here: I said the sheets were tinged with blue when I awoke in the morning. My skin had not changed its color. I have noticed more of that snotty, coughing (like a mild cold) reaction more often since moving here and generally after consuming the OZ red varietals. I am not a scientist, but It seems pretty obvious to me.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:17:32 +0000

*I’ll = “I”. Sorry!

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:16:00 +0000

*to = “in”
*affected (2nd) = “connected”

I’ll love the taste of red — this is a malbec — but am definitely in the market NOT to have a hay-fever reaction when out “enjoying” wine with my friends.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:13:58 +0000

Neophyte wine drinker who is, however, interested to wine and pays attention. I am a former allergy sufferer (as a kid) — largely reformed in adulthood — but who noticed that upon having a few glasses of low-brow red, that my sinuses became affected. I did not develop a headache but definitely associated the reaction to the sulfites in the wine. I understand that this is likely not an “allergy,” as explained in this thread, and sort of think there might be credence to the theory that the (adverse) reaction might be affected to tannin levels and/or the age of the wine. Thank you.

By: Contains sulfites: meant to frighten rather than inform | Dr Vino's wine blog

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:03:28 +0000

[...] While a small portion of the population is allergic to sulfites, an allergist once told me that those who are allergic generally have preconditions, such as asthma. Further, the reactions are most often severe and may include anaphylaxis (note: [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 07:02:47 +0000

I have had a recent experiance that has left me dumbfounded. About 2 months ago I was out with my hubby and we shared a bottle of unfamiliar red between us. As he was driving, I had the majority of it. The next morning I woke to find blue residue on the sheets and pillow cases, only on my side of the bed. This happened again a month later after we had a dinner party and some champagne at home. I have never, ever had this happen before and it seems quite obvious it was triggered by this red wine and now seems triggered by wine in general.
Any thoughts?

By: GFGirl

GFGirl — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:05:37 +0000

I find the post from DeNiro’s blog regarding the glycoproteins very interesting. I have a sensitivity to gluten, and also sometimes have an issue with sneezing, runny nose, and inflammatory responses of varying degrees when I drink wine, mainly whites. Since the gluten sensitivity is caused by lack of enzymes that are able to break down the proteins in gluten, I wonder if this reaction is similarly an enzyme/protein issue. Will have to ask my NMD about that… Thanks for the blog!