I am 22 years old, male. Recently, whenever I drink alcohol, my face starts to turn red and hot and my eyes turn red too. My heartbeat goes slightly high and I can feel a strong and strange alcohol smell when I exhale. Everything goes down to normal within an hour or two. This does not happen everytime I drink. Sometimes I'm perfectly fine. I have been drinking since I was 18 and mostly drink on weekends and in moderation. This used to happen when I started drinking alcohol, but one day suddenly it stopped on its own and everything was perfect for 4 years until now. Can anyone help me out with this?
Well my first thought is stop drinking alcohol. But I don't think that's likely especially at your age unless its something serious and I hope then you would consider quitting. It might be that you're having a mild allergic reaction to the alcohol. You could try taking Benadryl before you go out but the combination is dangerous because it will make you very sleepy so let somebody else do the driving. Also you might pay attention to the specific types of alcohol. Vodka is one of the safer alternatives. You might want to try staying away from the caramel colored alcohols like rum or brandy. As I said before your better off if you just quit drinking but if you do drink please do it safely.
Do you have high blood pressure? Your body might not be breaking down all the chemicals (acetaldehyde) in the alcohol. You could be developing some type health condition. You might want to tell your doctor about this on your next visit.
Thank you for replying. I know I'll have to quit and I'm trying too. It's just that I still have hopes that this problem will go away like it did last time. Also, I tried out vodka, beer, whiskey, gin, rum and all gave me the same reaction. In the past I've never had any problems with any of these. I remember this happened to me last year when I used to workout a lot and I started eating raw egg yolks. At that time this problem happened again and I stayed away from alcohol for 2weeks and everything was fine again. I hope everything gets fine on its own or I'll have to quit. 
Thanks for replying. I visited a Doctor last week and he checked my blood pressure and it was fine. He gave me some pills and I had them for 3 days and I tried drinking the next day. There was no redness but the alcohol breath stayed and I was not feeling the buzz of alcohol at all. This was only for a day and the next time it was the same problem again. I asked the doctor about the problem and I don't know why he didn't have an answer to any of my questions. He also didn't tell me about the pills which he gave me.
Alcohol is a atrange one, why some people become addicted and others do not. My mothers family came from north London all drinkers, but not alcaholics, they drank in pubs at weekends. They would be there from lunch till late on a Saturday. My ex husband’s pulse would always go up on the first drink, and his face would reden, he was a functioning alcaholic never missed a days work. Not a lot of research on alcohol as a real money maker. There is a drug now that will inhibet the part of the brain that reacts to alcohol and opiates. This could have been the meds your doctor gave you, but should have told you.
Hi ooops64. I hope you don't mind,but I'd like to know what your ex-husband did with that face redenning problem? Did he find a solution to it?
Hi Miyer,
That's good that your blood pressure is ok. I am wondering what type medication the doctor gave you. Do you know the name or the number on the pill?
Hi brown45840,
There was no number or any type of imprint on it. There were two round tablets. The small one was light blue in colour. And the bigger one was Yellow and had blue and pink specks on it.
Hi Miyer,
You should call your doctor to find out what you are taking. You could also ask the pharmacists. Also, how are you taking these pills?
I took both pills once a day after breakfast for three days.
Did your doctor hand you these pills or were they filled in the pharmacy? If they were filled in a pharmacy you should be able to call the pharmacy and ask them what they were. If they were given to you by the doctor himself if you live in the US that's it legal unless he has a pharmacist license which I doubt.
The doc gave me the pills at his clinic. Nothing bad happened to me after having those pills and the problem was solved only for a day. I feel I should find a better doctor.
I think you should too
I'm tired of consulting doctors. I've talked to many docs online and none of them had a solution to this. I think Ill have to take a break and if that doesn't work.. I'll have to quit.
Nope he didn't care he loved his beer too much. It may be as another said I think on here, may be the type of alcohol you drink. There is the grape, or I think Vodka is derived from potato could be wrong though. Try different types.
Maureen
Naltrexone is the medication I was telling you about. That blocks the effects that Alcohol and other drugs have on the brain. Your doctor may have given you this. This website gives more information. https://www.recoveryconnection.com/substance-abuse/medication-treatment-addictions-and-dual-diagnosis/medications/naltrexone/
hopefully this message board will allow tgis to go.
Maureen
My last post is in the hands of the moderators. Naltrexone may have been the pills that doctor gave to you. I posted a website but may not be allowed.
Maureen
Why would he give me this? I suppose this medicine is used to reduce one's desire to drink alcohol. Am I right?
You should find another doctor. Your face should not turn red when you drink. A good doctor should be able to get to the bottom of this. I am thinking you probably have some other health issue.