The effects of sensitivity on hangover symptoms after IV alcohol self-administration in non-dependent drinkers

Authors

• LE Blau
• BL Stangl
• VA Ramchandani

Abstract

Hangover can be described as the cluster of physiological and psychological symptoms that arise after a drinking episode. Hangover may be relevant as it has been shown to be associated with risky drinking behavior, and may be important in studying the shift that occurs from risky drinking to alcohol dependent drinking. Previous research has shown that a lower sensitivity to alcohol is associated with significant increase in risk of future alcoholism (Schuckit, 1994). Another study showed that subjective responses to alcohol act as predictors of breath alcohol level, blackouts and hangover symptoms (Wetherill and Fromme, 2009). However, little research has been done to characterize hangover after intravenous alcohol self-administration (IV-ASA). The current study uses the Computer Assisted Self-infusion of Ethanol (CASE) method, which provided 84 non-dependent, healthy drinkers the choice to self-administer IV alcohol. The objective of this study was to examine hangover symptoms after IV-ASA. The goal was to identify the relationship between drinking sensitivity and hangover symptoms among both sexes. The results indicate that sex and drinking history and problems influence hangover symptoms, with female risky drinkers reporting higher symptoms after IV-ASA. Subjective effects, rather than actual alcohol consumption, may be related to hangover in non-dependent drinkers.

Scientific Focus Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences

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